Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lower Frankford Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Frankford Township is a township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Lower Frankford Township adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Lower Frankford Township’s rules apply, not the county’s. 31 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 31, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Cumberland County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Lower Frankford Township
Lower Frankford Township’s own rules
Building permitRequired
New construction and development inside Lower Frankford township.
Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
The zoning page says building permit applications are filed at the township office; the township page also links a third-party permit portal, and the agency that issues the UCC permit was not confirmed.
Floodplain development needs a separate floodplain permit from the floodplain administrator.
“all building permit applications need to be filed at the township office.”
InspectionsLimited
Construction in identified floodplain areas that needs a township floodplain permit.
Inspection duty is stated in the floodplain ordinance; general UCC building inspections for ordinary new houses were not confirmed.
Floodplain administrator is the zoning officer per Section 3.01.
“during the construction period, the floodplain administrator or other authorized official shall inspect the premises”
Local zoningPresent
Land inside Lower Frankford township limits, Cumberland County, PA. The township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance.
The copy checked is the zoning ordinance posted on the township website; later amendments were not checked.
Zoning-only topics in this record are answered from this township ordinance.
“this ordinance shall take effect as of the 6th day of august, 2019”
Zoning districtsPublished
Zoning districts of Lower Frankford township.
Ordinance names districts including Agricultural (a), Agricultural Residential (ar), Village Residential (vr) and a (c) district; the full district list was not confirmed.
Zoning map PDF (final_zoning_map_with_flood_plains.pdf) is linked from the township zoning page; the map itself was not opened.
“village residential district 8.05 area and yard regulations”
Minimum lot sizeSpecified
Single-family residential lot in the Agricultural Residential district (Section 5.05) inside Lower Frankford township.
The Agricultural (a) district (Section 4) uses a residential row of 2 acre and 200 ft width; not separately summarized here.
minimum lot area: 2 acre · minimum lot width: 200 ft
“residential 2 acre 200 ft. 10% 20% 75 ft.* 35 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
Specified — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), on-lot water and sewer tier, inside Lower Frankford township.
“single-family detached 1.5 acres. 200 ft. 15% 25 % 75 ft. 35 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
Specified — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), public or community sewer or water only tier, inside Lower Frankford township.
“single-family detached 0.5 acre 100 ft. 25% 40 % 75 ft. 20 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
Specified — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), public or community sewer and water tier, inside Lower Frankford township.
“single-family detached 0.35 acre 100 ft. 25% 40 % 55 ft. 20 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
SetbacksDistrict specific
Single-family residential lot in the Agricultural Residential district (Section 5.05) inside Lower Frankford township.
Front setback is measured from the street centerline per the table footnote.
front setback: 75 ft (measured from street centerline) · side setback (each): 35 ft · rear setback: 50 ft
“* front building setback distance measured from the street centerline.”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
District specific — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), on-lot water and sewer tier, inside Lower Frankford township.
“single-family detached 1.5 acres. 200 ft. 15% 25 % 75 ft. 35 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
District specific — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), public or community sewer or water only tier, inside Lower Frankford township.
“single-family detached 0.5 acre 100 ft. 25% 40 % 75 ft. 20 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
District specific — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), public or community sewer and water tier, inside Lower Frankford township.
“single-family detached 0.35 acre 100 ft. 25% 40 % 55 ft. 20 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
Lot coverageDistrict specific
Single-family residential lot in the Agricultural Residential district (Section 5.05) inside Lower Frankford township.
Maximum building coverage 10%; maximum impervious lot coverage 20%.
maximum building coverage: <= 10 percent · maximum impervious lot coverage: <= 20 percent
“residential 2 acre 200 ft. 10% 20% 75 ft.* 35 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
District specific — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), on-lot water and sewer tier, inside Lower Frankford township.
“single-family detached 1.5 acres. 200 ft. 15% 25 % 75 ft. 35 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
District specific — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), public or community sewer or water only tier, inside Lower Frankford township.
“single-family detached 0.5 acre 100 ft. 25% 40 % 75 ft. 20 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
District specific — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), public or community sewer and water tier, inside Lower Frankford township.
“single-family detached 0.35 acre 100 ft. 25% 40 % 55 ft. 20 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
Building heightSpecified
Single-family residential lot in the Agricultural Residential district (Section 5.05) inside Lower Frankford township.
Maximum building height 35 ft.; the table footnote excludes chimneys, spires, steeples, unoccupied towers, elevator penthouses, tanks, silos related to farm operations, antenna or other similar projections.
maximum building height: <= 35 ft (excludes chimneys, spires, steeples and similar projections per table footnote)
“*** maximum height limitation does not include chimneys, spires, steeples, unoccupied towers, elevator penthouses, tanks, silos related to farm operations, antenna or other similar projections.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Specified — Single-family detached dwelling in the Village Residential district (Section 8.05), all three lot tiers, inside Lower Frankford township.
“** maximum height limitation does not include chimneys, spires, steeples, unoccupied towers, elevator penthouses, tanks, silos related to farm operations, antenna or other similar projections.”
Living in an RVLimited
Recreational vehicles placed on a private lot inside Lower Frankford township.
An RV placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive days is treated as a single-family dwelling unit under the mobile home definition.
That treatment applies only where single-family dwellings are permitted, one unit per tract, and only if other ordinance provisions are met.
Short-term RV use under 180 days is not restricted in the sections reviewed; not fully verified.
placement period: 180 consecutive days
“it shall include park trailers, travel trailers, recreational and other similar vehicles which are placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive days”
Camping on your landLimited
Camping grounds (campgrounds) inside Lower Frankford township; camping on private lots outside a campground is not addressed in the sections reviewed.
Campgrounds are a conditional use only in the Agricultural (a), Agricultural Residential (ar) and (c) zones.
Campsites must be at least 50 feet from side or rear lot lines and 125 feet from a public street centerline, with dump stations 100 feet from any property line (Section 9.11).
“in the (a), (ar) and (c) zones camping grounds shall be permitted as a conditional use subject to the following special regulations”
Manufactured homesAllowed
One mobile or manufactured home on its own lot in zones that permit single-family dwellings inside Lower Frankford township.
Only one such unit per tract, and no other dwelling units may exist on the tract.
Other applicable ordinance provisions must be met.
Mobile home parks are subject to the township subdivision and land development ordinance.
“a mobile home or manufactured home shall be considered as a single family dwelling unit and one such unit shall be permitted on a single tract of land in all zones that permit single family dwellings”
Accessory dwellingsLimited
Accessory apartment within a single-family detached dwelling inside Lower Frankford township.
Only one accessory apartment per single-family detached dwelling, with its own direct entrance.
Permitted only while the principal dwelling is occupied by its owner.
The principal lot must meet the district minimum lot area; one additional off-street parking space is required; exterior must keep single-family character.
“an accessory apartment may only be permitted and may only continue in use as long as the principal dwelling is occupied by the owner of said dwelling”
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Single-family detached home on its own lot with on-lot water and sewer in the Village Residential district (1.5-acre tier) inside Lower Frankford township.
On-lot sanitation is treated as available only in the 1.5-acre on-lot water and sewer tier of Section 8.05.
Lots in the public or community sewer tiers need public or community sewer or water.
“single-family detached 1.5 acres. 200 ft. 15% 25 % 75 ft. 35 ft. each 50 ft. 35 ft.”
Mandatory utility hookupConditional
Residential lots inside Lower Frankford township's Village Residential district; the sewer and water requirement depends on the lot tier.
Single-family detached lots at 0.5 acre are on public or community sewer or water only; lots at 0.35 acre need public or community sewer and water.
Attached, multi-family and accessory uses are not permitted without public or community sewer and water.
The ordinance excerpt does not state a mandatory connection when public sewer becomes available; not verified.
“use not permitted without public/community sewer and water”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivision and land development inside Lower Frankford township.
The zoning ordinance refers to a separate township subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO); its text was not opened.
“the lower frankford township subdivision and land development ordinance”
Driveway accessRequired
Nonconforming or substandard lots of record that are being built on inside Lower Frankford township.
Approvals for water supply, sewage disposal and driveway connection to a public road must be obtained (Section 10.06 a).
General driveway permit rules for new lots were not located.
“providing the necessary approvals have been obtained for water supply, sewage disposal and driveway connection to a public road”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Any construction or development inside Lower Frankford township, under the township floodplain ordinance.
A floodplain administrator permit is required before construction or development; the administrator must also review other state and federal permits (Section 3.03 b).
Construction may proceed after permit issuance.
“it shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, any construction or development anywhere within lower frankford township unless a permit has been obtained from the floodplain administrator”
Short-term rentalsLimited
Bed and breakfast inns in residential dwellings inside Lower Frankford township (not general short-term rental).
No more than five guest rooms.
No cooking facilities in guest rooms.
Use of a residential dwelling for a bed and breakfast inn must be approved by the township sewage enforcement officer.
Must comply with PA Labor and Industry rules and applicable building, safety and fire codes.
maximum guest rooms: <= 5 rooms
“accommodations for overnight lodging at a bed and breakfast shall be limited to no more than five (5) guest rooms”
Permit feesVariable (with conditions)
Zoning, floodplain and other permit fees inside Lower Frankford township.
Fees are set by the board of supervisors and may change by resolution without amending the ordinance.
Floodplain permit applications must be accompanied by a fee, as determined by the township; no fee schedule was located.
“the board of supervisors shall set fees, payable in advance, for all applications, permits, or appeals provided for by this ordinance”
Permit processPartial
Permit application process for building, zoning and floodplain permits inside Lower Frankford township.
Zoning permit application, zoning permit plot plan, floodplain permit application and zoning appeal application are posted on the township zoning page.
Floodplain applications are made in writing on township forms and need a site plan and other listed items.
Rules another office applies inside Lower Frankford Township
Lower Frankford Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.
Building code adoptedAdopted
New construction inside Lower Frankford township, under the statewide Uniform Construction Code.
The township zoning ordinance defines the UCC as the statewide building code applicable to new construction in all municipalities.
The township floodplain ordinance also refers to the 2018 IBC and 2018 IRC as adopted by the commonwealth (Section 3.03 k).
“the statewide building code adopted by the pennsylvania general assembly in 1999 applicable to new construction in all municipalities”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Lower Frankford Township or Cumberland County directly.
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building a dwelling inside Lower Frankford township.
Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for new dwellings inside Lower Frankford township.
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a dwelling inside Lower Frankford township.
Tiny homes — Tiny home used as a dwelling inside Lower Frankford township.
Septic permit — On-lot sewage permit for a new dwelling inside Lower Frankford township.
3 more unanswered
Septic inspection
Well permit
Agricultural exemption
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 Lower Frankford Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cumberland County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Lower Frankford Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
