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

Leacock Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction within Leacock Township.

  • The incorporated Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.

  “The Uniform Construction Code [...] is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of Leacock Township.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Leacock Township.

  • Chapter 310 was adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors and has subsequent amendments noted where applicable.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Leacock 8-5-2003 by Ord. No. 118, as amended 5-4-2010 by Ord. No. 127. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Permit processPartial

  Uniform Construction Code administration inside Leacock Township.

  • The Board of Supervisors determines the administrative method by resolution from the methods listed in § 110-3.

  “Administration and enforcement of the Code within Leacock Township shall be undertaken [...] as determined by the Board of Supervisors”

Rules another office applies inside Leacock Township

Leacock Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family detached dwellings in the Suburban Residential (S-R) Zone inside Leacock Township.

  • A different lot size may apply to a use permitted by right, special exception, or conditional use; a larger lot may be necessary for setbacks and DEP on-site water and sewage requirements, including replacement-system location.

  minimum lot area: 1 acre (Per dwelling unit or principal nonresidential building not served by public sanitary sewer.) · minimum lot area: 15000 square feet (Per dwelling unit or principal nonresidential building served by public sanitary sewer.)

  “The minimum lot area per dwelling unit or other principal nonresidential building when not served by public sanitary sewer shall be one acre, unless a larger lot area is required to meet all applicable setbacks and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) requirements for the location of on-site water supply and sewage disposal facilities, including replacement system location.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family detached dwellings in the Suburban Residential (S-R) Zone inside Leacock Township.

  • Street setback must comply with § 310-127 and be at least 50 feet from the street centerline; developed-area reductions may be available under § 310-127D.

  minimum side yard: 10 feet (Each of two side yards for a single-family detached dwelling.)

  “The minimum setback line from all streets shall be in compliance with the requirements of Article XVII, § 310-127; provided, however, that the minimum distance shall be 50 feet from the center line of the street.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in the Agricultural (A) Zone inside Leacock Township.

  • The limit applies unless otherwise provided in Chapter 310.

  maximum impervious-surface coverage: <= 30 percent (Unless otherwise provided for in Chapter 310.)

  “Maximum lot coverage. Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, not more than 30% of the area of the lot shall be covered by impervious surfaces.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal buildings in the Agricultural (A) Zone inside Leacock Township.

  • Height is subject to § 310-134 exceptions; agricultural buildings and structures are exempt from this height requirement.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Subject to § 310-134; agricultural buildings and structures excluded.)

  “Maximum building height: 35 feet, subject to the height exceptions in § 310-134. Agricultural buildings and structures shall not be subject to these height requirements.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Principal buildings in the Suburban Residential (S-R) Zone inside Leacock Township.

    “§ 310-35 Height and area regulations of principal buildings. A. Maximum height: 35 feet.”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

  Vacation rental houses in the Agricultural (A) Zone inside Leacock Township.

  • Subject to § 310-225; that section's additional standards were not opened.

  “Vacation rental houses, subject to the provisions of § 310-225.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Leacock Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Leacock Township.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Leacock Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Leacock Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the Agricultural (A) Zone inside Leacock 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 Leacock 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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