Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Cumberland Township, Pennsylvania

Cumberland Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, or relocation of a building or structure inside Cumberland Township.

  • Repairs to existing buildings or structures do not require a permit when no structural changes or modifications are involved.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake or cause to be undertaken, the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, or relocation of any building or structure unless an approved building permit has been obtained from the Township Building Permit Officer.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Work performed under a Township building permit.

  • The Building Permit Officer or another authorized official may inspect during construction to determine compliance.

  “During the construction period, the Building Permit Officer or other authorized official may inspect the premises to determine that the work is progressing in compliance with the information provided on the permit application and with all applicable municipal laws and ordinances.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

  • Zoning and land-use applications are reviewed and approved by PMCA for the Township.

  “ALL ZONING/LAND USE APPLICATIONS FOR CUMBERLAND TOWNSHIP ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY PMCA.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Sewage enforcement within Cumberland Township.

  • The County municipal page identifies the Township's Sewage Enforcement Officer as Gil Picarelli of KPI Technology.

  “Sewage Enforcement Officer Gil Picarelli, KPI Technology”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development within Cumberland Township.

  • The Township forwards every subdivision and land-development application to the Adams County Office of Planning and Development for review and report and does not act until it receives the report or 30 days expire.

  “As a result, no subdivision or land development of any lot, tract, or parcel of land shall be made, no street, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water main, or other improvement in connection therewith shall be laid out, constructed, opened or dedicated for public use or travel, or for the common use of occupants of buildings abutting thereon, except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Township building permits.

  • Fee amount is based on estimated construction cost and is set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

  “Applications for a building permit shall be accompanied by a fee, payable to the Township, based upon the estimated cost of the proposed construction in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Township building permits.

  • Application must be in writing on Township-supplied forms and contain the listed applicant, owner, contractor, site, work-description, cost, and site-plan information.

  “Application for such a building permit shall be made in writing to the Building Permit Officer on forms supplied by the Township. Such application shall contain at least the following:”

Rules another office applies inside Cumberland Township

Cumberland Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential development in the R Residential District.

  • Central water and sewer facilities are required under the cited district table, subject to its R-district asterisk.

  minimum lot area: 12000 square feet (R Residential District)

  “Minimum Lot Area (square feet) | 12,000 | 4,000”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential development in the R Residential District.

  • The standard applies to residential districts excepting cluster development.

  maximum building coverage: 40 percent (R Residential District)

  “Maximum Building Coverage (% of tract or lot) | 40 | 50”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family detached dwelling lots in the A Agricultural District.

    “Maximum Building Coverage (% of single-family detached dwelling lot) | 10”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal structures in the R Residential District.

  • The standard applies to residential districts excepting cluster development.

  maximum height, principal structures: 35 feet (R Residential District)

  “Maximum Height - Principal Structures (feet) | 35 | 35”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Principal structures in the A Agricultural District.

    “Maximum Height - Principal Structures (feet) | 40”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Residential development in the R Residential and RMH Residential zoning districts inside Cumberland Township.

  • The R requirement is marked with an asterisk in the Township development-standards table; the accessible excerpt does not state that footnote's condition.

  “Central Water & Sewer Facilities Required | Yes* | Yes”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development within a floodplain area inside Cumberland Township.

  • Other necessary state and federal permits must be obtained before issuance; watercourse work also requires DEP permits or approvals.

  “All development within the area of a floodplain shall be subject to the issuance of a building permit in accordance with the provisions herein.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Cumberland Township or Adams County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Cumberland Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption inside Cumberland Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Cumberland Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Cumberland Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Cumberland Township.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.