Bolthole Index

Adams County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Mount Joy Township, Pennsylvania

Mount Joy Township in Adams County, Pennsylvania adopts and enforces its own zoning ordinance1, and building permits are applied for through the township's Building Permit Officer2. Septic permits also stay local, issued by the township's Sewage Enforcement Officer3, not by Adams County4. Adams County does not zone Mount Joy Township5.

At a glance

Zoning
Township ordinance, Chapter 110; districts include Agricultural Conservation and Open Countryside16
Building permit
Required; apply in writing to the township's Building Permit Officer27
Septic permit
Township Sewage Enforcement Officer3
Well permit
Township well permit required before construction starts8
Owner-builder
No state contractor license for most work; township rules still apply9
Permit fees
Based on estimated construction cost, set by Board of Supervisors resolution10
RV or tiny home living
Not confirmed; ask the township zoning officer6

Who to call

Zoning

Mount Joy Township office (zoning and building permit contact)

Zoning permits, zoning questions and the township's building permit process for Mount Joy Township

(717) 359-4500

902 Hoffman Home Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325

Building permits

Township Building Permit Officer

Building permit applications and inspections in Mount Joy Township, as listed on the Adams County municipal page

(717) 761-5340

Septic permits

Township Sewage Enforcement Officer (Keller Engineers)

On-lot sewage (septic) permits in Mount Joy Township

(717) 334-9137

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Mount Joy Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Mount Joy Township have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Yes. Mount Joy Township, Adams County adopted its own zoning chapter, Chapter 110, and amended it in its entirety in 20171. Adams County's own zoning ordinance is applied only in Germany and Menallen Townships, so it does not govern land in Mount Joy Township5. The township's code names an Agricultural Conservation District, an Open Countryside District, a Baltimore Pike Corridor District and a Baltimore Pike Corridor Intensive Uses Overlay District6. Find your parcel's district before you plan anything.

We could not confirm the township's lot sizes, setbacks, building heights, or its rules for RV living, tiny homes, camping, accessory dwellings or short-term rentals. Ask the township zoning officer through the township office11 before you buy. Pennsylvania's rules for state park campgrounds do not answer whether you can live in an RV on your own land12.

Do you need a building permit in Mount Joy Township, and who issues it?

Yes. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code requires an owner to apply for and obtain a permit before building, enlarging or altering a residential building7. In Mount Joy Township the application goes in writing to the Building Permit Officer on forms the township supplies, with a site plan and the other permits you need2. The officer also checks that necessary state and federal permits are in hand before issuing2.

Fees follow the estimated construction cost and are set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors10. The officer inspects the work during construction and at completion13, and a residential building may not be occupied without a certificate of occupancy14. A qualifying farm building is excluded from the state Construction Code Act, but township zoning and other rules can still apply15. Adams County itself does not issue building permits16.

Who handles building permits and zoning in Mount Joy Township, and how do you reach them?

The Mount Joy Township office at 902 Hoffman Home Road, Gettysburg is the place to start for zoning questions and permit forms11. Hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm, or by appointment11.

The Adams County municipal directory lists a Building Permit Officer and says to contact the municipality for the most current information17. Confirm with the township office which contact is current before you send an application.

County offices are not the right counter for these. For land outside this township, see the Adams County page.

How do septic permits work in Mount Joy Township?

The township's Sewage Enforcement Officer issues septic permits inside Mount Joy Township3. Pennsylvania requires a permit from the local agency before installing, building, occupying or using a building served by an on-lot system18. The state allows a possible exemption for an owner's or immediate family's residence on a contiguous tract of at least 10 acres, subject to conditions and any local ordinance18, so ask the Sewage Enforcement Officer before relying on it.

Inside a designated sewage-management district, a septic tank must be pumped once every four years, or sooner if an inspection finds excess solids or scum19. A spray-irrigation system also needs proof of a maintenance contract with an approved contractor before the permit issues20. Reach the officer through the Adams County municipal page21. Adams County's soils matter too: only 14% are rated not limited for a conventional drain field22, so expect a site evaluation.

Do you need a well permit in Mount Joy Township?

Yes, for wells covered by the township's Chapter 1078. Construction of a well or borehole may not start until the township issues a well permit after reviewing your application8. The chapter excludes public water systems, routine maintenance and minor repairs to an existing well, and horizontal geothermal systems, and it prohibits open-loop geothermal systems8. Pennsylvania does not license homeowners who drill their own wells on their own land, but that is separate from the township permit23.

Building a home in Mount Joy Township: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the township zoning officer which zoning district your parcel is in and whether your plan is allowed6.
  2. If you are dividing land, check the township's subdivision and land development chapter first24.
  3. Get a septic permit from the Sewage Enforcement Officer3 and a township well permit if you will drill8.
  4. If the driveway meets a state road, apply to PennDOT for a highway occupancy permit25.
  5. Apply in writing to the Building Permit Officer on township forms2.
  6. If any part of the site is in an identified floodplain, supply the extra information the officer asks for26.
  7. Have the work inspected and get a certificate of occupancy before moving in14.

What stays with Adams County, and what to check before you buy

Adams County reviews subdivision and land development plans as advice only, and each municipality gives the final approval27. The county does not issue building permits in the township16. Floodplain development is regulated by the township, and development activities require a permit28.

For cost context, Adams County's effective property tax rate is 1.4%29. Before you buy, ask the township about your parcel's zoning district, floodplain status, and whether it sits in a sewage-management district. See the Adams County page for land outside Mount Joy Township.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Mount Joy Township's minimum lot size, setbacks, building height or RV, tiny-home and accessory-dwelling rules; ask the township zoning officer before you buy11.
  • Contact details for the Building Permit Officer differ between sources; confirm with the township office at (717) 359-4500 before sending an application11.
  • A search for Mount Joy Township often returns the Lancaster County township of the same name, which is a different township with its own rules1.
  • A residential building cannot be occupied without a certificate of occupancy14.

Sources

  1. Chapter 110: Zoning - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 35: Building Permits - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 68: Septic Systems - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. PA DEP - Act 537 Sewage Facilities Program (2026 county census)
  5. Adams County - Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 110: Zoning - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 107: Wells - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 35: Building Permits - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Mount Joy Township office (zoning and building permit contact) (mtjoytwp.us)
  12. RV and Tent Campsites (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 35: Building Permits - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Pennsylvania Construction Code Act — Chapter 1 (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Adams County Office of Planning & Development - FAQs (2026 county census)
  17. Township Building Permit Officer (adamscountypa.gov)
  18. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Chapter 68: Septic Systems - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. Chapter 68: Septic Systems - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. Township Sewage Enforcement Officer (Keller Engineers) (adamscountypa.gov)
  22. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Apply for a Water Well Drillers License and Rig Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Chapter 86: Subdivision and Land Development - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  25. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Chapter 35: Building Permits - Township of Mount Joy, PA (Mount Joy Township), quoted and re-checked
  27. Electronic Submission of Documents for Review, quoted and re-checked
  28. Adams County - Planning FAQs, Floodplains, quoted and re-checked
  29. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Mount Joy Township

Mount Joy Township’s own rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction or development inside Mount Joy Township.

    • Inspections occur during construction and upon completion as necessary to determine compliance with the permit application and applicable municipal laws and ordinances.
    “During the construction period, the Building Permit Officer or other authorized official shall 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. He shall make as many inspections during and upon completion of the work as are necessary.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Mount Joy Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

    • The code identifies subsequent amendments where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Mount Joy 11-7-1991 by Ord. No. 91003; amended in its entirety 11-2-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Mount Joy Township.

    • The zoning code identifies an Agricultural Conservation District, Open Countryside District, Baltimore Pike Corridor District, and Baltimore Pike Corridor Intensive Uses Overlay District.
    “Agricultural Conservation District (AC). [...] Open Countryside District (OC)”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    On-lot sewage systems inside Mount Joy Township.

    • The named Sewage Enforcement Officer includes alternate officers appointed by the Township Board of Supervisors.
    “Sewage Enforcement Officer of the Township”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of a spray-irrigation sewage system inside Mount Joy Township.

    • Before permit issuance, the applicant must provide the SEO proof of a contract with an approved contractor for testing and maintenance.
    • The contract proof must continue while the system remains installed; if the SEO does not approve the contract or proof, no new permit issues or an existing permit may be revoked.
    “Any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity seeking a permit for the installation of a spray irrigation system in the Township of Mount Joy must, prior to the issuance of a permit by the SEO for the installation of such system, and at all times that such system remains installed on any property, provide to the SEO proof of a contract with an approved contractor for testing and maintenance of the spray irrigation system.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Buildings using on-lot sewage disposal inside a designated Mount Joy Township sewage-management district.

    • A septic tank must be pumped once every four years or sooner when an inspection identifies excessive solids or scum.
    • A cesspool, dry well, or pit privy must be pumped once every four years; systems noncompliant with DEP regulations must be replaced or rehabilitated.

    septic tank pumping interval: per 4 years (or whenever an inspection program reveals solids or scum in excess of one-third of liquid depth) · cesspool, dry well, or pit privy pumping interval: per 4 years

    “Within an identified sewage management district (OLDS District), the owner of a building served by an on-lot sewage disposal system which contains a septic tank shall have the tank pumped to remove septage and other solids by a qualified pumper/hauler once every four years or whenever an inspection program reveals that the tank is filled with solids or with scum in excess of 1/3 of the liquid depth of the tank.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction of a well or borehole subject to Chapter 107 inside Mount Joy Township.

    • The chapter excludes public water systems, normal maintenance and minor repairs to an existing well, and horizontal geothermal systems.
    • Open-loop geothermal systems are prohibited.
    • The Township must review and approve the application before issuing the permit.
    “Construction of a well or borehole subject to this chapter may not commence until such time as the Township issues a well permit following its review and approval of an application for the well permit.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Mount Joy Township.

    • The chapter has been amended where applicable.
    “Chapter 86 Subdivision and Land Development”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction or development located entirely or partly in an identified floodplain area inside Mount Joy Township.

    • Applicants must provide information sufficient for the Building Permit Officer to determine consistency with flood-damage minimization and all applicable codes and ordinances.
    • Utilities and facilities must be located and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damage, and adequate drainage must be provided.
    “If any proposed construction or development is located entirely or partially within any identified floodplain area, applicants for building permits shall provide all the necessary information in sufficient detail and clarity to enable the Building Permit Officer to determine that:”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Development-permit applications or requests inside Mount Joy Township.

    • The amount is based on estimated construction cost.
    • The fee amount or schedule is set from time to time by Township Board of Supervisors resolution.
    “A fee amount, based upon the estimated cost of proposed construction, shall be paid for by applications or requests for development permits. Such fee amount or schedule shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Township Board of Supervisors.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Mount Joy Township.

    • Application must be in writing to the Building Permit Officer on Township-supplied forms.
    • The application must include the applicant, owner, and contractor names and addresses; site location; other required permits; proposed-work description and estimated cost; and a site plan.
    • Before permit issuance, the officer reviews whether necessary state and federal permits have been obtained.
    “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 the following:”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Mount Joy Township.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Mount Joy Township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Mount Joy Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Mount Joy Township zoning districts.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots in Mount Joy Township zoning districts.
12 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Mount Joy Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Adams County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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