Bolthole Index

Butler County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lancaster Township, Butler County, PA

Lancaster Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance, and a building permit is required before anyone builds, enlarges, alters or moves a building12. Zoning applications start at the township office3. Septic permits come from a local sewage agency, not from the county planning office4; we could not confirm which agency serves the township, so ask the township office.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before erecting, enlarging, altering or moving any building in the township2
Zoning
Township zoning ordinance with six districts and two overlay districts15
Who inspects
A third-party inspection agency handles building inspections for the township3
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new building or addition is used or occupied6
Septic
Permit from a local agency under state law; the serving agency is unconfirmed4
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask the township before you plan on it3
Driveway on a state road
PennDOT highway occupancy permit7
Property tax
Butler County's effective rate is about 1.1%8

Who to call

Zoning

Lancaster Township Municipal Office

Zoning applications, building permits and certificate of occupancy questions inside Lancaster Township; the township uses a third-party agency for building inspections

724-452-7213

113 Kings Alley, Harmony, PA 16037

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 Lancaster Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Lancaster Township, PA have zoning?

Yes. Lancaster Township in Butler County has its own zoning ordinance, adopted in 1988 and amended in its entirety in 20081. The township describes itself as a zoned community3.

The ordinance divides the township into six zoning districts and two overlay districts5. The districts are R-1 Rural Residential, R-2 Medium Density Residential, V Village, MU Mixed Use, I Industrial and CN Conservation, with an Access Management and Design overlay and an Airport overlay5. Dimensional rules differ by district: in the R-1 Rural Residential district, lot coverage may not exceed 10%, including accessory structures9.

Before any construction, enlargement, alteration, move, demolition or change of use, the owner must first apply to the Zoning Officer for a zoning permit10. Construction cannot start under a zoning permit until the township issues a separate building permit or decides one is not required10. The zoning map is posted on the township website.

We could not confirm rules for RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or manufactured homes in Lancaster Township. Ask the township office which district your parcel is in and what that district allows before you buy.

Do you need a building permit in Lancaster Township, PA, and who issues it?

Yes. Lancaster Township makes it unlawful to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, raze or move any building in the township until a building permit has been obtained2. The township adopted Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code as its own building code11.

The application describes the location, use and occupancy and includes a site plan, and each building in a multi-building project needs its own permit2. The permit fee follows a schedule the Board of Supervisors sets by resolution, so ask the township office for the current amount12.

The township handles building permit questions at its own office, and it uses a third-party agency for all building inspections3. A new building or addition may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by the township6.

We could not confirm any township owner-builder exemption. Pennsylvania's statewide rules let an owner be the named permit applicant, but that does not remove the permit, inspection or occupancy requirements13. Butler County's planning office does not issue building permits or zoning approval for Lancaster Township14.

How do septic permits work in Lancaster Township, PA?

Pennsylvania requires a permit from the local sewage agency before installing, constructing, occupying or using a building served by an individual on-lot sewage system4. Local agencies can be a municipality, a group of municipalities or a county health department15.

We could not confirm which agency issues individual septic permits for Lancaster Township, because the township sewage provisions we reviewed cover only privately owned community sewage systems. The township office is the place to ask3.

For larger developments, a private community sewage system is allowed only where the township's official sewage plan permits it, and a developer needs proof of final state approval before township final approval16. The community sewage permit must be applied for before or when the site plan or subdivision is submitted17.

Butler County's soils make the site evaluation matter: about 1% of county soils rate as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so many lots need an engineered system18. Wells on private lots: we could not confirm a township well rule, and Pennsylvania has no construction standards for private water wells19.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Lancaster Township, PA?

We could not confirm that you can. The township zoning provisions we reviewed allow storage of resident-owned camping vehicles in some districts, but they do not establish living in an RV on private land. Temporary camping and tiny-home rules were also not confirmed. Pennsylvania's published camping limits apply only to state park campgrounds and do not answer the question for private land20.

Any dwelling must meet the building permit and certificate of occupancy rules, since a building may not be used or occupied without the certificate6. Call the Lancaster Township Municipal Office and ask the zoning officer about your specific parcel and use before you buy or move anything onto the land3.

Building a home in Lancaster Township, PA: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zoning district on the township zoning map and ask the township office what that district allows53.
  2. Apply to the Zoning Officer for a zoning permit with a scaled site plan; fees must be paid before it is issued10.
  3. Get a septic permit from the local sewage agency, which the township office can identify4.
  4. If the driveway will meet a state road, get a PennDOT highway occupancy permit7.
  5. Obtain the building permit before work starts2.
  6. Have the work inspected; the township uses a third-party inspection agency3.
  7. Get the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in6.

What stays with Butler County, and what to check before you buy in Lancaster Township

Butler County's planning office reviews subdivisions and land development but does not run zoning or building permits for the township14. Whether a particular split of land falls under the county ordinance or a township one must be checked for each parcel21. For land outside the township, see the Butler County page.

Check the floodplain too: development in floodplain areas is subject to the township's floodplain management chapter and its permit requirements22. A driveway onto a state highway needs a PennDOT highway occupancy permit7.

For the money side, Butler County's effective property tax rate is about 1.1%8. The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 34 miles from the county's center23.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm which local agency issues individual septic permits in Lancaster Township; ask the Lancaster Township Municipal Office before you sign a purchase contract3.
  • RV, tiny-home, accessory-dwelling and manufactured-home rules were not confirmed for Lancaster Township, so get the zoning officer's answer for your parcel in writing3.
  • A zoning permit does not let you start building: the township must also issue a building permit or decide one is not required10.
  • Fees are set by Board of Supervisors resolution and can change, so ask the township for the current schedule12.

Sources

  1. Township of Lancaster, PA, Chapter 300 Zoning (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Township of Lancaster, PA, Chapter 105 Building Permits (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Lancaster Township Municipal Office (lancaster-township.com)
  4. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Township of Lancaster, PA, § 300-5 Zoning and overlay districts (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Township of Lancaster, PA, Article XII Administration and Enforcement (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  9. Township of Lancaster, PA, Article V Zoning and Overlay District Regulations (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Township of Lancaster, PA, Article XII Administration and Enforcement (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Township of Lancaster, PA, Chapter 126 Construction Codes, Uniform (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Township of Lancaster, PA, Article XII Administration and Enforcement (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, quoted and re-checked
  14. 2017 Awarded Comprehensive Plan, quoted and re-checked
  15. Act 537 Sewage Facilities (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Township of Lancaster, PA, Chapter 208, Article I Use of Private and Public Community Sewage Systems (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Township of Lancaster, PA, Chapter 208, Article I Use of Private and Public Community Sewage Systems (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. 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
  19. Apply for a Water Well Drillers License and Rig Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. RV and Tent Campsites (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Butler County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  22. Township of Lancaster, PA, Article XII Administration and Enforcement (Lancaster Township), quoted and re-checked
  23. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: 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 Lancaster Township

Lancaster Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, razing, or moving any building within Lancaster Township.

    • The application must include the general description, location, use and occupancy, a site plan, and additional information required by the Building Code Official.
    • Dimension plans are required if required by the Building Code Official; applicant must furnish evidence of intended compliance.
    • A separate permit is required for each building in a multi-building project.
    “It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, raze or move any building within the limits of Lancaster Township until a building permit has been obtained therefor.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction code administration and enforcement within Lancaster Township.

    • The adopted Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.
    • Administration may be by a Township employee, retained official or agency, intermunicipal arrangement, another municipality, or an agreement with Pennsylvania Labor and Industry as provided in Chapter 126.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference as the "Lancaster Township Building Code."”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Buildings covered by a Township building permit.

    • Permit holder must report completion to the Building Code Official.
    • The official may inspect after completion or during the work.
    “The Building Code Official may, after completion or at any time during the course of the work for which the permit shall have been granted, cause an inspection of such building to be made.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New structures or buildings and additions or alterations inside Lancaster Township.

    • Before issuance, the Township inspects for compliance with the zoning permit, building permit, Township Building Code, and other applicable ordinances and regulations.
    “A new structure or building or addition thereto or alteration thereof may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by the Township.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Lancaster Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

    • The ordinance was amended in its entirety on November 17, 2008; subsequent amendments are noted where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Lancaster 12-6-1988 by Ord. No. 29; amended in its entirety 11-17-2008 by Ord. No. 89. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Lancaster Township.

    • The official zoning map is adopted by reference as part of Chapter 300.

    zoning districts: R-1 Rural Residential; R-2 Medium Density Residential; V Village; MU Mixed Use; I Industrial; CN Conservation · overlay districts: A&D Access Management and Design Overlay; AO Airport Overlay

    “The Township of Lancaster is hereby classified and divided into six zoning districts and two overlay districts, designated as follows:”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Privately owned community sewage systems inside Lancaster Township.

    • Permitted only where the official Township sewage plan, or a future revision or amendment, permits it.
    • Subject to the article and regulations promulgated under it.
    • A developer must submit an application, fee, drawings, engineering data, and proof of DEP final approval before Township final approval.
    “A private community sewage system shall be permitted in the Township where it may now be permitted by the official plan for the Township or in such place in the Township as future revisions or amendments of the official plan permit, all subject to the requirements of this article and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision or land-development proposals involving a privately owned community sewage system in Lancaster Township.

    • The private-community-sewage permit must be applied for before or at site-plan or proposed-subdivision documentation submission.
    • Submissions must conform to DEP design standards and proof of DEP final approval must be submitted before Township final approval.
    “The permit shall be applied for prior to or at the time of submission of all documentation required by the Township of the development of the site plan or proposed subdivision to the Planning Commission of Lancaster Township for review, subject to the provisions and requirements of this article and any and all other land development and subdivision ordinances of the Township.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in floodplain areas inside Lancaster Township.

    • Development remains subject to Chapter 139 Floodplain Management regulations and permit requirements.
    “Development in floodplain areas shall be further subject to the regulations and permit requirements of Chapter 139, Floodplain Management.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Township zoning permits and building permits inside Lancaster Township.

    • Zoning fees may be revised by Board resolution and are available for public inspection at the Township office.
    • No zoning permit is issued until fees are paid in full.
    • Building-permit fees are set by Board resolution from time to time; work value is determined by the Building Code Official using current costs.
    “Before receiving a building permit, the owner or tenant or their agent shall pay a fee for said permit according to a schedule of fees as may be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Lancaster Township.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning permits for construction, alteration, movement, demolition, or change of use inside Lancaster Township.

    • Application includes a scaled site plan with required information.
    • Additional documents may be required in special circumstances.
    • Fees must be collected before permit issuance.
    • Construction cannot start under a zoning permit until the Township issues a separate building permit or determines a building permit is not required.

    zoning permit commencement deadline: <= 180 days (unless a timely written extension for just cause is granted by the Zoning Officer)

    “An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, move, demolish, or change the use of a building or structure in any zoning district shall first apply to the Zoning Officer and obtain the required zoning permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Lancaster Township

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

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Lancaster Township.
  • Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Lancaster Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Lancaster Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Lancaster Township.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Lancaster Township.
8 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Lancaster Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Butler County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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