About Zoning

The purpose of zoning is to provide consistency with the Comprehensive Plan and to protect the public health, safety and welfare. Zoning in North Huntingdon is governed by the Zoning Ordinance No. 765, enacted in February, 1991 and amended several times through the years. Together, the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map delineate each zoning district. Different districts may allow different uses, require certain lot sizes and distances between structures and property lines, and may also impose requirements for landscaping, parking, building height, and lot coverage.

Zoning Districts

In North Huntingdon there are six general zoning districts and several sub-districts.The general zoning districts are

• Commercial (C)
• Industrial (I)
• Open Space (O)
• Planned Economic Development District (PEDD)
• Planned Residential Development (PRD)
• Residential (R)

There are five residential districts and four commercial districts.

Information for Property Owners

Property owners that wish to develop or expand property within the Township must meet the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. If requirements cannot be met, the Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) is a council-appointed quasi-judicial board that hears appeals from property owners who seek relief form the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. The Township Zoning Officer will assist the public in identifying zoning districts, describing the requirements for each district and guiding residents through the ZHB process.

About Code Enforcement

The Planning and Zoning Department, with assistance from the North Huntingdon Police Department, is also responsible for the enforcement of most municipal codes. These include but are not limited to:

• Building
• Burning
• Land Operations
• Property Maintenance

Any complaints or questions on these matters should be forwarded to the Code Enforcement Officer. Any code enforcement issues involving public health and safety that occur after regular office hours should be directed to the Police Department.

International Building Code

North Huntingdon Township officially adopted the International Building Code in 2004. This code establishes minimum regulations for building systems using prescriptive and performance-related provisions. It is founded on broad- based principles that make possible the use of new materials and new designs.

Uniform Construction Code

The Uniform Construction Code (UCC) governs the following sections:

• Existing Building Code
• International Building Code (IBC) for Commercial
• International Energy Code (IEC)
• International Mechanical Code (IMC)
• International Plumbing Code (IPC)
• International Residential Code (IRC)
• Property Maintenance Code