Zoning, building permits and septic rules in North Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania

North Hopewell Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Listed projects inside North Hopewell township: fences, most decks, swimming pools, sheds, pole barns, paving driveways, expansion of driveways and parking areas, solar panel installations, additions, new dwellings, whole-house generators.

  • The township home page lists these items as requiring a permit and says that if a project is not listed the owner should call and ask.
  • The home page states: if you do the project without a permit the cost is doubled.
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.

  “permits are required for the following items: fence most decks swimming pool sheds pole barns paving driveways expansion of driveways parking areas solar panel installations additions new dwelling whole house generators”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside North Hopewell township's limits (York County, Pennsylvania): the township's zoning hearing board hears challenges to the township zoning ordinance and maps.

  • The township's zoning/planning page states the zoning hearing board hears the validity of a zoning ordinance and maps and grants variances and special exceptions; the ordinance title and text were not located online during this research.
  • A township zoning map is linked from the zoning/planning page but was not opened.
  • Zoning permits are administered by the township zoning officer (listed as Kerrie Ebaugh on the home page).

  “their duties consist of hearing the validity of a zoning ordiance, maps or any decision made by the zoning officer.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage systems for land inside North Hopewell township.

  • The township zoning/planning page lists a township sewage enforcement officer (Stephen McKeon, PE), who keeps office hours at the township by appointment and at Fawn Township on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays.
  • Whether state DEP permits also apply to each system is not addressed on the township page and was not verified.

  “sewage enforcement officer stephen mckeon, pe (717) 382-4915”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development plans inside North Hopewell township.

  • The township planning commission reviews subdivision and land development plans in accordance with the township ordinances.
  • The planning commission is only a recommending body to the Board of Supervisors, per the township zoning/planning page.
  • The subdivision ordinance text was not located.

  “the primary function is to review all subdivision plans and land development plans in accordance with the ordinances.”

Rules another office applies inside North Hopewell Township

North Hopewell Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction in North Hopewell township, York County, Pennsylvania, under the statewide Uniform Construction Code.

  • Over 90% of Pennsylvania municipalities administer and enforce the UCC locally; the state page does not name North Hopewell Township specifically, so whether it is an opt-in municipality or uses a third-party agency was not confirmed.
  • The UCC is administered under the Department of Labor and Industry; the state page notes that the 2021 accessibility updates were enjoined and that the 2018 accessibility standards still apply.

  “pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the uniform construction code (ucc), has to be followed by builders in the state.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for residential construction inside North Hopewell township.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside North Hopewell township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside North Hopewell township.
• Zoning districts — Zoning district schedule for North Hopewell township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district of North Hopewell 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.