Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Borough of North York, Pennsylvania

At a glance

Zoning

Borough zoning code (Chapter 154) applies throughout the borough¹

Zoning districts

Residential, neighborhood commercial, mixed use and light industrial commercial districts, plus a floodplain overlay⁵

Building permit

Required under the state Uniform Construction Code; issued by the municipality, not the county²³

Manufactured homes

Allowed as single-family dwellings in most districts, subject to extra borough requirements⁶

Accessory unit for a relative

Special exception from the zoning hearing board in residential districts⁷

Septic

Permit from the local agency⁴

Driveway on a state road

PennDOT highway occupancy permit⁸

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Does North York borough have zoning, and what does it mean for homes, RVs and tiny homes?

Yes. The Borough of North York adopted its own zoning in Chapter 154 of the borough code, and the chapter applies throughout the borough¹. The borough is divided into R1 low density residential, R2 medium density residential, NC neighborhood commercial/residential, MU mixed use and light industrial commercial districts, with a floodplain overlay over the underlying districts⁵. Land annexed later is classified R1 until the borough reclassifies it⁵.

Manufactured and mobile homes are permitted as single-family detached dwellings in R1, R2, NC and MU, but they must meet additional requirements in § 154.066, and manufactured home parks are shown as not permitted in every district⁶. An accessory unit for the care of a relative needs a special exception from the zoning hearing board in R1, R2 and NC, and is not permitted in MU or the light industrial district⁷. We could not confirm borough rules on RV occupancy or tiny homes; ask the borough office before you plan either.

Do you need a building permit in North York borough, and who issues it?

A building permit is required before construction begins under Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code². In York County the municipality issues the permit: the York County Planning Commission does not issue building permits, and all permits are issued by the municipality³. For a property inside North York, that means the borough's own office, or a certified third-party agency if the borough has opted out of local enforcement⁹.

Inspections are required for construction or changes to residential buildings and for electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work, and a certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building can be used¹⁰¹¹. We could not confirm the borough's own permit fees or application steps; the borough office can supply its fee schedule, which the municipality must publicize¹².

How do septic permits work in North York borough?

Pennsylvania requires a permit from the local agency before installing, constructing, occupying or using a building served by an individual onlot sewage system⁴. Local agencies can be a municipality, a group of municipalities or a county health department, and the Pennsylvania DEP provides oversight¹³. We could not confirm which agency handles septic permits inside North York borough, or whether public sewer is mandatory there.

Before you buy a lot that is not on public sewer, ask the borough office who its sewage enforcement officer is. A statewide exemption for a residence on a tract of at least 10 acres has conditions on owner-of-record date and siting, so a small borough lot is unlikely to qualify⁴.

Building a home in North York borough: the steps, in order

1. Confirm the zoning district of the parcel and whether your use is permitted there, with the borough office⁵.
2. If the lot would be subdivided or developed, expect review under the borough's subdivision and land development chapter¹⁴.
3. Apply for the building permit from the borough or its code agency before starting work².
4. Get a septic permit from the local agency if the lot is not on public sewer⁴.
5. If the driveway connects to a state highway, obtain a PennDOT highway occupancy permit⁸.
6. Pass the required inspections and get the certificate of occupancy before moving in¹⁰¹¹.

What stays with York County, and what to check before you buy in North York

York County does not issue building permits and does not administer a countywide zoning ordinance; zoning and land-use policy sit with municipalities³¹⁵. The county's role is planning support; its rules for unincorporated land are on the York County page.

Check whether the parcel lies in the floodplain overlay: construction in a flood plain needs documentation sealed by a registered design professional⁵¹⁶. Also ask the borough office for lot size, setback and height standards, which we could not confirm. County figures give context: York County's effective property tax rate is 1.7%¹⁷.

Watch-outs

• We could not confirm the borough's own building permit fees, building code chapter or permit application steps; ask the Borough of North York office, or the York County Planning Commission at 717-771-9870 for the municipal contact³.
• We could not confirm minimum lot sizes, setbacks or RV and tiny-home rules inside North York; the borough's zoning officer answers these by district⁵.
• A manufactured home must meet the borough's additional requirements even where it is permitted by right⁶.

Sources

1. North York Borough Code, Chapter 154: Zoning (contents and §§ 154.001-154.002) (Borough of North York), quoted and re-checked
2. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
3. York County Planning Commission (ycpc.org)
4. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
5. North York Borough Code, §§ 154.045-154.050 districts and table of permitted uses (Borough of North York), quoted and re-checked
6. North York Borough Code, §§ 154.045-154.050 districts and table of permitted uses (Borough of North York), quoted and re-checked
7. North York Borough Code, §§ 154.045-154.050 districts and table of permitted uses (Borough of North York), quoted and re-checked
8. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
9. Uniform Construction Code (UCC) (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
10. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
11. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
12. Building Permit Reports | York County Planning Commission PA, quoted and re-checked
13. Act 537 Sewage Facilities, quoted and re-checked
14. North York Borough Code, Chapter 153: Subdivision and Land Development (§§ 153.113, 153.130-153.135) (Borough of North York), quoted and re-checked
15. Data Center Development in York County, quoted and re-checked
16. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
17. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 14, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.