FAQs

The Lawrence County Department of Planning and Community Development is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm. Our office follows the County Courthouse holiday schedule.

A subdivision is the division or re-division of a lot, tract, or parcel of land by any means into two (2) or more lots, tracts, parcels or other division of land. This includes changes in existing lot lines for the purpose (whether immediate or future) of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, building or lot development, or transfer of ownership. Exempt are subdivisions by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than ten (10) acres not involving any new street, easement of access, or any residential dwelling.

The improvements of one (1) or two (2) or more contiguous lots, tracts, or parcels of land for a purpose involving: 1. A group of two (2) or more residential or non-residential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or 2. The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two (2) or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features; or 3. A subdivision of land.

If a municipality has adopted its own subdivision and land development ordinance, then that municipality has approval power. If the municipality has not adopted its own subdivision and land development ordinance, then Lawrence County has approval power over all subdivisions within that municipality.

City of New Castle, Bessemer Borough, Ellwood City Borough, Hickory Township, Mahoning Township, Neshannock Township, New Beaver Borough, New Wilmington Borough, North Beaver Township, Perry Township, Pulaski Township, Scott Township, Shenango Township, Slippery Rock Township, Taylor Township, Union Township, Wayne Township, and Wilmington Township

If the proposed subdivision is located within one of the aforementioned municipalities that have their own subdivision and land development ordinance, then the subdivision is submitted to that municipality who will then forward a copy to our office. If the proposed subdivision is located within a municipality that does not have a subdivision and land development ordinance, then it is submitted to our office for review.

Checks can be made out to County of Lawrence or Lawrence County.

If it is a simple subdivision, the County completes the review within 10 working days. If it is a major subdivision or if there are any modifications or variances requested, then the plan must go to a Lawrence County Planning Commission meeting before it can be reviewed. The Planning Commission meets on the second Wednesday of each month.

Our office has copies of municipal zoning maps and can look up the zoning of properties. (Currently there is no county-wide zoning ordinance.)

City of New Castle, Bessemer Borough, Ellport Borough, Ellwood City Borough, Hickory Township, Mahoning Township, Neshannock Township, New Beaver Borough, New Wilmington Borough, North Beaver Township, Plain Grove Township, Pulaski Township, Shenango Township, Taylor Township, Union Township, Volant Borough, Wampum Borough, and Wilmington Township

Contact our office at (724) 656-2144 or go to http://www.msc.fema.gov to find out if your property is located in a floodplain.  Floodplain information can also be viewed here.

Building permits are obtained by contacting the municipality in which the building is taking place.

We offer grant-writing assistance, training programs related to planning, zoning, subdivisions, land development requirements, and enforcement issues, and floodplain management services.

The Lawrence County Conservation District has all plat books for the County.

A typical subdivision has a cost of $250.00 + $20.00 per lot. See the Service Fees Schedule for additional information.