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

Franklin Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Franklin Township (York County, PA) limits: the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, with a zoning hearing board and planning commission.

  • Zoning ordinance as amended effective September 14, 2009 is listed on the township ordinance page; the ordinance text itself was not opened in this research.
  • Recent listed amendment: data center ordinance – zoning amendment effective date june 10, 2026 (Ordinance 2026-2).
  • Township office address per sewage page: 150 Century Lane, Dillsburg, PA 17019 (York County locality); county identity also supported by Wikipedia listing franklintownship.org for Franklin Township, York County (not relied on as evidence).

  “zoning – amended ordinance effective date as amended: september 14, 2009 pages 1-75 pages 76-end”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of Franklin Township (York County, PA)

  • Zoning map document was listed (revised 08-2018) but not opened; district names and boundaries not recorded.

  “franklin township zoning map (revised 08-2018)”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage disposal systems on land inside Franklin Township (York County, PA)

  • Township Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO) performs probe and percolation testing, reviews designs and issues sewage permits.
  • State and county roles were not checked in this research.

  “when the application is approved by the township seo, a sewage permit is issued by the township seo to the applicant.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New on-lot septic systems on lots inside Franklin Township (York County, PA)

  • Applicant must complete percolation testing, then apply to the township for a sewage permit, and have the design approved by the township SEO before the permit is issued.
  • Sewage permit is required before a building permit is issued.
  • Sewage testing applies to existing lots and potential subdivisions.

  sewage permit validity: 3 years

  “a sewage permit must be in the hands of the applicant prior to the issuance of a building permit by the township.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development of land inside Franklin Township (York County, PA)

  • Township subdivision and land development ordinance is listed on the township site; its review fee amendment is effective April 21, 2005.
  • Township sewage page states sewage testing applies to potential subdivisions.

  “subdivision and land development ordinance amendment – pertaining to review fees effective date: april 21, 2005 full document”

• Permit processPartial

  Sewage permit process in Franklin Township (York County, PA); building permit process not documented

  • Sequence: testing by township SEO, application to township, designer submits design, SEO approval, sewage permit issued, then building permit.
  • Building permit application steps were not found.

  “when the application is approved by the township seo, a sewage permit is issued by the township seo to the applicant.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes inside Franklin Township (York County, PA)
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Franklin Township (York County, PA)
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Franklin Township (York County, PA)
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for new homes inside Franklin Township (York County, PA)
• Minimum dwelling size — Main single-family residential district in Franklin Township (York County, PA)

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.