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

Conoy Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential construction inside Conoy township limits (new additions, decks over 30 inches above grade, pools deeper than 24 inches, hot tubs, demolition, and residential electrical upgrades).

  • Some work needs only a zoning permit; other work needs both zoning and building permits, per the township permit guide.
  • Construction may not begin until the appropriate permits are issued.

  “some work requires a zoning permit and other work requires both a zoning permit and a building permit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work authorized by a building permit inside Conoy township limits (residential code work).

  • Inspections are required during work under the UCC for work that needs a building permit.
  • Residential code inspections are performed by Associated Building Inspections, LLC, which charges its own fees payable to ABI.

  “our residential code building inspection agency is associated building inspections, llc (717) 733-1654.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Residential projects that do not need a building permit inside Conoy township limits.

  • The township describes a use and occupancy permit only for projects that do not require a building permit, after the owner notifies the zoning officer on completion.
  • The page does not describe an occupancy certificate for projects that do require a building permit; not verified.

  “if a building permit is not required for your project, please notify the zoning officer upon completion of the work. your use and occupancy permit will then be prepared for you.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Conoy township limits (Bainbridge, Lancaster County, PA): the township administers its own zoning ordinance and zoning permits.

  • Zoning permits are required by ordinance for new construction, alterations, utility buildings, swimming pools and changes of use, per the township zoning page.
  • The zoning ordinance PDF (ZONING-ORDINANCE-AMENDED-09.08.22) returned HTTP 404 and its text was not reviewed; the township lists a 'zoning-ordinance-2025-amended' file that was not opened.

  “zoning permits are required by ordinance for new construction, alterations, utility buildings, swimming pools, change of use of any building.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning district map for land inside Conoy township limits.

  • The zoning map (amended February 2023) is listed as published; the map itself and district tables were not opened.

  “stormwater management ordinance 1-4-10-14 zoning map amended february 2023 zoning-ordinance-2025-amended”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot (septic) sewage systems inside Conoy township limits.

  • Permits are issued through sewage enforcement officers named by the township (Charity Hain and Doug Cwienk of David Miller/Associates, Inc.).
  • State sewage rules (PA Sewage Facilities Act / 25 Pa. Code Chapter 72) were not reviewed in this research pass.

  “new, repaired or altered require a permit from one of the following sewage enforcement officers”

• Septic permitRequired

  New, repaired or altered on-lot sewage systems inside Conoy township limits.

  • Permit issued by a township sewage enforcement officer, not by the township office directly.
  • Septic location must be shown on the building permit drawing, per the township permit guide.

  “new, repaired or altered require a permit from one of the following sewage enforcement officers”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  A home inside Conoy township limits whose principal building is within 150 feet of the township sanitary sewer system (within the sewer service area).

  • Applies to improved property adjoining and adjacent to the sewer system within the sewer service area.
  • Owner must connect within 60 days after the township's notice to connect.
  • Water connection was not verified; the value covers sewer only.

  distance from principal building to sewer system: <= 150 feet (applies only within the sewer service area; connection due 60 days after township notice)

  “whose principal building is within 150 feet from the sewer system shall connect such improved property with and use such sewer system”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivision and land development inside Conoy township limits.

  • The township lists a subdivision and land development ordinance and a subdivision-land development submittal packet on its page; the ordinance text was not opened.

  “saldo – subdivision and land development ordinance 1-3-10-2016”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access and driveway work inside Conoy township limits.

  • Driveway permit issued by the township office at (717) 367-4927.

  “driveway permits are required by ordinance – contact conoy township office (717) 367-4927.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning and building permit application process inside Conoy township limits.

  • Owner must sign the application; no construction may begin until the appropriate permits are issued.
  • Once issued, work must begin within 6 months and be completed within 12 months; extension requested in writing to the zoning officer.

  zoning permit processing time: <= 10 business days · building permit processing time: <= 15 business days

  “please allow ten (10) business days for zoning permits and fifteen (15) business days for building permits.”

Rules another office applies inside Conoy Township

Conoy 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

  Residential building work inside Conoy township limits: building permits are governed by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as stated by the township.

  • The township itself does not adopt a separate building code in the sources reviewed; the statewide UCC applies.

  “building permits are governed by the pennsylvania uniform construction code and will require inspections during work.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for residential work inside Conoy township limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwelling in the Suburban Residential District (R-1) inside Conoy township limits.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family lots in the Suburban Residential District (R-1) inside Conoy township limits.
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear yard setbacks in the Suburban Residential District (R-1) inside Conoy township limits.
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in the Suburban Residential District (R-1) inside Conoy township limits.

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.