Zoning, building permits and septic rules in East Cocalico Township, Pennsylvania

East Cocalico Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, placement of structures, repairs, and alterations inside East Cocalico Township that require a UCC permit, plus locally enumerated work.

  • Accessory structures of at least 400 square feet require a permit.
  • An accessory structure below 400 square feet with utility service requires a permit for utility inspection.
  • The listed exempt residential repairs remain exempt, including same-size window and door replacement and reroofing.

  accessory-structure size: >= 400 square feet (Permit required whether or not connected to utility.)

  “In addition to all types of construction, placement of structures, repairs, and alterations for which the Uniform Construction Code requires a permit, pursuant to the authorization of Act 92 of 2004, this section shall require persons to obtain permits under the Township of East Cocalico Construction Code for all of the following:”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction regulated inside East Cocalico Township.

  • The incorporated UCC is amended from time to time.

  “The Uniform Construction Code Act contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of East Cocalico Township.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside East Cocalico Township.

  • The published code lists Agricultural, Conservation, Rural Residential, Suburban Residential, High Density Residential, Traditional Residential, Mobile Home Park Residential, Village Overlay, Mixed Residential, commercial, industrial, quarry, floodplain, and overlay zones.

  “Article II Zone Regulations § 220-12 Agricultural Zone (A). § 220-13 Conservation Zone (C). § 220-14 Rural Residential Zone (R). § 220-15 Suburban Residential Zone (R-1). § 220-16 High Density Residential Zone (R-2). § 220-17 Traditional Residential Zone (R-3). § 220-18 Mobile Home Park Residential Zone (MHP).”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside East Cocalico Township.

  • Chapter 194 contains preliminary-plan, final-plan, alternative-processing, and waiver procedures.

  “Article II Plan Processing Procedures § 194-7 General provisions. § 194-8 Optional plan review procedures. § 194-9 Preliminary plan application. § 194-10 Final plan application. § 194-11 Alternative plan processing procedure. § 194-12 Waivers.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  UCC administration and enforcement fees charged by East Cocalico Township.

  • Fees are established by Township governing-body resolution from time to time.

  “Fees assessable by East Cocalico Township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this article and the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act shall be established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Township UCC permits inside East Cocalico Township.

  • Administration and enforcement may be by a Township employee, construction-code official, or third-party agency acting for the Township.

  “Administration and enforcement of the Code and its regulations within East Cocalico Township shall be undertaken by either the designation of an employee of East Cocalico Township to serve as the municipal code official or by retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of East Cocalico Township.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside East Cocalico Township.
• Inspections — Building construction inside East Cocalico Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or changed occupancy inside East Cocalico Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside East Cocalico Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside East Cocalico 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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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