Bolthole Index

Fulton County, Pennsylvania

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Taylor Township, Pennsylvania

Taylor Township in Fulton County requires a Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code building permit before covered construction begins, but the township does not have local zoning.12 The township Sewage Enforcement Officer handles on-lot sewage administration, and separate subdivision rules can control lot dimensions and plan approval.34

At a glance

Building permit
Required before work covered by Pennsylvania's UCC1
Zoning
No Taylor Township local zoning2
Septic
Administered by the township Sewage Enforcement Officer3
RV living
Not restricted by zoning; sewage and other rules can still apply5
Tiny home
No zoning restriction, but building-code and sewage rules still apply6
Subdivision lot size
Utility-dependent minimums apply to lots in regulated developments78
Private well
Pennsylvania DEP does not regulate private homeowner wells9

Who to call

Building permits

Taylor Township

Township contact for confirming the current UCC building-code official, subdivision submissions, ordinances and municipal questions

(814) 685-3806

P.O. Box 627, Hustontown, PA 17229

Septic permits

Taylor Township Sewage Enforcement Officer — JWP Environmental, Inc.

On-lot sewage questions and administration inside Taylor Township

(717) 328-5769

9885 Reeder Rd., P.O. Box 240, Mercersburg, PA 17236

Planning & zoning

Fulton County Planning & Mapping Department

County subdivision review, planning, mapping and parcel-orientation questions

717-485-3717

[email protected]

116 West Market Street, Suite 203, McConnellsburg, PA 17233

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Taylor Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Taylor Township, Pennsylvania?

Yes. Before construction or building work covered by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code begins in Taylor Township, the owner or authorized representative must obtain a UCC building permit.1 The statewide code governs building projects, even though Taylor Township has no local zoning.102

Permitted construction is subject to inspections, including the required foundation, building-system, framing, wallboard and final stages.11 A residential building may not be occupied until a building code official issues its certificate of occupancy.12

We could not confirm Taylor Township's current building-code official or a current building-permit fee schedule. Call the township office before designing or ordering materials to confirm the current permit issuer, application, fee, inspections and any UCC exception for the specific project.13

Who issues building permits in Taylor Township?

Taylor Township's county-hosted page gives the township secretary's phone and mailing address, but it does not name the current building-code official.13 Start with Taylor Township and ask which municipal or certified third-party agency currently accepts residential UCC building-permit applications. The permit must identify Taylor Township and Fulton County, and jurisdiction can depend on the municipality and project.14

Keep the approvals distinct. The UCC building permit covers regulated construction, while Taylor Township's Board of Supervisors controls subdivision-plan approval and the Fulton County Planning Commission reviews and comments on plans submitted to county municipalities.11516 Fulton County Planning & Mapping is a useful contact for county plan review and mapping questions, but the township—not the county planning office—approves or rejects a Taylor Township subdivision.1617

Does Taylor Township have zoning, lot-size or setback rules?

Taylor Township does not have local zoning; Fulton County's planning FAQ identifies McConnellsburg Borough, not Taylor Township, as the county municipality with zoning.2 That means Taylor Township has no zoning-based minimum dwelling size, general minimum lot size, lot-coverage cap, building-height limit or general setback.1819202122

No zoning does not erase the township subdivision ordinance. In a subdivision or land development without public water or sanitary sewer, each family lot must contain at least 43,500 square feet and be at least 100 feet wide at the building line and front property line.7 Where public water or sanitary sewer is provided, the corresponding minimums are 12,000 square feet and 80 feet.8 Mobile-home parks have separate dimensional and utility standards.23

How do septic permits work inside Taylor Township?

Taylor Township's Sewage Enforcement Officer administers on-lot sewage matters inside the township, and the official municipal page lists JWP Environmental, Inc. as the office contact.324 The available material does not confirm Taylor Township's specific septic-permit steps, inspection sequence, exemptions or current fees, so ask the Sewage Enforcement Officer for a parcel-specific answer before buying or designing a house.

Septic feasibility deserves an early contingency: only 3.9% of Fulton County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field.25 That county-level soil measure does not decide whether a particular lot will pass, but it makes early site work especially useful. For new development, the subdivision ordinance also requires connection to municipal sanitary sewer as required by township ordinance and connection to public water if accessible.26

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Taylor Township?

Taylor Township places no zoning restriction on RV occupancy or temporary camping because the township has no local zoning, but that answer is limited to zoning.527 We could not confirm a Taylor Township rule addressing long-term RV sanitation, so ask the Sewage Enforcement Officer what sewage approval is required before using an RV as living quarters.24

A tiny home likewise has no Taylor Township zoning restriction or zoning-based minimum dwelling size.618 A tiny home used as a building or dwelling can still require a UCC building permit, inspections, a certificate of occupancy and compliant sewage service.11128 Ask the township's current code official how a proposed tiny home—especially one on wheels—will be classified before purchase.13

Building a home in Taylor Township: what are the steps?

  1. Call Taylor Township to identify the current UCC building-code official and obtain the correct building-permit application and fee schedule.13
  1. Ask the Sewage Enforcement Officer about on-lot sewage feasibility, applications and inspections before fixing the house location.324
  1. If the project divides land or is part of a land development, submit the required plans for township review; Taylor Township's Board of Supervisors approves, modifies or rejects subdivision plans.15
  1. Obtain the UCC building permit before covered work begins and arrange required inspections as construction progresses.111
  1. If the driveway enters a Commonwealth highway, obtain the required Pennsylvania highway occupancy permit before that access is permitted.29
  1. Obtain the UCC certificate of occupancy before using the completed building.28

What should you check before buying land in Taylor Township?

Confirm that the recorded parcel and proposed use do not trigger subdivision or land-development review; Taylor Township regulates subdivision even without zoning.4 For a regulated family lot, utility availability changes the ordinance's minimum area and width, so verify public-water and sanitary-sewer status before relying on acreage alone.78

Check septic suitability with the Sewage Enforcement Officer because Fulton County's soil rating is unfavorable for conventional drain fields.325 For a private homeowner well, Pennsylvania DEP does not regulate the well, but local requirements may still apply; ask Taylor Township what it requires for the parcel.9

For a floodplain site, Pennsylvania requires specified documentation prepared and sealed by a registered design professional.30 Also identify who owns the road: driveway access to a Commonwealth highway requires a state highway occupancy permit.29

Watch-outs

  • No Taylor Township zoning does not mean no approvals: UCC building permits, sewage administration and subdivision rules remain in force.2134
  • The general absence of zoning lot standards does not override the utility-dependent lot dimensions in Taylor Township's subdivision ordinance.1978
  • Taylor Township's RV answer is limited to zoning; sewage, floodplain, subdivision and building-code rules may still affect a particular setup.5
  • Only 3.9% of Fulton County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so make septic feasibility an early parcel-level check.25

Sources

  1. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning Commission - Frequently Asked Questions (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Taylor Township (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Taylor Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance - January 1979 (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Planning Commission - Frequently Asked Questions (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Planning Commission - Frequently Asked Questions (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Taylor Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance - January 1979 (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Taylor Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance - January 1979 (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Private Wells (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. pa.gov (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. pa.gov (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Taylor Township (co.fulton.pa.us)
  14. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  15. Taylor Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance - January 1979 (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Fulton County Planning Commission Subdivision/Land Development Review Policy, quoted and re-checked
  17. Fulton County Planning & Mapping Department (co.fulton.pa.us)
  18. Planning Commission - Frequently Asked Questions (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  19. Planning Commission - Frequently Asked Questions (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. Planning Commission - Frequently Asked Questions (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. Planning Commission - Frequently Asked Questions (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  22. Planning Commission - Frequently Asked Questions (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  23. Taylor Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance - January 1979 (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  24. Taylor Township Sewage Enforcement Officer — JWP Environmental, Inc. (co.fulton.pa.us)
  25. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Taylor Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance - January 1979 (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  27. Planning Commission - Frequently Asked Questions (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  28. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  29. pa.gov (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked
  30. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Taylor Township), quoted and re-checked

Written October 9, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Taylor Township

Taylor Township’s own rules

  • Local zoningAbsent

    Land inside Taylor Township.

    • The Fulton County Planning Commission FAQ identifies McConnellsburg Borough as the municipality with zoning; it does not identify Taylor Township as having zoning.
    “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum dwelling sizeNone

    Dwelling size under Taylor Township land-use zoning rules.

    • No Taylor Township zoning district standard was located. Building-code minimums, if applicable, are separate.
    “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Each family lot in a subdivision or land development portion of Taylor Township where neither public water nor sanitary sewer facilities are provided.

    • The requirement is stated in the township subdivision and land-development ordinance.
    • The lot area excludes the required right-of-way width.
    • A minimum lot width is also required at the building line and front property line.

    minimum lot area per family: >= 43500 square feet (excluding the right-of-way width required by the ordinance) · minimum lot width at building line: >= 100 feet · minimum lot width at front property line: >= 100 feet

    “In any portion of the Township where neither public water nor sanitary sewer facilities are provided, each lot shall have a minimum lot area per family of forty-three thousand five hundred square feet, excluding the right-of-way width required herein, and a minimum lot width of 100 feet at the building line and at the front property line.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Each family lot in a subdivision or land development portion of Taylor Township where public water or sanitary sewer facilities, or both, are provided.
      “In any portion of the Township where either public water or sanitary facilities, or both, are provided each lot shall have a minimum lot area per family of twelve thousand square feet, excluding the right-of-way width required herein, and a minimum lot width of eighty feet at'the building line and at the front property line.”
    • None — Minimum lot size under Taylor Township zoning rules.
      “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
  • SetbacksNone

    Setbacks under Taylor Township zoning rules.

    • The subdivision ordinance contains separate mobile-home-park setbacks, including 75 feet from an abutting street right-of-way and 100 feet from other park boundaries.
    “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
  • Lot coverageNone

    Lot coverage under Taylor Township zoning rules.

    • Subdivision, stormwater, floodplain, and building-code requirements may still apply.
    “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
  • Building heightNone

    Building height under Taylor Township zoning rules.

    • Building-code and floodplain height or design requirements may still apply.
    “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
  • Living in an RVUnrestricted

    RV occupancy on land inside Taylor Township under land-use zoning rules.

    • This conclusion is limited to zoning restrictions. Building, sewage, subdivision, floodplain, and other applicable rules may still apply.
    • The cited county FAQ identifies McConnellsburg Borough as the municipality with zoning.
    “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
  • Camping on your landUnrestricted

    Temporary camping on land inside Taylor Township under land-use zoning rules.

    • This conclusion is limited to zoning restrictions. Building, sewage, subdivision, floodplain, and other applicable rules may still apply.
    “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
  • Tiny homesUnrestricted

    Tiny-home occupancy on land inside Taylor Township under land-use zoning rules.

    • This conclusion is limited to zoning restrictions. The Pennsylvania UCC, building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy, and sewage rules may still apply.
    “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured/mobile-home parks inside Taylor Township.

    • A mobile home park requires a township permit and approved site plan.
    • The park site must be at least 10 acres.
    • Individual mobile-home lots must contain at least 5,000 square feet and be at least 50 feet wide at the building setback line.
    • Mobile homes must meet specified park setbacks and utility requirements.

    mobile home park site: >= 10 acres · individual mobile home lot area: >= 5000 square feet · individual mobile home lot width: >= 50 feet (at the building setback line)

    “Individual mobile home lots located in a Mobile Home Park shall contain at least 5,000 square feet of lot area and shall not be less than 50 feet wide at the building setback line exclusive of easements.”
  • Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

    Accessory dwellings on land inside Taylor Township under land-use zoning rules.

    • This conclusion is limited to zoning restrictions. Building-code, permit, sewage, subdivision, floodplain, and other rules may still apply.
    “Q: Is there zoning in any of the municipalities? A: McConnellsburg Borough”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    On-lot sewage administration inside Taylor Township.

    • Taylor Township's official county-hosted municipal page identifies a Sewage Enforcement Officer for the township.
    • Pennsylvania describes local agencies as responsible for on-lot sewage permitting and enforcement.
    “Sewage Enforcement Officer Jonathan Piper JWP Environmental, Inc.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Local (with conditions) — On-lot sewage permitting and enforcement inside Taylor Township.
      “Sewage Enforcement Officer Jonathan Piper JWP Environmental, Inc.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Mobile home parks developed inside Taylor Township.

    • Each mobile home lot must receive a continuing supply of safe and potable water approved by the State Department of Environmental Resources.
    • Each mobile home lot must connect to a centralized sanitary sewage disposal system approved by the State Department of Environmental Resources.
    • No Mobile Home Park Permit may be issued until the sewage disposal and water distribution systems are approved.
    “All Mobile Home Parks shall provide to each separate mobile home lot a connection to a centralized sanitary sewage disposal system which shall be approved by the State Department of Environmental Resources.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Water and sewer (with conditions) — Newly constructed properties and subdivisions inside Taylor Township.
      “All newly constructed properties shall be connected to a municipal sanitary sewer system as required by the Taylor Township Ordinance, and to a public water system if accessible.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural divisions of land inside Taylor Township.

    • The exemption applies only to parcels of more than ten acres.
    • The division may not involve any new street or easement of access.

    parcel area: > 10 acres (agricultural purposes only)

    “Provided, however, that the division of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than ten acres, not involving any new street or easement of access, shall be exempted.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Taylor Township.

    • No subdivision, lot sale, building permit, building, grading, or similar work in a subdivision may proceed until the plan is approved and recorded and required improvements are constructed or guaranteed.
    • A hardship exception may be granted under the ordinance.
    • Agricultural division into parcels over ten acres without a new street or access easement is exempt.
    “From and after the effective date of this Ordinance no subdivision of any lot, tract, or parcel within the Township shall be made [...] except in strict accordance with the provisions of this ordinance.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Applications for approval of mobile home parks inside Taylor Township.

    • The fee applies to every mobile home park approval application.
    • Fees vary by number of mobile home lots.
    • The ordinance lists a flat fee for the first five lots or less and per-lot fees for additional blocks.

    first 5 mobile home lots or less: 25 USD (flat fee) · next 50 mobile home lots: 3.5 USD per lot · next 100 mobile home lots: 2 USD per lot · next 100 mobile home lots: 1 USD per lot

    “Every application for approval of a Mobile Home Park shall be accompanied by a .fee payable to the Township in the sum of: First 5 Mobile Home lots or less Next 50 Mobile Home lots Next 100 Mobile Home lots Next 100 Mobile Home lots [...] Flat fee $25.00 $3.50 per lot $2.00 per lot $1.00 per lot”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Taylor Township subdivision-plan approval process.

    • Plans are reviewed by the Township Board of Supervisors.
    • Plans must be submitted at least ten days before the meeting for review at the first regular meeting following submission.
    • Final plans must be recorded within ninety days after final approval.
    • A public hearing may be arranged.

    minimum lead time before review meeting: >= 10 days · recording deadline after final approval: 90 days

    “All subdivision plans shall be subject to approval, modification, or rejection by the Board of Township Supervisors;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Subdivision, land-development, and mobile-home-park plan approvals inside Taylor Township.
      “The subdivider shall submit preliminary and final copies of subdivision plans to the Township Secretary, and the Township Secretary shall distribute the required number of copies to the Township agencies concerned, as provided for in Article V and VI.”

Rules another office applies inside Taylor Township

Taylor 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 and building work inside Taylor Township subject to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.

    • Before beginning construction or building work, the property owner or authorized representative must obtain a UCC building permit.
    • The source states exceptions for emergency repairs or equipment replacements when an application is submitted within three business days.
    “The UCC states that before beginning any construction or building work, the property owner or an authorized representative must obtain a UCC building permit”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building construction inside Taylor Township under Pennsylvania's statewide Uniform Construction Code.

    • Pennsylvania municipalities may administer and enforce the UCC locally or through certified third-party agencies.
    • If a municipality has opted out, the Department is responsible for all commercial code enforcement and certified third-party agencies enforce residential requirements.
    • The 2018 accessibility standards remain enforceable; the 2021 accessibility updates were permanently enjoined.
    • The 2025 triennial update has an effective date of January 1, 2026.
    “Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction inside Taylor Township is subject to Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code.
      “Throughout Fulton County, all municipalities enforce the Uniform Construction Code, and only McConnellsburg Borough and Thompson Township enforce zoning regulations.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction in Taylor Township subject to Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code.
      “The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) regulates the codes and standards of building projects in the Commonwealth.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction and specified building-system work inside Taylor Township.

    • Inspections are necessary for construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, swimming pools or hot tubs.
    • Manufactured and industrialized housing projects require inspections for site preparation, foundation construction, repairs, and changes in occupancy.
    • Required special-inspection documents must be available before work continues.
    “Inspections are also necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and the installation of swimming pools or hot tubs.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Permitted construction in Taylor Township subject to the UCC.
      “A construction code official shall inspect all construction for which a permit was issued.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Residential buildings and other UCC-regulated buildings inside Taylor Township.

    • A temporary certificate may be issued for a safe portion of a building before all work is complete.
    • A certificate may be suspended or revoked for error, incorrect information, or UCC violation.

    issuance deadline: 5 business days (10 business days in a city of the first class)

    “A residential building may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by a building code official.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Use of a building or facility inside Taylor Township.
      “A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”
    • Required — Use of a building or facility inside Taylor Township subject to the UCC.
      “A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”
    • Required — Residential buildings in Taylor Township subject to the UCC.
      “A residential building may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by a building code official.”
  • Well permitNot required

    Private homeowner water wells serving land inside Taylor Township.

    • This claim concerns private homeowner wells, not public water-supply wells, noncommunity water systems, or oil and gas wells.
    • Local municipal requirements may still apply.
    “Does the state of Pennsylvania regulate private homeowner wells? No. The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) does not regulate private wells.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveway access from a Commonwealth highway for construction inside Taylor Township.

    • If the property requires access to a highway under Pennsylvania Department of Transportation jurisdiction, the building permit must contain notice that a highway occupancy permit is required before driveway access to the Commonwealth highway is permitted.
    • This rule does not establish a requirement for driveways serving roads outside Commonwealth jurisdiction.
    “A building code official may not issue a permit for any property requiring access to a highway under the Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction unless the permit contains notice that a highway occupancy permit is required under section 420 of the State Highway Law (36 P. S. § 670-420) before driveway access to a Commonwealth highway is permitted.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Driveway access from Taylor Township property to a Commonwealth highway.
      “A building code official may not issue a permit for any property requiring access to a highway under the Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction unless the permit contains notice that a highway occupancy permit is required under section 420 of the State Highway Law (36 P. S. § 670-420) before driveway access to a Commonwealth highway is permitted.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction inside Taylor Township when the construction site is in a flood plain.

    • Documentation required by Section 1612.5 of the 2018 International Building Code must be prepared and sealed by a registered design professional.
    “When construction will occur in a flood plain, documentation required in Section 1612.5 of the 2018 International Building Code shall be prepared and sealed by a registered design professional.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work in Taylor Township.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Taylor Township.
  • Septic permit — On-lot sewage systems inside Taylor Township.
  • Septic inspection — Septic-system inspection requirements inside Taylor Township.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems inside Taylor Township.
1 more unanswered
  • Short-term rentals

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 Taylor Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Fulton County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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