Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Upper Yoder Township, Pennsylvania

Upper Yoder Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  A building or structure erected, added to, or structurally altered in Upper Yoder Township.

  • A permit may not issue where the activity does not conform to the ordinance, except after a variance or special exception by the Board of Adjustment.

  “No building or structure shall be erected, added to, or structurally altered until a permit therefore has been issued by the Zoning Officer.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in Upper Yoder Township.

  • The Township states that it entered an agreement under which the Cambria-Somerset Council of Governments is authorized to administer and enforce the IBC and Township Zoning Ordinance.

  “On January 23, 2003, Upper Yoder Township adopted the “International Building Code Enforcement Ordinance.””

• InspectionsRequired

  Building projects for which a certificate of occupancy is required in Upper Yoder Township.

  • The two stated inspections are one after foundation completion and one when construction is approximately 75 percent complete; swimming pools and garages also require two construction-period inspections.

  required inspections: 2 inspections (One when foundation is completed and one when the building is approximately 75% completed.)

  “There must be 2 inspections made of any building project; one when the foundation is completed and one when the building is approximately 75% completed.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Buildings or structures for which the Township zoning ordinance requires a certificate of occupancy.

  • The certificate must be applied for at the same time as the building-permit application and is issued within 10 days after erection or alteration and inspection if the building or use accords with all codes and ordinances.

  issuance period: <= 10 days (After erection or alteration and inspection, if the building or use is in accordance with all codes and ordinances.)

  “Whenever a certificate of occupancy is required, it shall be applied for at the same time as the application for a building permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Upper Yoder Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

  • The Township ordinance index identifies Zoning Ordinance No. 287-A as amended December 19, 2024; district-specific requirements must be checked against that amendment.

  “This ordinance shall be known as the Upper Yoder Township Zoning Ordinance, and the map referred to herein and made a part of this ordinance shall be known as the Zoning Ordinance Map.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Upper Yoder Township.

  • The zoning ordinance and map are on file at Township offices; Ordinance 287-A, amended December 19, 2024, is listed by the Township.

  “The Township of Upper Yoder is hereby classified and divided into 12 Districts designated as follows:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  One-family detached dwellings in the zoning district governed by the cited residential schedule in Upper Yoder Township.

  • The cited schedule also requires 150 feet of width at the building line; verify current district designation and Ordinance 287-A amendments before parcel-level use.

  minimum lot area: >= 43560 square feet (One-family detached dwelling, convent, monastery, rectory, or parish house.) · minimum width at building line: >= 150 feet (One-family detached dwelling, convent, monastery, rectory, or parish house.)

  “One-family detached dwelling, convent, monastery, rectory, or parish house – a minimum of 43,560 square feet and a width at the building line of 150 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings, structures, or enlargements in the zoning district governed by the cited residential schedule in Upper Yoder Township.

  • Interior and corner lots have combined-side-yard requirements; a lot less than 150 feet wide at the building line has a separate stated side-yard rule.

  minimum front yard: >= 75 feet · minimum side yard each side: >= 20 feet (Combined side-yard requirements also apply.)

  “Front yard - not less than 75 feet Side yard - on each side, not less than 20 feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  One-family detached dwellings in the zoning district governed by the cited residential schedule in Upper Yoder Township.

  • Different limits are stated for churches, steeples or towers, accessory buildings, and other permitted buildings.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (One-family detached dwelling; alternatively 2-1/2 stories.)

  “One-family detached dwelling – 35 feet or 2-1/2 stories”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles in zoning districts containing the cited accessory-use provision in Upper Yoder Township.

  • The cited provision allows parking only when recreational vehicles are not used as dwellings; other district provisions and the 2024 amendment may apply.

  “Parking of accessory vehicles, such as boats, boat trailers and house trailers, or campers, not used as dwellings on the premises”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured home parks in the R-6 Residential District of Upper Yoder Township.

  • The ordinance restricts manufactured home parks to the R-6 Residential District; its park-restriction section sets a five-acre minimum park area.

  minimum manufactured-home park area: >= 5 acres (Applies to every manufactured home park hereafter developed.)

  “Manufactured Home Parks shall be permitted in an R-6 Residential District only. B. Lot Area – The minimum area for every manufactured home park hereafter developed shall be 5 acres.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Upper Yoder Township.

  • Plans are reviewed by the Township Planning Commission, Township Engineer, and Township Supervisors; applicable fees apply and approved plans receive signatures for recording at Cambria County Court House if applicable.

  “This includes any land development projects as well as any subdivision of land.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Zoning applications, building permits, and occupancy certificates in Upper Yoder Township.

  • Fees are established by Board of Supervisors resolution; application fees are due at application, while building-permit and occupancy fees are due at issuance. A refused building-permit application forfeits its application fee, and renewal or extension is charged at the original permit rate.

  “The application and building permit fees [...] shall be established by Resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit and certificate-of-occupancy applications in Upper Yoder Township.

  • Applications must be accompanied by required fees and lot plans, plus other district-regulation data; the Zoning Officer may require a property survey where property lines are not clearly identifiable.

  site or plot plan copies: 2 copies (Submitted with all building-permit applications.)

  “There shall be submitted with all applications for building permits 2 copies of a site or plot plan drawn to scale”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in Upper Yoder Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Upper Yoder Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Upper Yoder Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Upper Yoder Township.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Upper Yoder 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.