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

Menallen Township’s own rules

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in a floodplain inside Menallen Township.

  • Menallen Township is included because the official county page says all Adams County municipalities except New Oxford Borough participate in the NFIP.
  • The specific municipal floodplain ordinance and its additional conditions were not opened.

  “Each municipality participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is required to adopt a Floodplain Ordinance to regulate development within a floodplain. Development activities require a permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Menallen Township

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania; the Adams County Zoning Ordinance applies there and is administered by the Adams County Office of Planning & Development.

  • The county ordinance is applied in Menallen Township; Adams County's zoning page identifies the Planning Office as zoning officer.

  “Adams County has adopted a Zoning Ordinance, however it is only applied in two municipalities, Germany and Menallen Townships.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Rural Residential (RR) District inside Menallen Township.

  • Applies in the RR zoning district.

  minimum lot area: 1 acre (RR District)

  “SECTION 703: DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS A. Minimum Lot Area: One (1) acre.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal uses or structures in the Rural Residential (RR) District inside Menallen Township.

  • Accessory structures exceeding 600 square feet have separate side and rear-yard treatment under §1001.

  front yard: 35 feet (Principal and accessory uses and structures) · side yard: 20 feet (Principal structure or accessory structure exceeding 600 square feet) · rear yard: 20 feet (Principal structure or accessory structure exceeding 600 square feet)

  “1. Front Yard – Principal and accessory uses and structures: Thirty-five (35) feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Rural Residential (RR) District inside Menallen Township.

  • Height can increase one foot for every 20 feet of lot width beyond the §703.B minimum width.
  • Height cannot exceed 50 feet.

  maximum building height: 35 feet (Base RR District maximum) · absolute maximum building height: <= 50 feet (After width-based increase)

  “D. Maximum Building Height: Thirty-five (35) feet. Maximum building height may be increased by one (1) foot for every twenty (20) feet of lot width in excess of the minimum lot width established by Section 703.B. In no case shall the maximum building height be permitted to exceed fifty (50) feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV-hosting use inside Menallen Township under the Adams County Zoning Ordinance.

  • Operator must reside on the property.
  • Minimum lot area is five acres.
  • Only one recreational vehicle is allowed.
  • The site must have on-lot septic and water facilities, and the municipal sewage enforcement officer must confirm existing septic capacity.
  • It may be the only short-term rental on the property.

  minimum lot area: 5 acres (RV Hosting site) · maximum recreational vehicles: 1 vehicle (RV Hosting site)

  “The RV Hosting site shall be limited to one (1) recreational vehicle.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tent-hosting use inside Menallen Township under the Adams County Zoning Ordinance.

  • Operator must reside on the property.
  • Minimum lot area is five acres.
  • The site must access on-lot septic and water facilities, with sewage-enforcement confirmation of septic capacity.
  • It may be the only short-term rental on the property.

  minimum lot area: 5 acres (Tent Hosting site)

  “The Tent Hosting site shall be located on a property with a minimum lot area of five (5) acres.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Menallen Township where permitted by the Adams County Zoning Ordinance.

  • Detached ADUs require a tract exceeding one acre; attached ADUs have no such acreage restriction.
  • Only one ADU may be on a property.
  • Maximum occupancy is two persons, excluding specified related minor children.
  • An ADU must meet stated parking, size, architectural, height, yard, kitchen, and full-bath requirements.

  maximum ADUs per property: 1 ADU · maximum occupants: 2 persons (Related minor children specified in §1006.C do not count.)

  “Detached ADUs shall be permitted only on a tract in excess of one (1) acre. Attached ADUs shall have no such restrictions.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  RV-hosting sites inside Menallen Township.

  • Access must be by an existing driveway or a new entrance permitted by the local municipality or PennDOT, as appropriate.
  • Site access must allow maneuvering without backing within a road right-of-way.

  “Access to the RV Hosting site shall be provided by an existing driveway or by a new entrance permitted by the local municipality or by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, as appropriate.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Vacation rentals inside Menallen Township under the Adams County Zoning Ordinance.

  • Use must be compatible and harmonious with the neighborhood.
  • A 24-hour contact person/entity within a 15-minute drive is required.
  • Occupancy is limited to two people per available guest room or suite.
  • The operator must demonstrate registration with the Adams County Treasurer for hotel-room rental tax.

  maximum overnight occupants: per 2 persons per available guest room or suite

  “The number of overnight occupants shall be limited to two persons per available guest room or suite.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Adams County zoning permit process for new structures, additions, signs, or use changes inside Menallen Township.

  • Applicant must submit a signed application and pay the zoning permit fee for the application to be complete.
  • A zoning permit is required before a new structure, building addition, sign, or property-use change.

  “Anyone proposing a new structure, building addition, sign, and/ or change in the use of a property in Germany Township or Menallen Township must apply for and receive an Adams County Zoning Permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building permits, distinct from the documented Adams County zoning permit, inside Menallen Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Menallen Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Menallen Township.
• Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction inside Menallen Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for dwellings inside Menallen 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.