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

Washington Township’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Pre-built storage sheds and swimming pools inside Washington township (York County, PA).

  • Homepage directs residents to check with the zoning officer before starting construction.
  • Permit requirement for new dwellings was not established from the source reviewed.

  “building permits check with the zoning officer before starting construction permits required for pre-built storage sheds and swimming pools”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Washington township (York County, PA).

  • Adopted by Ordinance 2004-01, which adopts the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code and requirements.
  • Ordinance text was not opened; enforcement agency (township or outside agency) not yet confirmed.

  “ordinance 2004-01 adopting the pa uniform construction code and requirements (pdf)”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Washington township (York County, PA) limits: the township administers its own zoning ordinance.

  • Zoning ordinance enacted October 17, 1977; revised January 7, 2009; the file on the township site is the 2025-10-01 edition with amendments.
  • Township zoning map is published on the ordinances page.

  “washington township york county pennsylvania zoning ordinance supervisors: daniel mcgregor, chairman harlen anderson, jr., vice-chairman jeffrey propps enacted and ordained october 17, 1977 revised: january 7, 2009”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Washington township, York County, PA.

  • Table of contents names the Rural Residential zone (R), Woodland Preservation zone (W) and flood plain overlay zones (fw, ff, fa).
  • Full district schedules for R were not extracted in this pass.

  “rural residential zone (r) woodland preservation zone (w) flood plain overlay zones - floodway (fw) flood fringe (ff) general flood plain area (fa)”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Dwellings inside Washington township (York County, PA).

  • The zoning ordinance table of contents lists a minimum habitable floor area section as deleted.
  • Inferred from the table of contents line only; body text not opened.

  “section 405 minimum habitable floor area section 405 deleted (ord 98-15)”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific

  Woodland Preservation (W) zone only in Washington township (York County, PA). Rural Residential (R) zone figures were not extracted.

  • Lot area and width requirements for principal uses in the W zone.

  minimum lot area: >= 3 acres · minimum lot width: >= 300 feet

  “minimum lot area -three (3) acres (130,680 sq. ft.). 2. minimum lot width - three hundred (300) feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific

  Single-family and two-family dwellings in the Woodland Preservation (W) zone only in Washington township (York County, PA).

  • Farm buildings housing animals and other uses have larger or different setbacks in the same paragraph; not summarized here.
  • Rural Residential (R) zone setbacks not extracted.

  side setback: 25 feet (single-family and two-family dwellings, W zone) · rear setback: 40 feet (single-family and two-family dwellings, W zone)

  “each side setback - single family and two-family dwellings: twenty-five (25) feet.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Washington township (York County, PA).

  • The zoning ordinance cross-references the township subdivision and land development ordinance.
  • The subdivision ordinance itself was not opened; the township site lists a SALDO fee schedule.

  “in accordance with subdivision and land development ordinance sections 610, 611, 612 and any amendments thereto.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes inside Washington township (York County, PA).
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Washington township (York County, PA).
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Washington township (York County, PA).
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits for the Rural Residential (R) zone inside Washington township (York County, PA).
• Building height — Building height limits for the Rural Residential (R) zone inside Washington 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.