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

Washington Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA: the township administers its own zoning ordinance (Chapter 27 of its ordinances).

  • The township website lists the Zoning Ordinance as Chapter 27 of the township ordinances and offers zoning permit applications.
  • The ordinance text itself was not opened for this record; its dimensional and use standards are unverified (see followups).

  “zoning ordinance (chapter 27 of ordinances) zoning permit applications”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage disposal inside Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA: the township appoints a sewage enforcement officer.

  • The township page lists a primary and an alternate sewage enforcement officer; the page's term end date fields are blank, so current officeholders should be confirmed with the township.
  • The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act framework and any county or state role in permit review were not verified in this research.

  “brian s. mcfeaters primary sewage enforcement officer term end date:”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development of land inside Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA

  • The township lists subdivision and land development regulations as Chapter 22 of its ordinances; the chapter text and its lot-division thresholds were not opened.
  • A developer's information packet is listed on the township site for subdivision and land development plans.

  “subdivision and land development (chapter 22 of ordinances) developers information packet for subdivision and land development plans”

Rules another office applies inside Washington Township

Washington 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 permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, or occupancy change of buildings inside Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA under the state Uniform Construction Code.

  • Permit is required before work; construction may proceed after the building permit is issued.
  • The township page also lists pools and spas, attached carports, attached decks or decks higher than 30 inches above grade, retaining walls over 4 feet, and fences over 6 feet as projects that require a building permit.
  • Even where a building permit is excluded, a zoning permit may be needed (see permit_process claim).

  “a building permit is needed to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Not required — Small accessory structures inside Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA: carports, detached private garages, greenhouses and sheds accessory to a detached single-family dwelling.

    “the state building uniform construction code excludes building permits for carports, detached private garages, greenhouses, sheds – if the structure has a building area less than 1000 square feet and is an accessory to a detached single-family dwelling.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (the township's UCC permit page applies the state code to township property owners).

  • The township page states that the state code's building permits and inspectors are handled through outside contractors named on the township page (Lehigh Engineering, LLC; Light-Heigel & Associates, Inc.).
  • Recorded with the state as rule-maker, scope geography statewide, because the schema does not allow a state authority with a township-specific geography.

  “washington township property owners may contact either lehigh engineering, llc or light-heigel & associates for their building permit/inspection needs.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home inside Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA
• Inspections — Inspections for construction inside Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings inside Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Washington Township, Dauphin County, PA
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Washington Township, Dauphin 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.