Building permits, zoning and land rules in Perry County, Pennsylvania

Yes. Covered construction in Perry County requires a UCC building permit before work starts². The parcel's township or borough administers the building permit locally or through a certified third-party agency¹. In Rye Township, building and zoning permits generally cover work that changes outside dimensions or adds a structure; listed routine replacements such as roof shingles, siding, storm doors, and windows do not need those permits there⁶. A qualifying agricultural building is excluded from the UCC, but zoning approval, subdivision review, septic permits, and floodplain rules may still apply¹¹. Pennsylvania does not generally license construction contractors, but the reviewed rules do not establish a general owner-builder exemption from UCC building permits or inspections⁷. Permitted construction must be inspected, and a residential building cannot be occupied until a building code official issues a certificate of occupancy².

Start with the township or borough where the parcel lies because UCC building-permit administration and zoning approval vary by municipality in Perry County^1,3. Perry County's municipality directory is available through the courthouse at 2 East Main Street, New Bloomfield, PA 17068, 717-582-2131¹³. As a worked example, Rye Township's office at 1775 New Valley Road, Marysville, PA 17053, 717-957-2348, provides zoning and driveway permit applications and directs applicants to Building Inspection Underwriters for UCC building permits and inspections⁶. Septic permitting does not move to the building inspector or zoning officer: Rye Township's septic permits go through Frederick Seibert Associates, the municipal Sewage Enforcement Officer, at (717) 275-2048⁶. Rye Township and Carroll Township each publish their own fee schedules, illustrating why applicants should not assume one countywide price^14,15.

Perry County has no countywide zoning ordinance; zoning decisions remain with municipal officials³. Municipal zoning is mixed: Rye Township has zoning, while Buffalo Township has not adopted a zoning ordinance^6,16. A parcel without municipal zoning is not unrestricted because subdivision and land-development standards can still apply¹⁷. For residential subdivision lots governed by the Perry County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, municipal zoning standards control where they exist; otherwise, the county ordinance supplies conditional lot-area, width, and setback standards¹⁸. The reviewed material does not establish a countywide minimum dwelling floor area, lot-coverage cap, or building-height limit; ask the township or borough serving the parcel. Rye Township's zoning districts and overlays are a local example, not rules for the rest of Perry County¹⁹.

On-lot septic permitting and enforcement in Perry County stay with the applicable municipal local agency, with Pennsylvania DEP providing oversight⁵. A septic permit is generally required before installing an on-lot system or occupying a building served by one²⁰. The local agency conducts site-suitability review, soil probes, and percolation testing during the application process²¹. Only 3% of Perry County soils are free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, so arrange that testing early¹². In Rye Township, Frederick Seibert Associates serves as the Sewage Enforcement Officer, and septic permits may be required for new construction or remodeling that adds bedrooms or bathrooms and are required for repairs and replacements⁶. A new system cannot be covered until the permit issuer gives final written approval²⁰. Composting or incinerating toilets do not eliminate wastewater duties for a new residence²².

We could not confirm a countywide rule allowing or prohibiting long-term RV living, temporary camping, or tiny-home occupancy on private land in Perry County. The practical answer depends on the parcel's township or borough because municipal zoning varies across Perry County¹⁶. Rye Township defines an RV as temporary living accommodation and says periodic camp visits should not exceed 90 consecutive days, but that rule is not countywide⁹. Ask the municipality whether the proposed unit is treated as a dwelling, RV, manufactured home, or temporary use, and ask its Sewage Enforcement Officer about septic approval⁵. For a new manufactured home, the installer must provide the required federal form to the local code official to receive a certificate of occupancy²³. Manufactured-home rules do not settle local zoning approval, placement, or septic permitting^3,5.

1. Identify the parcel's township or borough and ask which building code official, zoning officer, Sewage Enforcement Officer, and road authority serve it^1,3.
2. Confirm municipal zoning approval and the applicable subdivision standards, including lot size and setbacks, before designing the home¹⁸.
3. Apply to the municipal local agency for the septic permit and required site and soil testing^20,21.
4. Obtain the correct driveway permit; work on state highway land requires PennDOT approval²⁴.
5. Check the flood map and obtain the municipality's floodplain development permit or equivalent if the site is in a Special Flood Hazard Area²⁵.
6. Apply for the UCC building permit before work begins².
7. Complete the required building inspections and obtain the certificate of occupancy before using the home².

Confirm the specific township or borough first because zoning varies across Perry County's municipalities even though the county has no countywide zoning ordinance³. Soils deserve a hard look: only 3% of Perry County land is free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, and 69.1% is wooded, so septic siting and clearing costs matter¹². About 51% of the county is at 15% slope or less, making parcel-level grading review worthwhile¹². Ask which subdivision and land-development ordinance applies because a municipality without zoning can still have lot and setback standards¹⁸. Confirm whether road access involves state highway land because that work requires PennDOT approval²⁴. Ask about well drilling too: drilling companies need state licenses and rig permits, while farmers and homeowners drilling their own wells on owned or leased land are exempt from those state requirements¹⁰.