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

Hopewell Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Hopewell township's limits for which the township issues a building permit

  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
  • The fee schedule does not state which work requires a permit.
  • Fees must be paid before permits are issued, per the fee schedule's landowner acknowledgment.

  building permit base fee (0-1,000 valuation): 30 USD (plus $1.00 for each additional $1,000 or part thereof beyond the first $1,000)

  “building permit: $0-1,000 - $30.00 + $1.00 each additional $1,000 or part thereof beyond the first $1,000”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Hopewell township's limits, Cumberland County, PA: the township's own zoning ordinance, zoning permits, zoning hearing board and conditional use process

  • Evidence is the township's own 2026 fee schedule, which lists a zoning ordinance book, a zoning/land-use permit, zoning hearing board appeals and conditional use applications. The fee schedule is the only official township page confirmed for zoning; the zoning ordinance text itself was not confirmed for this township.
  • The 2026 fee schedule states no effective date beyond its title.
  • Cumberland County Conservation District permits may be required, per the fee schedule.

  zoning ordinance book fee: 30 USD (each; the same fee applies to the subdivision and land development ordinance book)

  “zoning ordinance book and subdivision and land development ordinance book: $30.00 each”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage systems for land inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA, administered through the township sewage enforcement office

  • The township's sewer enforcement page lists a contracted sewage enforcement contact (KPI Technology). The fee schedule refers to permit fees 'as established by seo', the sewage enforcement officer.
  • The same page lists the Newburg-Hopewell Joint Sewer Authority separately; the page does not say whether that authority regulates on-lot systems.
  • The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act and any county or health-department role were not opened and are not confirmed here.

  “sewer enforcement kpi technology gill picarelli contact number: 717-339-0612”

• Septic permitRequired

  New on-lot sewage systems inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA

  • Fees are set by the township sewage enforcement officer in addition to the stated application fee.
  • Fees must be paid before permits are issued, per the fee schedule.
  • The fee schedule does not state the permit procedure, timing or inspection steps.

  new sewage system initial application fee: 925 USD (additional fees will apply as established by SEO)

  “new sewage system- initial application (additional fees will apply as established by seo): $925.00”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division or development of land inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA, under the township subdivision and land development ordinance

  • Preliminary and final plan application fees, per-lot fees and escrow amounts apply, per the fee schedule.
  • The fee schedule says the Cumberland County Planning Department charges its actual cost to the landowner.
  • No plan will be released until all fees are paid, per the fee schedule.

  preliminary plan application fee: 100 USD (plus $25.00 for each lot/dwelling; escrow $1,500)

  “subdivision and land development ordinance • preliminary plan application fee: $100.00 • each lot/dwelling: $25.00”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveway access onto roads for land inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA

  • The fee schedule lists a township driveway permit; it does not say which roads or access types trigger the permit.
  • Fees must be paid before permits are issued, per the fee schedule.

  driveway permit fee: 60 USD

  “driveway permit: $60.00 ⃝ zoning ordinance book and subdivision and land development ordinance book: $30.00 each”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township permit fees for land inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA

  • Fees are published in the 2026 fee schedule; the schedule does not state an effective date beyond its title.
  • Landowners are responsible for county and conservation district costs, which are set by those bodies.
  • Fees must be paid before any permits are issued, per the fee schedule.

  zoning/land-use permit base fee (0-1,000 valuation): 60 USD (plus $1.00 for each additional $1,000 or part thereof beyond the first $1,000) · driveway permit fee: 60 USD · new sewage system initial application fee: 925 USD (additional fees will apply as established by SEO)

  “zoning/land-use permit: $0-1,000 - $60.00 + $1.00 each additional $1,000 or part thereof beyond the first $1,000”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for new construction inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new dwellings inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for land inside Hopewell township, Cumberland County, PA

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.