Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Upper Fairfield Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Upper Fairfield Township adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Upper Fairfield Township’s rules apply, not the county’s. Septic permits inside Upper Fairfield Township come from Upper Fairfield Township. 15 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 31, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Lycoming County page.
All land inside Upper Fairfield township, Lycoming County, PA, which adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (not the county zoning ordinance)
“upper fairfield township has adopted zoning and subdivision & land development ordinances”
Zoning districts in Upper Fairfield township, Lycoming County, PA
“the zoning districts include: vc – village center district sr – suburban residential district ar – agricultural residential district c – conservation district”
Agricultural Residential (AR) district, Article 5, single-family dwellings and other permitted uses in Upper Fairfield township
minimum lot size, single-family dwelling: >= 3 acres · minimum lot width, all uses: >= 200 ft
“5.4.1 minimum lot size: single family and all other permitted uses except as provided for below agriculture commercial kennels or stables animal hospitals medical marijuana grower/processor 3 acres 10 acres 5 acres 5 acres 10 acres”
“6.4.1 minimum lot size: single family: on-lot sewer and on-lot water single family: public or community water or sewer two-family dwelling or townhouse oil & gas development bed & breakfast group home institutional residences manufacturing, research and testing laboratories indoor recreation facility trucking terminal, warehousing, distribution center sewage facilities 6.4.2 1 acre (43,560 ft2) 15,000 ft2 20,000 ft2 per dwelling unit”
“4.4.1 minimum lot size: single family dwellings and all other permitted uses except as provided for below outdoor recreation including camp or campground uses 4.4.2 5 acres 10 acres”
Suburban Residential (SR) district, Section 6.4.3, in Upper Fairfield township
front yard, PA routes 87 and 864: >= 75 ft from road centerline · front yard, other roads: >= 50 ft from road centerline or 25 ft from right-of-way, whichever is greater · side yard total: >= 25 ft (no less than 10 ft on either side) · rear yard, principal structure: >= 25 ft · rear yard, accessory structure: >= 10 ft
“minimum yards: front (abutting pa routes 87 & 864) front (all other roads) side rear - principal structure rear - accessory structure 6-3 75 ft. from road centerline 50 feet from road centerline or 25 ft. from road right-ofway whichever is greater 25 ft. total; no less than 10 ft. on either side 25 ft. 10 ft.”
“5.4.3 minimum yards: front (abutting pa routes 87 & 864) front (all other roads) side – principal structure side – accessory structure rear - principal structure rear - accessory structure 5-4 75 ft. from road centerline 50 feet from road centerline or 25 ft. from road right-ofway whichever is greater 25 ft. each side 15 ft. each side 25 ft. 10 ft.”
“minimum yards: front (abutting pa routes 87 & 864) front (all other roads) front – non-residential parking areas side and rear– principal structure side and rear – accessory structure 7-4 75 ft. from road centerline 50 feet from road centerline or 25 ft. from road right-ofway whichever is greater 10 ft. from road right-of-way 25 ft. 10 ft.”
Agricultural Residential (AR) district, Section 5.3.2 and 5.3.3, in Upper Fairfield township
maximum building coverage: <= 10 % · maximum impervious coverage: <= 20 %
“5.3.2 maximum building coverage: 10% 5.3.3 maximum impervious coverage: 20%”
Agricultural Residential (AR) district, Section 5.3.1, in Upper Fairfield township
maximum building height: <= 45 ft (structures exempt under Section 12.6)
“5.3.1 maximum building height: 45 ft. (note: see section 12.6 for exempt structures)”
Campgrounds and recreation vehicle parks in Upper Fairfield township (Section 13.17). Camping on private land outside a campground is not addressed in the text read.
minimum campground tract size: >= 10 acres
“13.17 outdoor recreation uses, campgrounds and recreation vehicle parks all of the above shall be subject to the following: 13.17.1 all such camp sites shall be planned as a unit and shall be located on a tract of land at least ten (10) acres in size.”
Accessory apartment inside an existing single-family detached dwelling in Upper Fairfield township (Section 12.2.3)
habitable floor area, minimum: >= 400 ft2 · habitable floor area, maximum: <= 800 ft2 (Section 12.2.3.3 contains an 'except that' clause that was not read)
“12.2.3.3 the habitable floor area of the accessory apartment shall be a minimum of 400 ft2 and a maximum of 800 ft2, except that the area of the accessory unit shall not exceed 25% of the habitable floor area of the original dwelling.”
On-lot sewage systems in Upper Fairfield township
“the township’s seo oversees the permitting and construction of on-lot sewage systems.”
Subdivision and land development of land inside Upper Fairfield township
“vc – village center district – no subdivision permitted”
Zoning permit process in Upper Fairfield township
“**it is the property owner’s responsibility to obtain a zoning permit if required.”
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Upper Fairfield Township or Lycoming County directly.
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.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Upper Fairfield Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lycoming County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Upper Fairfield Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
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