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

Upper Paxton Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Upper Paxton township limits, under the township's own Chapter 27 Zoning ordinance.

  • The text reviewed is the Feb 2020 supplement (supp 22); the township's April 2026 agenda lists a 'Data Center Regulations' old-business item that could amend it. Not verified.

  “to govern the use of the land, including the control of location, bulk, height, shape, use and coverage of structures within each zone”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of Upper Paxton township: CN, A, R-S, R-M, R-MP, CM, I and SPI.

  • Boundaries are shown on the township zoning map, which is part of Chapter 27 (§ 27-302); the map image was not opened.

  “for the purpose of this chapter, the township is hereby divided into districts which shall be designated as follows: "cn" "a" "r-s" "r-m" "r-mp" "cm" "i" "spi"”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in the A agricultural district inside Upper Paxton township.

  • Note 2: the total number of lots and/or dwelling units shall comply with the provisions of § 27-1102, subsection 30 of this chapter (not opened).

  minimum lot area: >= 20 acre · maximum density: <= 0.05 dwelling units per acre · minimum lot width: >= 150 feet

  “minimum lot area 20 acre maximum density2 0.05 du/ac minimum lot width 150 feet maximum lot coverage 20%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family lots in the R-S residential suburban district inside Upper Paxton township.

    “minimum lot area not served by public water and sewer served by public water and sewer minimum lot width 1 acre 12,000 square feet 100 feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings in the A agricultural district inside Upper Paxton township.

  • Note 3: for corner lots, the side yard abutting the street shall be the same as the front yard.

  front yard setback: >= 50 feet · each side yard setback: >= 25 feet · rear yard setback: >= 50 feet

  “minimum yard setbacks front 50 feet each side3 25 feet rear 50 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal buildings in the R-S residential suburban district inside Upper Paxton township.

    “minimum yard setbacks front 30 feet each side2 15 feet rear 30 feet”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in the A agricultural district inside Upper Paxton township.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 20 percent

  “maximum lot coverage 20% minimum yard setbacks front 50 feet each side3 25 feet rear 50 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Lots in the R-S residential suburban district inside Upper Paxton township.

    “maximum lot coverage 30% minimum yard setbacks front 30 feet”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in the A agricultural district inside Upper Paxton township.

  • Note 1: accessory buildings used for agricultural purposes and farming are exempt from height regulations.

  maximum principal building height: <= 35 feet · maximum accessory building height: <= 25 feet (agricultural accessory buildings exempt)

  “maximum building height principal 35 feet accessory1 25 feet minimum lot area 20 acre”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Buildings in the R-S residential suburban district inside Upper Paxton township.

    “maximum building height principal 35 feet 1 accessory 25 feet”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on private land in residential districts inside Upper Paxton township.

  • RVs may not be connected to water and sewerage utilities.
  • Must be stored in a safe and secure manner.
  • Does not prohibit parking RVs elsewhere on the property for loading and unloading, nor apply to the occasional visitor to a dwelling in a residential district.

  “recreational vehicles (rvs) in residential districts are permitted and shall not be connected to water and sewerage utilities.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds in Upper Paxton township, where the zoning use table permits them (districts not determined).

  • Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks are listed in the use table; permitted only where the district allows them.
  • Park standards include paved, lighted driveways; 22 ft two-way cartways; no access from public road; 1,500 sq ft per vehicle space; 25 ft minimum space width; 60 ft minimum depth.

  minimum area per vehicle space: >= 1500 square feet · minimum vehicle space width: >= 25 feet

  “where permitted, recreational vehicle parks shall be subject to the following:”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory apartments in single-family detached dwellings in Upper Paxton township, where the zoning use table permits them (district list not legible in extracted text).

  • The apartment must be a complete, separate housekeeping unit; only one per single-family detached dwelling.
  • Occupants limited to persons related by marriage or blood; owner must occupy at least one unit.
  • Apartment no more than 30% of total floor area and no greater than 400 square feet; minimum 300 square feet.
  • At least three off-street parking spaces for owner-occupant and tenant.
  • Must conform to state and township codes; if no longer used by a relative, may be leased to a non-relative (remainder of condition not read).

  maximum apartment size: <= 400 square feet · maximum share of structure floor area: <= 30 percent · minimum apartment size: >= 300 square feet

  “where permitted, an accessory apartment may be created in a single-family detached dwelling; provided, that:”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivision and land development inside Upper Paxton township, under the township's Subdivision and Land Development Regulations (Chapter 22).

  • Chapter 22 was referenced but not opened; exemptions there are not verified.

  “unless specifically exempted by the township subdivision and land development regulations (chapter 22), the application for a conversion apartment shall be processed as a land development plan.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Residential bed-and-breakfast establishments in the agricultural district of Upper Paxton township only. No general short-term-rental rule was located in the sections reviewed.

  • Owner or owner's agent must reside in the dwelling.
  • Dwelling must be served by an approved sewage system and water supply.
  • No more than three persons per bedroom; minimum one acre lot area per establishment.
  • Processed as a land development plan; township sewage enforcement officer determines adequacy of the system.

  minimum lot area per establishment: >= 1 acre · maximum persons per bedroom: <= 3 persons

  “in the agricultural district, residential bed-and-breakfast establishments may be established in an existing dwelling subject to the following standards”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Upper Paxton township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building work inside Upper Paxton township.
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Upper Paxton township.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Upper Paxton township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new dwellings inside Upper Paxton 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.