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

West Cocalico Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction projects, fences, sheds, and changes in property use inside West Cocalico Township.

  • No permit is required for sealing driveways, painting, wall-papering, new flooring, sidewalks, replacement windows, swings, or replacement siding or roofs unless there is a structural change.

  “Yes, you must submit a permit for all construction projects as well as a fence, shed or a change in use of a property.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside West Cocalico Township.

  • The Township publishes and administers Chapter 27, Zoning.

  “Chapter 27 Zoning (§ 27-101 – § 27-2608)”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage systems inside West Cocalico Township.

  • The Township's Sewage Enforcement Officer handles the stated repair and replacement permitting function.

  “A permit is required from the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer to repair or replace any component (except the tank baffle) of an on-lot system.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Repair or replacement of any on-lot sewage-system component inside West Cocalico Township.

  • Tank-baffle replacement is excepted.
  • Repairs or replacements to septic drainfields require percolation and probe testing.

  “A permit is required from the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer to repair or replace any component (except the tank baffle) of an on-lot system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside West Cocalico Township.

  • The Township code contains application and processing requirements, preliminary-plan application, final-plan application, and plan exemptions.

  “Chapter 22 Subdivision and Land Development (§ 22-101 – § 22-906)”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development within any area of West Cocalico Township subject to floodplain permitting.

  • The Floodplain Administrator issues the permit only after conformity with applicable codes and ordinances is determined.
  • Other necessary state and federal permits must be obtained before a floodplain permit issues.
  • During construction and at completion, inspections occur as required by Board resolution.

  “A floodplain permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Township of West Cocalico.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township building and zoning permit applications inside West Cocalico Township.

  • The Township zoning page links a fee schedule labeled revised June 15, 2021; the schedule's exact figures were not extracted in this run.

  “Building Permit Application (Residential) Permit Fee Schedule - Revised 6/15/21 Zoning/Building UCC (Commercial) Permit Application Procedures”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building, zoning, and subdivision/land-development permit applications inside West Cocalico Township.

  • The Township publishes a residential building permit application, commercial zoning/building UCC procedures, and an application for subdivision and/or land-development consideration.

  “Zoning/Building UCC (Commercial) Permit Application Procedures”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside West Cocalico Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside West Cocalico Township.
• Inspections — Ordinary building construction inside West Cocalico Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside West Cocalico Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in West Cocalico Township zoning districts.

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 West 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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