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

Paradise Township’s own rules

• InspectionsRequired

  Building permit inspections for construction inside Paradise Township, Lancaster County, PA.

  • Inspections are done by a third-party building inspection company chosen from the township's list of three; the choice cannot be changed during the project.
  • Inspection fees are set by the third-party inspection agency.

  “please choose 1 inspection company to cover the inspections for your building permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Paradise Township, Lancaster County, PA: the township administers its own zoning ordinance through its Zoning Hearing Board and cites its articles and sections (e.g., Article XV Section 1519) in hearing notices.

  • The zoning ordinance text itself (Zoning-Ordinance-as-amended-thru-2020-03-17.pdf, listed on the township ordinances page) was not opened; existence of zoning is shown by the township's own Zoning Hearing Board notices and fee schedule.
  • Uses not listed in the ordinance are handled by special exception before the Zoning Hearing Board.

  zoning hearing board special exception fee: 750 USD (per fee schedule, Resolution No. 2026-03)

  “notice is hereby given that the paradise township lancaster county pa zoning hearing board will hold a public hearing”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Granny flat (accessory dwelling) on a property inside Paradise Township, Lancaster County, PA.

  • A granny flat is handled as a special exception requested from the Zoning Hearing Board.
  • The township charges the Recorder of Deeds for recording a granny flat agreement at actual cost.
  • Ordinance section numbers beyond the notice citation were not opened.

  “article vi section 601 paragraph 17special exception for a granny flat”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Connection to the public wastewater (sewer) system for land inside Paradise Township where public sewer is available.

  • A sewer tapping fee is required to gain access to the public wastewater system.
  • A mandatory-connection distance rule was not located; the township fee schedule shows a sewer certification for wastewater connection.
  • No public water connection rule was located; water is not claimed.

  sewer tapping fee: 7500 USD (fee schedule Resolution No. 2026-03)

  “sewer tapping fee required to gain access to the public wastewater system. $7,500”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Paradise Township, Lancaster County, PA.

  • Subdivision and land development plans require township review; the fee schedule lists sketch, lot-add, preliminary/final and revised plan tiers.
  • The SALDO ordinance (saldo-ordinance-combined-pdf.pdf) is listed on the township ordinances page but was not opened.

  “preliminary/final a complete and exact subdivision and/or land development plans plan, including all supplementary data.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveway connecting to a township road for land inside Paradise Township.

  • Requires a township application and an inspection by the roadmaster.
  • Fee listed as $50 in the fee schedule.

  driveway application fee: 50 USD

  “driveway requires application and inspection by roadmaster. $50”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rental of a dwelling inside Paradise Township, Lancaster County, PA.

  • Short-term rental is handled as a special exception before the Zoning Hearing Board under Article XV Section 1519, per township hearing notices.
  • The 2026 short-term rental ordinance (2026-1-short-term-rental-ordinance.pdf, listed on the township ordinances page) was not opened; its adoption date and district limits are unverified.
  • Third-party guides claiming STRs are limited to business districts were not used.

  “seeking a special exception to article xv section 1519 paragraph 1-12 for a short-term rental”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process for work inside Paradise Township.

  • Permit office hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9:00-11:00 a.m., or by appointment; township phone (717) 768-8222.
  • Applicant must select one of three third-party inspection companies at application.
  • The online application form and step-by-step process were not located; the page only lists the inspection-company choice and hours.

  “hours: tuesdays and wednesdays 9:00-11:00 a.m., or call for appointment.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for owner-occupied work inside Paradise Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new construction inside Paradise Township, Lancaster County, PA.
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for land inside Paradise Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district and the agricultural/rural-residential district inside Paradise Township.
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential district and the agricultural/rural-residential district inside Paradise 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.