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

Colerain Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction and alterations inside Colerain township limits; the township zoning officer issues building permits (zoning officer is Solanco Engineering's appointee for 2026).

  • Township says residents should contact the zoning officer to determine whether any permits or approvals are required; the page does not list exemptions.
  • Submissions are taken to the Solanco Engineering office at 103 Fite Way, Suite C, Quarryville, PA 17566.

  “they will be responsible for the issuance of building permits and inspection of construction sites.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Colerain township limits, Lancaster County, PA: the township administers its own zoning ordinance. Not countywide and not unincorporated-area county zoning.

  • Presence is inferred from the Lancaster County Planning Commission agenda item for proposed amendments to the Colerain Township zoning ordinance; the ordinance text itself was not located or opened.
  • Dimensional and occupancy districts not yet extracted; see followups.

  “4. 10-32, colerain township – proposed zoning ordinance amendments address concerns associated with potential solar and wind facilities.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and zoning permit process inside Colerain township limits

  • Process is partial: residents are told to contact the zoning officer to determine permits; paperwork is picked up at the Quarryville office or forms downloaded from the township site.
  • Township says submissions must go to Solanco Engineering; the step-by-step process and fee schedule were not located.

  “you must pick up all paperwork from the quarryville office or you may download forms from our website for your convenience.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from township permitting for owner-occupied homes
• Building code adopted — Which construction code Colerain township enforces
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Colerain township limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and schedule for Colerain township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district of Colerain 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.