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

Hanover Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, renovations, remodeling, and additions inside Hanover Township.

  • Certain projects, including agricultural buildings, renovations, or remodeling, may be exempt; the Township directs applicants to contact the Zoning Officer before work.

  “A building permit and inspections are required for all new construction, including renovations, remodeling, and additions. Certain project including agricultural buildings, renovations or remodeling may be exempt, but it is best to contact the Zoning Officer before beginning any construction project.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New construction inside Hanover Township.

  • The Township webpage says the UCC was adopted in 2006 for all new construction.

  “In 2006 the Township adopted the Universal Construction Code for all new construction.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New construction, renovations, remodeling, and additions inside Hanover Township.

  • Certain projects may be exempt; Middle Department Inspection Agency performs residential and commercial inspections for the Township.

  “A building permit and inspections are required for all new construction, including renovations, remodeling, and additions.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Hanover Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

  • Structures and land uses must comply with the zoning ordinance and obtain required permits and certificates.

  “No structure shall be located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, converted, or enlarged; nor shall any structure or land be used or be designed to be used, except in full compliance with all the provisions of this Ordinance and after the lawful issuance of all permits and certificates required by this Ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Hanover Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

  • District boundaries are shown on the Official Zoning Map, which the Township keeps on file for examination.

  “202.1 Zoning Districts: The Township is divided into the districts stated in this Ordinance as shown by the district boundaries on the Official Zoning Map: A-1 Agricultural District R-1 Rural Residential District R-2 Suburban Residential District C-1 General Commercial District I-1 Industrial District”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in Township zoning districts, including A-1 Agricultural and R-1 Rural Residential districts.

  • Corner lots in the A-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts require an additional 10 feet of side yard along the non-frontage road; R-1 has a public-sanitary-sewer exception.

  R-1 public-sewer side yard: 20 feet (Each side yard for single-family and two-family dwellings when public sanitary sewers are available.)

  “**Corner lots in the A-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts shall provide an additional 10 feet of side yard along the non-frontage road.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in Township zoning districts, including A-1 Agricultural and R-1 Rural Residential districts.

  • Coverage is established in Table 204.10 and varies by zoning district and listed use.

  “The minimum lot area, minimum lot area per family, maximum lot coverage by buildings and structures, minimum depth of front yard, minimum depth of rear yard, side yard requirements, maximum height of structures and number of stories for each district shall be as specified in Table 204.10.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in Township zoning districts, including A-1 Agricultural and R-1 Rural Residential districts.

  • Maximum structure height and number of stories are established by Table 204.10 and vary by district and listed use.

  “The minimum lot area, minimum lot area per family, maximum lot coverage by buildings and structures, minimum depth of front yard, minimum depth of rear yard, side yard requirements, maximum height of structures and number of stories for each district shall be as specified in Table 204.10.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Individual mobile or manufactured homes on individual lots inside Hanover Township.

  • The lot must meet district area and yard requirements; the home must comply with applicable building-code and Uniform Construction Code installation standards.

  “Individual mobile or manufactured homes shall be permitted on individual lots only if they meet the following conditions: a. The proposed lot shall meet all area and yard requirements of the district. b. The mobile home shall comply with building code standards, as applicable. c. The mobile or manufactured homes shall be installed per Uniform Construction Code standards.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage and septic-system work inside Hanover Township.

  • The Township identifies its Sewage Enforcement Officer as Jeff Winkle.

  “An application must be completed prior to the testing or installation of a new septic system or before any repairs are made. The applications may be picked up at the Township Office or you can call or email to have one mailed to you. Sewage Enforcement Officer: Jeff Winkle”

• Septic permitRequired

  Testing, installing, or repairing a new septic system inside Hanover Township.

  • A completed application is required before testing, installation, or repair.

  “An application must be completed prior to the testing or installation of a new septic system or before any repairs are made.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural building projects and renovation or remodeling projects inside Hanover Township.

  • The Township says certain projects, including agricultural buildings, renovations, or remodeling, may be exempt and directs applicants to contact the Zoning Officer before beginning construction.

  “Certain project including agricultural buildings, renovations or remodeling may be exempt, but it is best to contact the Zoning Officer before beginning any construction project.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Hanover Township.

  • The Township's official ordinances index identifies both Ordinance No. 56 SALDO and an amendment to it, Ordinance No. 61.

  “Ordinance #56 SALDO (Subdivision & Land Development) [...] Ordinance #61 Amending ORD #56 Subdivision & Land Development”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential zoning permits inside Hanover Township.

  • The stated fee is current according to the Township webpage; zoning-ordinance filing fees are periodically established by the Township.

  residential zoning permit fee: 100 USD (The webpage states this is the current fee.)

  “NOTE: A residential zoning permit currently costs $100.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit applications inside Hanover Township.

  • A site plan is required with every zoning application; the permit application specifies documentation and other permits that may be needed depending on the site and proposed development.

  “A Site plan must be submitted with every Zoning application; see the Site Plan Examples below.”

Rules another office applies inside Hanover Township

Hanover 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 sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Rural Residential District inside Hanover Township.

  • When public sanitary sewers are available for use, the required lot area for single-family and two-family dwellings is 1 acre and lot width is 120 feet; side yards must be 20 feet each.

  minimum lot area: 2 acres (R-1 general Table 204.10 standard; public-sewer exception applies.) · public-sewer lot area: 1 acre (Single-family and two-family dwellings where public sanitary sewers are available.)

  “***In the R-1 District when public sanitary sewers are available for use, lot area required for single-family and two-family dwellings shall be 1 acre and lot width 120 feet; side yards shall be 20 feet each.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — A-1 Agricultural District inside Hanover Township.

    “A-1 Agricultural District All Uses, Except as 2 Acres 200 60 25 50 35 20% Noted”

Still unanswered

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

• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Hanover Township zoning districts.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hanover Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Hanover Township.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Hanover Township.
• Well permit — Private wells inside Hanover 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.