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

York Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential and commercial construction and modifications inside York Township

  • Permit must be obtained before work starts and displayed on the worksite; the township page says to contact the township for the need for a permit on proposed work
  • Plumbing work requires a York Township licensed master plumber under Resolution 93-2 (1993), with separate plumbing permit; some plumbing repairs need no permit
  • Residential permit downloads include deck, fence, finish basement, patio, residential addition, shed, swimming pool and detached garage permit guides

  “building permits must be obtained before you start the work, and the permit must be displayed on the worksite!”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction inside York Township, York County, PA

  • The township building and zoning department enforces the uniform construction code (a statewide code) together with township ordinances; the township page does not state a local amendment

  “on may 11, 2004, york township (via ordinance 2004-7) adopted the uniform construction code, establishing the administration and enforcement of the code, a board of appeals and fees assessable by york township.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New construction and modifications to existing buildings inside York Township

  • Inspections are scheduled Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., with township office notified 24 hours in advance; administration office phone (717) 428-5641
  • Inspection list is given to the applicant when the building permit is issued

  “they complete building inspections of new construction and modifications to existing buildings.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside York Township (York County, PA) zoned under the York Township Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 265 of the township code

  • Special exceptions are granted by the zoning hearing board, per the ordinance text: must be met prior to the granting by the zoning hearing board of a special exception
  • Zoning ordinance on the township site is the 2023 amended version (file name Zoning-Ordinance-last-amendment-3-14-23); ordinances page lists 2023-01 chapter 265 zoning ordinance update

  “section 265-602. accessory unit, single bedroom accessory units, single bedroom (unit) are permitted by special exception in the rl, rm, rh, ra and mrc districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts in York Township (RL, RM, RH, RA, MRC, CO, CS, CI, I)

  • Zoning map is a separate township document (listed on the ordinances page); map not opened

  “section 265-401. residential–low density (rl) district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Any dwelling unit or building used for living purposes, including manufactured and mobile homes, inside York Township (all districts)

  • Accessory units, multi-family dwellings and conversion apartments: minimum 400 sq ft per dwelling unit; apartments occupied exclusively by one person: minimum 300 sq ft
  • Accessory unit maximum is 720 sq ft under section 265-602

  minimum habitable floor area: >= 700 square feet · minimum habitable floor area, accessory unit / multi-family / conversion apartment: >= 400 square feet per dwelling unit (apartments occupied exclusively by one person: 300 square feet minimum)

  “the minimum habitable floor area of a dwelling unit or any building or structure (including manufactured/mobile homes) used for living purposes shall be 700 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential Agricultural (RA) district, section 265-404 inside York Township

  • Minimum lot width 200 feet at the building setback line; minimum lot frontage 180 feet at the street right-of-way line
  • Unless otherwise stipulated in article 5

  minimum lot area: >= 3 acres (unless otherwise stipulated in article 5)

  “minimum lot area shall be three (3) acres for all uses unless otherwise stipulated in article 5. 2. minimum lot width shall be 200 feet as measured at the building setback line. 3. minimum lot frontage shall be 180 feet as measured at the street right-of-way line.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential-Low Density (RL) district, section 265-401 - main single-family residential district inside York Township

    “minimum net lot area shall be 11,500 square feet. 2. the minimum lot width of any lot shall be 100 feet as measured at the front building setback line.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential Agricultural (RA) district, section 265-404 inside York Township

  • Applies to all uses in the district

  lot coverage maximum: <= 30 percent of net lot area

  “lot coverage for all uses shall not exceed thirty (30) percent of net lot area.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential-Low Density (RL) district, section 265-401 inside York Township

    “lot coverage for all uses shall not exceed forty (40) percent of net lot area.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential Agricultural (RA) district, section 265-404 inside York Township

  • Accessory buildings/structures: 15 feet; agricultural outbuildings: 90 feet

  principal building height: <= 45 feet (may increase 1 foot per additional foot of front, side and rear setbacks, up to 10 feet)

  “accessory buildings/structures - fifteen (15) feet. the height may be increased by one (1) foot for each additional foot that all front, side and rear setbacks are increased, but may not be increased by more than five (5) feet. 3. agricultural outbuildings - ninety (90) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential-Low Density (RL) district, section 265-401 inside York Township

    “accessory buildings/structures - fifteen (15) feet. the height may be increased by one (1) foot for each additional foot that all front, side and rear setbacks are increased, but may not be increased by more than five (5) feet.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Recreational vehicles parked or stored on lots in residential districts inside York Township (dwelling use)

  • Visitor sleeping exception: not exceeding 14 days in any one calendar year
  • Cooking not permitted at any time; RV may not be permanently or temporarily connected to sewer lines; water and electric may be temporarily connected only during permitted visitor use or loading/servicing
  • RV storage: units 30 feet or less may be parked outside only in side or rear yard, 6 feet from side or rear lot line; over 30 feet not permitted outdoors

  visitor sleeping period: <= 14 days per calendar year (visitors of the owner or occupant only)

  “while parked or stored, a recreational vehicle shall not be: 1. used or occupied for dwelling purposes, except for sleeping by visitors of the owner or occupant of the lot for a period not exceeding fourteen (14) days in any one calendar year. cooking shall not be permitted at any time.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Single-bedroom accessory unit on a single-family detached lot in the RL, RM, RH, RA and MRC districts inside York Township

  • Special exception required from the zoning hearing board
  • Only one unit per single-family detached dwelling or lot; unit may continue only while the principal dwelling or unit is occupied by the owner of the lot
  • Habitable floor area must meet section 265-517 but may not exceed 720 square feet; only one bedroom area; one additional off-street parking space; applicant must submit a plan and supporting documents for water and sewage

  habitable floor area maximum: <= 720 square feet

  “accessory units, single bedroom (unit) are permitted by special exception in the rl, rm, rh, ra and mrc districts, subject to the following: a. the habitable floor area of the unit shall conform to the minimum habitable floor area requirements of section 265-517 but in any event shall not exceed 720 square feet.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage disposal systems inside York Township

  • Township on-lot sewerage system ordinance applies; township SEO is a subcontractor of the township (two named SEOs on the township page)
  • Page states about 1,800 homes in the township rely on septic systems

  “the york township sewerage enforcement officer (seo) is the primary resource for residents and businesses to receive information on compliance with pennsylvania act 537. the seo inspects on-lot sewer systems to assure proper function.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Existing on-lot sewerage systems in York Township

  • Pumping and inspection at least every three years by an approved pumper/hauler; inspection form copy goes to the township administration office
  • Problems found by the pumper are referred to the township SEO

  inspection interval: <= 3 years

  “the on-lot sewerage system ordinance requires homeowners that have an on-lot sewerage system to have that system pumped and inspected at least every three years by an approved pumper / hauler.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  New development and redevelopment (subdivision and land development) inside York Township

  • Subject to township ordinances and the subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO), which the zoning ordinance cross-references; SALDO text not opened
  • Municipalities Planning Code applies

  “the department is also responsible for new development and redevelopment planning within the township in accordance with the municipalities planning code, township ordinances as well as state and federal regulations.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building and zoning permit fees inside York Township

  • Fee schedule is a downloadable township document; amounts were not opened
  • Township Resolution 2022-3 sets fees for individual sewage system work by the SEO; fees vary (sewer page)
  • Zoning ordinance section 265-210 references a York Township fee schedule resolution

  “fee schedule click here to view/download the york township fee schedule.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process inside York Township

  • Application forms are posted; applicant contacts township to confirm need for a permit
  • Inspections scheduled through the administration office at (717) 428-5641 at least 24 hours ahead

  “at the time a building permit is issued the applicant will be provided with a list of required inspections.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensed contractor or permit rules inside York Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new construction inside York Township
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear setbacks for residential districts inside York Township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside York Township
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside York 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.