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

Huntington Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Huntington Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

  “OFFICIAL ZONING MAP HUNTINGTON TOWNSHIP ADAMS COUNTY, PA”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land within Huntington Township.

  • The Floodplain District is an overlay district and the official zoning map is incorporated into the ordinance.

  “COMMERCIAL-INDUSTRIAL (CI) RESIDENTIAL-SUBURBAN (RS) RESIDENTIAL-AGRICULTURAL (RA) AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION (AC) FLOODPLAIN (FP)”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot septic matters inside Huntington Township.

  • The named Sewage Enforcement Officer assists with the septic application and permitting process.

  “Sewage Enforcement Officer Doug Stambaugh GHI Ph: (717) 637-3800, ext. 105”

• Well permitRequired

  Well-drilling projects inside Huntington Township.

  • The Township instruction requires completion of its permit application and payment directly to the Township for a project including well drilling.

  “If your project includes well drilling, please complete the permit application and make payments directly to the township.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land-development and subdivision proposals inside Huntington Township.

  • The Township's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance determines whether a land-development plan and Board of Supervisors approvals are required.

  “See the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance to determine your requirements and Township Board of Supervisors approvals necessary to continue your application process.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction or alteration of a driveway accessing a Township road inside Huntington Township.

  • For access onto a PennDOT road, the required approval is a PennDOT highway occupancy permit rather than a Township driveway permit.

  “If driveway access is onto a township road, a township driveway permit is required.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning, driveway, grading, sign, well, and on-lot septic applications.

  • The schedule states that engineer plan-review fees use current professional rates and on-lot septic is charged at the sewage enforcement officer's current professional rate.

  zoning permit fee: 60 USD · driveway permit fee: 250 USD · well permit fee: 150 USD

  “Driveway Permit $ 250 Grading Permit $ 200 Sign Permit $ 150 Well Permit $ 150 On Lot Septic - current professional rate of sewage enforcement officer”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Township permit applications inside Huntington Township.

  • Applications may be mailed or emailed; fees vary by permit form; zoning approval is required before a building-permit application; project-specific plans and other permits may be required.

  “Applications can be submitted: By Mail: Huntington Township, 750 Trolley Rd, York Springs, PA 17372 By Email: slongstreth@sharrahdesign.com”

Rules another office applies inside Huntington Township

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

• Building permitRequired

  Construction or building work inside Huntington Township that is subject to Pennsylvania's UCC.

  • Emergency repairs or equipment replacements may be made without a permit if an application is submitted to the building code official within three business days.

  “The UCC states that before beginning any construction or building work, the property owner or an authorized representative must obtain a UCC building permit”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction and building work inside Huntington Township under Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code.

  • The state page describes UCC permit and inspection requirements; the Township's published process identifies MDIA as its permit officer.

  “The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) regulates the codes and standards of building projects in the Commonwealth.”

• InspectionsRequired

  UCC-regulated construction and listed building-system work inside Huntington Township.

  • The UCC page states inspections are necessary only in several listed cases; Township instructions require scheduling construction inspections 24 hours in advance.

  “All construction inspections shall be scheduled by the homeowner or homeowner’s agent (contractor) 24 hours in advance by contacting James Zerfing at 717-873-7442.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A UCC-regulated building or facility inside Huntington Township before use.

  • The rule concerns a building or facility subject to the UCC.

  “A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, construction, alteration, repair, or connection of an individual or community sewage system inside Huntington Township.

  • No permit is required for a replacement dwelling of the same size and anticipated use where the former dwelling was used within one year, unless a malfunction investigation is active. The Act also provides a conditional ten-acre owner/family residential permit exemption unless a local ordinance requires a permit.

  “No person shall install, construct, or award a contract for construction, or alter, repair or connect to an individual sewage system or community sewage system or construct, or request bid proposals for construction, or install or occupy any building or structure for which an individual sewage system or community sewage system is to be installed without first obtaining a permit”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Individual on-lot sewage systems serving property inside Huntington Township.

  • A qualifying owner/family residential system on a contiguous tract of ten acres or more may be permit-exempt unless a local ordinance requires a permit; stated siting and notice requirements still apply.

  “Except where a local agency or municipality requires a permit by ordinance, no permit or plan revision shall be required for the installation of an individual on-lot sewage system for a residential structure occupied or intended to be occupied by the property owner or a member of his immediate family on a contiguous tract of land ten acres or more if the owner of the property was the owner of record as of January 10, 1987.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Huntington Township.
• Lot coverage — Residential development inside Huntington Township.
• Building height — Buildings inside Huntington Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Huntington Township.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Huntington 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.