Frequently Asked Questions

During normal business office hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. In order to maintain a fair and consistent method of reserving your park pavilion, you may place your reservation one (1) year in advance to the date desired. Please refer to the park pavilion Fee Schedule for pricing. Full payment must be made at the time of reservation to secure a pavilion. Online reservations with online payment methods are available.

North Huntingdon Township Parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown. Indian Lake Park is open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily. Pavilion reservations are from 9 a.m. until sunset at all locations.

Yes – Fields are available with permit to the general public under a daily, seasonal or tournament fee schedule beginning in February and must be secured in advance with the administrative office during normal business hours.

Anyone who lives in North Huntingdon Township, the 15642 zip code, or resides in the Norwin School District is considered a resident on most occasions. A few exceptions apply (i.e., pavilion rentals, some special events and programs). Those living outside of this zip code are considered to be a non-resident with applicable fees.

Information can be found on our social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Please like, follow, and subscribe to get connected and learn more. Information can also be found in local publications. 

Pets are permitted in all parks under the following conditions:

• Pet owners must clean up after their pet and dispose of it in provided waste receptacles.
• All domestic animals must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet in length, and under control at all times.
• Domestic animals are not permitted within 25 feet of pavilions, playgrounds, athletic playing fields or in attendance at Township sponsored special events.
• Owners are required to clean up after their domestic animals immediately.
• Only domestic dogs are permitted at Indian Lake Park

Visit our Pets in Our Parks page for more information

A separate permit is required to have alcohol at your pavilion rental. An alcohol permit application along with all payments and relevant documents will need to be completed and submitted in-person at the Administration Office in order to acquire a permit. Please note that alcohol permits are only for pavilion rentals and not for general use at the park.   Applications should be submitted no earlier than one month before your reservation date. Once the application is approved, you will receive an alcohol permit to display at your pavilion rental on the day of your reservation. No refunds, cancellations, or transfers of permit or date will be issued. The alcohol permit is limited to beer and wine. No glass bottles are allowed. Please read our Township Alcohol Ordinance to understand all of the requirements and your responsibilities before applying.

Please bring the following with you when you submit your alcohol permit application:

• $100 for the permit fee (cash or check).
• A separate check for the $200 security deposit (no cash will be accepted for a security deposit)
  • The security deposit will be returned by mail after verifying there is no damage and the area of your rental is clean
  • The security deposit will be kept if there is damage or the area needs cleaned by Park Staff
• A valid driver's license
• A copy of your Homeowners Insurance Policy
• Corporate functions looking to have alcohol permits will need to provide a general proof of liability insurance naming North Huntingdon Township as an additional insured

References:

Alcohol Permit Application

Township Alcohol Ordinance

Yes. A current Pennsylvania fishing license, signed in ink and displayed (attach to a hat or outer garment), is required of persons age 16 and over to fish or angle for any species of fish. A license is also needed to take fish bait or bait fish. Casting and/or retrieving whether by rod, reel and line, or by handline, for oneself or another person, requires a current license unless specifically exempted by law. See the PA Fish & Boat Commission for further rules and regulations.

All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply to our lakes.

Because your definition of “playable” may never be the same as ours, you are expected to respect the decision of the Department of Parks & Recreation. Most fields are often faced with very short periods of time to get all fields in playing condition. Our decision is based on safety first.

The Department of Parks and Recreation will determine the field of play throughout the day. Rain Outs are decided by 3 p.m. The Department of Parks and Recreation will determine if games are rained out. A rain out applies to all games throughout the evening. In an effort to give all fields proper care and maintenance, you may call the administrative office at 724-863-3806 after 3 p.m., thus allowing us preparation time for you to play.

Only with authorized permission from the Department of Parks and Recreation, will light maintenance be permitted. We do not come to your job and perform your work; please allow us to do ours. With education, training, product information and the proper equipment we will continue to improve the facilities. Do not broom, sweep, or dig any field without checking with us first.

Field use without a permit is first-come, first-serve. If you want to reserve a field for play, it is recommended that you secure a permit. You may phone the Department of Parks and Recreation at 724-863-3806 for available fields, times and pricing throughout the season.

The Administration Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 A.M. until 4:00 P.M.

The Administration Office has recycling bins for residents and get can be picked during hours of operation.

You can call the Administration Office during hours of operation to report a pothole or road condition.  A work order will be generated to the Public Works Department.

You can take unwanted or expired medications to the North Huntingdon Police Department.  All medications must be emptied from the bottle and placed in a ziplock bag (provided at the police station).  No liquid or syringes are accepted.

To set up garbage service, you will contact Waste Management at 1-800-458-4090.

Trick or Treat for North Huntingdon Township is on October 31, 2017 from 6:00 PM until 8:00PM.

Typically, it is the homeowner's responsibility

Generally, it is the homeowner association's or private property owner's responsibility to maintain drainage ditches unless specifically designated as a public or municipal drainage easement

The owner of the road maintains pipes/culverts underneath roadways. PennDOT maintains State roads and the Township maintains Township roads. Note: Developer's maintain roads that have not yet been accepted by the Township

Typically the adjacent homeowner would be responsible. In some cases the Township may conduct maintenance if public safety is a concern or the problem prevents the public drainage system to function properly.

The owner of the road maintains the catch basin. PennDOT maintains State roads and the Township maintains Township roads.

The Township maintains the operational aspect assuring that they function properly. The Township does not provide landscaping or beautification activities. Commercial facilities are privately maintained. 

Generally, Public Works but in certain cases Engineering

If there is an obstruction in the road, please call the Police Department at 724-863-8800.

Water main breaks should be reported to the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC).

Any problems with sanitary manholes or pipes should be directed to your sewage authority, which will be either be the North Huntingdon Township Municipal Authority (NHTMA) or Western Westmoreland Municipal Authority (WWMA).

The Township does not maintain street lights. Street lights that are not working should be reported to West Penn Power. 

 Report Lighting Problem (firstenergycorp.com) 

The burning of clean fire wood where the fuel area is no greater than four (4) feet in diameter and two (2) feet or less in height. Such fires may be for pleasure or religious, ceremonial, cooking or similar purposes.

Any day of the week but the fire cannot be started before 9am and must be extinguished by 1am. 

Illegal burnings can be reported to the Police Department in-person or by phone at 724-863-8800. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Yes, a carport requires a residential permit and you must follow the garage/accessory structure guidelines.

At grade decks 30 inches or less in height do not require a permit.

Home occupations (business) are permitted and require a Home Occupation Permit for a one-time fee of $150. For more information, view

North Huntingdon Township has 15 business days to review residential building permits and 30 business days for commercial permits.

Payment for building permits are taken when the permit has been approved.

Permits are required for the following: - All Swimming Pools - Commercial Addition - Commercial Construction - Deck With Roof - Detached Garage - Elevated Deck (31 inches or higher) - Home Occupation - Larger Windows - New House Construction - Residential Addition - Retaining Walls Above 4 feet - Signs - Storage Shed

Permits are not required for the following: - Deck 30 Inches or Less - Home Siding and Retaining Walls 4 Feet or Less - Patio Slab - Repaving of Driveway - Replacement of Same-Size Windows - Replacement of Shingles

Less than 4 feet does not require a permit. Over 4 feet requires an engineered design and permit application.

The following is a breakdown in shed permits: - Under 200 square feet requires a $30 Zoning Permit Application. - 200 square feet or larger requires a Residential Building Permit Application. - 100 square feet or smaller can be located 5 feet from the side and rear property lines. - 101 square feet or larger must be a minimum of 10' from side & rear property lines. - Only 1 shed permitted per lot.

Setbacks are dependent on the zoning district. Contact the Community Development Office to determine current zoning.

Find more information on our

All pools, in-ground and above-ground, require a Swimming Pool Permit. Follow setbacks the same as an accessory structure (Corner lots please refer to Corner Lot reference diagram). Temporary fencing or barrier must be provided during construction. 

Fencing cannot exceed 4 feet in height in the front yard(s) and cannot obstruct any vehicular vision.  Fencing cannot exceed 6 feet 6 inches in height in the side and rear yard.  Decorative fencing can face either side; property owner’s preference. While fencing can be located directly on the property line, the Township strongly recommends the fence be placed inside the property line to allow enough room for maintenance on both sides without infringing on the neighboring property. Corner lots are considered to have 2 front yards.  For more information on corner lots, please refer to the Corner Lot Diagram (PDF).  Any fence installed within the right-of-way or over an easement is at your own risk.

Driveways may not exceed 25 feet in width at road edge back to the right-of-way line. It may be wider beyond the right-of-way.

Corner lots fall under different guidelines for front and side property lines. For more information, refer to the

For more information on Grading, Excavations, and Filling please view our Grading Ordinance

The Board of Commissioners passed Ordinance #2301 in June of 2024, which regulates backyard chicken keeping in residential areas.  In order to have backyard chickens, the subject property must be at least one (1) acre in size.  The permit fee for this use is $200 and property owners are subject to all rules and requirements laid out in said ordinance.  Failure to comply could result in the revocation of the permit and the removal of the chickens.

The Township Zoning Ordinance only permits poultry and livestock to be kept on a farm.

A farm is defined as any parcel of land containing at least two (2) acres which may be used for gain in the raising of agriculture products or at least 10 acres or more for livestock, poultry and dairy products. It includes necessary farm structures with the prescribed limits and the storage of farm equipment. It excludes the raising of fur bearing animals, riding academies, livery or boarding stables, and dog kennels.

Farms with poultry or livestock are a permitted use in both residential and commercial zoning districts subject to the minimum area requirements set forth in Section 811 of the Zoning Ordinance as follows: Farms and Livestock Area Requirements: R-2/20 acres, R-3/15 Acres, and R-4/10 Acres. Any housing or feeding structures shall be centrally located and in all cases shall be located a minimum of 250 feet from property lines.

It is approximately a seven (7) week process.

Only 1 principle structure is allowed per lot. However, certain zoning districts allow duplexes and other multi-family buildings.

Recreational vehicles must be parked in your driveway or on an impervious surface.

It takes a minimum of seven (7) weeks to process. An application must be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Department. The Planning Commission recommends to the Board of Commissioners the approval or denial of a plan. View the Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance

A “paper street” is an unopened road, alley or street drawn and depicted on a recorded plan of lots or subdivision which is recorded in the Recorder’s Office of Westmoreland County. However, this street is not constructed or built. Under Pennsylvania law, a street that is unopened and not constructed or built within 21 years of a plan being recorded is considered a paper street and the public and North Huntingdon Township lose any rights to the use of that street.

The only individuals who have any rights remaining in the paper street are those property owners within the plan or subdivision that established the paper street. North Huntingdon Township has no duty or responsibility for maintenance, improvements or repairs to paper streets. These streets are private and are the responsibility of the various individual property owners in the plan or subdivision. Since other property owners have the legal right to utilize a paper street, these may not be blocked or obstructed by vegetation, walls, fences or structures.

View our Maps page for some of our commonly used maps. Specific GIS maps are available upon request.