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

Monaghan Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential zoning permits in Monaghan Township, including sheds and detached garages under 1,000 sq ft, fences, paving of existing driveways, and non-structural renovations including basement finishing

  • Zoning permits require a plot plan and the other application contents listed in the sheet; the sheet says it is only a guide and the zoning ordinance and UCC must be reviewed before applying.

  “residential zoning permits (including sheds and detached garages under 1,000 s.f., fences, paving of existing driveways, non-structural renovations of existing structures including finishing of basements)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Required — Residential building permits in Monaghan Township, including new dwellings, additions, structural renovations, pools and spas, and accessory structures over 1,000 sq ft

    “residential building permits (including all new dwellings or additions, renovations with structural changes, swimming pools or spas, accessory structures over 1,000 s.f.)”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Residential and other construction inside Monaghan Township, under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as adopted by the township

  • Ordinance 76 is the township UCC building ordinance (June 14, 2004, in force). The ordinance text was not opened; the UCC edition is unverified.

  “76. ucc building ordinance june 14, 2004 in force”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building work requiring a building permit in Monaghan Township

  • The building inspector performs the final inspection after the required building inspections are complete; the sheet does not list inspection stages or the inspection fee.

  “upon completion of the required building inspections, the building inspector shall perform a final inspection for the issuance of the certificate of use and occupancy.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  All structures in Monaghan Township before use or occupancy

  • Issued by the building inspector after the final inspection.

  “a certificate of use and occupancy is required for all structures before use or occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Monaghan Township limits (York County, PA): the township administers its own zoning ordinance (Ordinance 85, adopted July 12, 2010, as amended).

  • Ordinance 85 is listed on the township index as amended by Ordinance 90 (October 14, 2013) and Ordinance 97 (zoning ordinance amendments, September 10, 2018).
  • Zoning ordinance text itself was not opened; the permit sheet cites the 2010 ordinance and states its setback figures are guidelines only, with final determinations made by the township zoning officer.

  “85. zoning ordinance (pdf) july 12, 2010 amended by (#97)”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts of Monaghan Township

  • Only district names visible in the permit sheet's setback table were extracted: Rural Residential, Residential, Village, Commercial/Industrial, Conservation. A district map was not located.
  • The zoning ordinance (Ordinance 85) and its map were not opened.

  “village zone single-family detached dwellings & other principal uses 15 feet 10 feet 5 feet accessory uses 15 feet 10 feet 5 feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings and other principal uses in the Residential zone of Monaghan Township

  • The township permit sheet states these are setback guidelines 'provided for planning purposes only' and that the material 'should not be construed as a final determination'; final determinations are made by the township zoning officer.
  • The source table is garbled in extraction; the front/side/rear column assignment is the research worker's reading and must be checked against the 2010 zoning ordinance as amended.
  • Asterisked figures carry the sheet footnote '* variations w/public utilities'.

  front setback, single-family detached dwelling: 40 feet (planning guideline, not ordinance text) · side setback, single-family detached dwelling: 20 feet (asterisked; variations with public utilities per footnote) · rear setback, single-family detached dwelling: 40 feet (asterisked; variations with public utilities per footnote)

  “residential zone single-family detached dwellings & other principal uses 40 feet 20 feet * 40 feet* accessory uses 40 feet 10 feet* 5 feet * variations w/public utilities”

• Septic permitRequired

  New dwellings and renovations in Monaghan Township that propose an increase in the number of bedrooms

  • The on-lot septic permit (or sewer connection permit) must be supplied with the building permit application; the sheet does not name the issuing agency or the permit fee.
  • Applies to new dwellings or renovations that increase bedroom count, per the sheet.

  “copy of the sewer connection permit or the on-lot septic permit for new dwellings or renovations which propose an increase in the number of bedrooms.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivision and land development in Monaghan Township

  • Ordinance 79 (subdivision and land development, June 14, 2007) is listed in force; ordinance text not opened.
  • Permit sheet refers to the subdivision and land development ordinance (section 502.2) for stormwater performance guarantees on lots created by subdivision.

  “79. subdivision and land development ordinance (pdf) june 14, 2007 in force”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway and road-access work in Monaghan Township

  • Driveway ordinance 78 (June 14, 2007) and road/driveway permit ordinance 70 (as amended by 75) are listed in force; their text was not opened, so specific access standards and permit fees are unverified.

  “70. provides rules and regulations for road and driveway permits, remedies and penalties for violations thereof july 9, 2001 in force”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development, excavation or construction located within the floodplain zone in Monaghan Township

  • Applications must include floodplain location and elevation data prepared by a licensed professional engineer, and flood-proofing certification where used.
  • Floodplain ordinance 95 (December 14, 2015, in force) is listed on the index; its text was not opened, so floodplain boundaries and standards are unverified.

  “if the proposed development, excavation or construction is located within the floodplain zone, the following information is specifically required to accompany all applications, as prepared by a licensed professional engineer”

• Permit feesPublished

  Residential zoning and building permit fees in Monaghan Township

  • Fees are set by the township's fee schedule resolution; the sheet states figures that may not match the current resolution.
  • The sheet also says a Real Estate Services fee (RAS engineering review and inspection) is additional, and the state remittance of $4 per building permit is included in the building permit administration fee.
  • Fee schedule resolution itself not opened; a 2024 newsletter (not opened) says current fees are at the township office.

  building permit administration fee: 55 USD (plus building permit fee below) · building permit fee: 10 USD (plus $2.00 per $1,000 (or portion) of construction value, minimum $100.00) · building permit fee rate: 2 USD per $1,000 construction value (minimum building permit fee $100.00) · building permit extension fee: 55 USD

  “building permit administration fee: $ 55.00 plus building permit: $10.00 plus $2.00/thousand, or portion thereof, of construction value with a minimum of $100.00”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in Monaghan Township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in Monaghan Township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area by zoning district in Monaghan Township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in Monaghan Township
• Building height — Maximum building height in Monaghan 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.