If your experiencing emergency dial 911

When calling for the police, do your best to remain calm and speak clearly.

For non-emergency calls phone 570-587-8715 between the hours of 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday thru Friday.  After 4:00pm and weekends, dial 570-342-9111 and give your name, address, phone and inform the dispatcher you would like to speak with SOUTH ABINGTON PD.  The operator will contact the police via radio and the police will return your call.

All emergencies go through 911

When calling to report a fire, do your best to remain calm and speak clearly.

Fire and ambulance calls are handled by the volunteer Chinchilla Hose Company of SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP.   For general questions or hall rental call 570-586-5726 and leave message if no answer.

For emergencies dial 911

When calling for an ambulance, do your best to remain calm and speak clearly.

Fire and ambulance calls are handled by the volunteer Chinchilla Hose Company of SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP.   For general questions or hall rental call 570-586-5726 and leave message if no answer.

Garbage/Recycling

SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP is a mandated recycling community under Pennsylvania Act 101.  Residential dwellings must recycle all paper, corrugated cardboard, rice paper, glass, aluminum, bi-metallic containers and plastics.  Your weekly scheduled pick-up day is East of Northern Blvd. Thursday,  Please place all items at the curb on Wednesday evenings after 5:00 pm..  If you are located West of Northern Blvd. your scheduled pick-up day is Friday.  Please place all items at the curb on Thursday evenings after 5:00 pm.  As of 1/1/24 to 12/31/2024 the quarterly charge for a single family residence is $125.64.  For a list of Recyclable items, refer to the Services page dropdown menu. Please contact office to inquire on the requirements for Senior Citizen and Vacancies longer than a 3 month period or you may print the form by clicking below.

Senior Form

If you would like to suspend service, please fill out the form below and return it to the office.  Notarial signature is not required.

Vacancy Form

Sewers

SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP requires buildings within 150′ of the sewer line be connected to it.  As of 01/15/15 each single family dwelling is billed a flat rate of $140.00 per quarter.  Please contact the Township office for rates on anything other than a single family dwelling.  Bills can be paid by mail or at the Township Offices.  Mail drop in rear of building for after hours use.

Building Permits/Zoning

SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP requires permits for any type of structural alteration, editions, new construction, retaining walls.  For more information, please refer to the Forms/Permits page and/or call Township Manager, David O’Neill at 570-586-2111 Ext 4.

Building permits not required for:

Fences    can go on the property line but we suggest placing it inside the property line (6-12”) in order to maintain  the other side. There is a 6 ft height restriction.   Regardless of what type of material  the fence is made of, it must remain in good condition at all times. Corner lots require site distance for vehicular  vision, please contact the zoning officer for more information at 570-586-2111 Ext 4

Detached Garages under 1000 sq feet. Must be 10 ft away from house and 5 ft from side & rear property lines. Corner lots are different, please contact the zoning officer for more information at 570-586-2111 Ext 4

Sheds      Must be 10 ft away from house and 5 ft from side & rear property lines. Corner lots are different, please contact the zoning officer for more information at 570-586-2111 Ext 4

Residential roofs as long as the structure is not being changed

Siding and Replacement Windows as long as the structure is not being changed Attached Wood (or the like) Decks UNDER 30 inches provided:

1. they are not used to access a swimming pool
2. they do not have a roof (any roof over a deck or porch DOES require a permit)
3. they are not part of the required means of egress Patios and sidewalks

Patios and Sidewalks

There are three separate taxes levied every year on each property within the county.  The Lackawanna County tax, the SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP tax and the Abington Heights School District tax. County and Township bills are based on the calendar year.  School bills are based from July 1st to June 30th the following year.  Tax bills are mailed to the property owner except in cases where the property is under a mortgage and a mortgage company requests direct mailing of the bill.

The Lackawanna County tax bill is issued on or about February 1st, for more information contact the Single Tax office at 570-963-6756 or visit scrantontaxoffice.org

The South Abington Township tax bill is issued on or about March 1st, for more information contact Scott Thorpe at 570-650-0618.

The Abington Heights School District tax bill is issued on or about August 1st, for more information contact Kathy Platt at 570-585-8205 or email plattk@ahsd.org or K5R3@hotmail.com.  

According to Pennsylvania law, the County Commissioners, the Township Supervisors and the School District Board of Directors each have independent authority to set the rate of taxation for properties within their boundaries.  This rate is expressed in millage.  (a mill is equivalent to $1 of tax for each $1000 of assessed valuation)

For example in 2020 the annual taxes on a property assessed at $20,000 would be:

Mills                Taxes     

County   (.0601 cty, .00282 library & .001 education)                               63.92               $1,278.40

School                                                                                                               127.09             $2,541.80

Township (13.75 gen, 1.75 fire, 1 rec & 1 road equip)                              17.50               $350.00

OTHER TAXES

A one percent real estate transfer tax is levied on all property sold in the Township.  This tax is split evenly between the Township and the School District.

A wage and income tax of one percent is levied annually on the earnings of all persons who reside in the Township.  The total amount collected is split evenly between the School District and the Township.

An annual municipal services tax of $52.00 is levied on all persons working in SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP who earn over $12,000.00 or more from all combined employers, regardless of their place of residence.

TELEVISIONS & COMPUTER MONITORS   —      FOR A FEE

1. JUNKEN MONKEYS LUZERNE ST, SCRANTON  570-871-0039
2. 1-800-GOT JUNK SEARCH ONLINE FOR CLOSEST FRANCHISE
3. BRENNER RECYCLING, 282 S WYOMING ST, HAZELTON, PA 18201 PER POUND FEE  570-454-8706
4. WASTE REDUCTION & RECYCLING, 2100 SANS SOUCI PKWY, HANOVER TWP, PA 18706 $1.49 POUND 570-825-3522

For a list of hard to recycle items, refer to the Services dropdown tab.

The first thing to do before filing a RTK request is to determine which agency is most likely to have the records you want. To assist you in finding these forms we have included links to the State’s OOR Office, Lackawanna County RTK office, and Federal Office of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

General requests made to the township are answered within the required time frame. Please make sure the request is completely filled out in the event there are questions to complete your request.

The South Abington Township Open Records Officer is David O’Neill, the direct number to reach him is 570-586-2111 X4.  Requests for information can be made by fax at 570-586-5448; in person at the Township desk 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, by U.S. Postal Service or email: DOneill@southabingtonpa.gov. You can download and print the form here: RTKRequestForm or going to the Forms/Permits page.

If you have any questions regarding the PA Right to Know Law or need more information or wish to appeal a decision of South Abington Township, please contact the Office of Open Records at (717) 346-9903 or openrecords@state.pa.us. An appeal must be submitted to the Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the mailing date of South Abington Township’s response. Appeals should be sent to the Office of Open Records, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North St., 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. They may also be submitted via facsimile to (717) 425-5343 or via email to openrecords@state.pa.us as a Microsoft Word or PDF attachment.