Zoning & Code Enforcement - FAQs

The Zoning Hearing Board is an independent body that hears appeals, variance requests, and special exceptions. It acts like a local "court" for zoning matters, ensuring fairness and due process.

The Board of Supervisors is entitled to participate in any zoning hearing board matter and advocate for an outcome. When the Board of Supervisors reviews a zoning hearing board application, the Board decides whether it wants to remain neutral or advocate for an outcome and how strongly it wants to do so. However, the Board of Supervisors cannot unilaterally overrule or reverse the decision of the Zoning Hearing Board.

The Zoning Ordinance is the set of local rules that determine how land in the Township can be used-such as residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural. It helps organize growth, protect neighborhoods, and ensure that development is consistent with the community's long-term vision.

The Township Supervisors adopt and amend zoning ordinances. The Planning Commission advises them, and the Zoning Hearing Board handles individual cases where exceptions or appeals are requested.

Zoning Ordinances are not perfect and cannot anticipate every situation. Municipalities contain a wide variety of properties, land uses, and overlapping legal requirements, which means zoning rules are necessarily general. Inevitably, there will be cases where the ordinance does not fit neatly, especially as novel uses of land emerge. This is why processes like variances, special exceptions, and ordinance amendments exist-to provide flexibility and ensure fairness when the "one-size-fits-all" approach of zoning meets the complexity of real-world conditions.

When a specific issue arises, or based on lessons learned from other municipalities, a recommendation may be made to the Board of Supervisors to amend the Zoning Ordinance. If the Board agrees that an amendment is appropriate, it will direct Township staff and the solicitor to draft a proposed ordinance. That draft is then reviewed by both the Township and County Planning Commissions, who return it to the Board with comments. If revisions are suggested, the ordinance may go through additional rounds of review. Once the Board is satisfied and no further changes are needed, it may authorize the ordinance to be advertised to the public for possible adoption.

No. Under state and federal law, a Township cannot arbitrarily exclude lawful land uses just because they are unpopular. Zoning ordinances must allow for a reasonable range of uses, and every municipality is required to provide opportunities for all legitimate land uses somewhere within its boundaries. Instead, the Township may regulate where and how those uses occur—through zoning districts, performance standards, and conditions designed to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

The key principle is that zoning is about managing land uses, not eliminating them. If residents feel a particular use is not well-suited to a neighborhood, the proper approach is to ensure ordinances guide that use to appropriate areas and set standards for compatibility, rather than banning it altogether.

No. The Township cannot require you to develop your property for a specific use. Zoning ordinances only set out what types of uses are allowed in each district-for example, retail, office, or industrial—but it's up to the property owner to decide whether to build or operate any of those uses. The Township's role is to regulate where and how uses may occur, not to dictate business choices.

No. A permit must be issued and paid for prior to beginning work. Permits applied for after commencement of construction shall be three times the regular fee, plus any additional penalties prescribed by Township Ordinance.

Roofing permits are required, but only when replacing more than 25% of roof shingles. No permit is needed for siding. Permits for windows are only required when the size of the windows changes.

Yes. Sheds less than 121 sq ft must have a (10) inch clean stone bed with positive mechanical anchors on each corner. A plot plan showing location of structure and dimensions from property line are required. Detached accessory buildings or structures may occupy a required side or rear yard, but shall not be located closer than ten (10) feet to any side or rear property line.

Yes.

Yes. A site plan is required showing all structures and setbacks. Impervious surface calculations must be provided.

A permit can be picked up at the township office. A surveyed site diagram is required. A swimming pool and appurtenant equipment maybe located within a minimum side or rear yard setback but shall not be located closer than 10 feet from the water's edge to the side and rear property lines. In-ground swimming pools must be completely enclosed with a minimum 4 ft high fence with a self closing gate. Applicable electrical requirements also apply.

The requirements for an in-ground pool also apply to above ground pools. Including a Zoning Permit, a fence around the pool yard shall be provided in accordance with the Township's Building Code.

Animal density shall not exceed two (2) Animal Equivalent Units per acre. An animal equivalent unit (AEU) is equal to one thousand pounds of live weight of livestock or poultry, regardless of the actual numbers of animals.

Please see our Fee Schedule.

No certificate of occupancy is required for the resale of a home. However, if the property is a rental then permits are required. A tenant/lessee application for the registration of tenants as well as a moving permit is required. The landlord is responsible for obtaining these applications, paying the fee and setting up an inspection.

No.

Yes. Landlords are required to register their tenants annual in July. This is required even if there is not a change in tenants. If there is a change in tenants during the year a new tenant registration is required within 15 days of arrival. The township also requires the landlord to submit a moving permit application. This requires an inspection of the rental property to obtain a certificate of occupancy. Tenant registration and moving permits are required when ever there is a change in tenants.

Direct questions to the Zoning Officer. Each zoning district is shown on the township Zoning Map. Within the zoning ordinance there is a schedule of permitted uses and restrictions that goes with each zoning district. Information as to setbacks, lot size etc is also included.

The township consists of the following zoning districts.

• RP - Resource Protection District
• R0 - Rural Residential District
• R-1 - Rural Residential District
• R-2 - Rural Residential District
• R-3 - Rural Residential District
• R-4 - Residential District
• R-5 - Rural Residential District
• MHP - Mobile Home Park District
• VR - Village Residential District
• VC - Village Commercial District
• C-1 - Neighborhood Commercial District
• C-2 - Highway Commercial District
• C-3 - Planned Commercial District
• LI - Light Industrial District
• Q - Quarry

Yes. No more than six domestic pets, including dogs or cats, may be kept for private purposes except as a Kennel-Commerical. No numerical restriction shall apply to cats and dogs of less than 3 months of age. The area in which dogs are kept shall be suitably enclosed if the dogs are not chained. This area shall not be within the required front or side yards and shall be located at least 20 feet from any adjacent dwelling.

A new application will be scheduled on the third Wednesday of the following month. The first hearing should commence within 60 days from the date the application is filed. This will also provide the Board time to meet the public notice and advertising requirements. There is no guarantee that your hearing will be heard on the date of the next scheduled meeting of the ZHB because there is a possibility of case overload; the unexpected absences of members, or bad weather conditions.

The ZHB shall render a written decision or when no decision is called for; make written findings on the application within 45 day after the last hearing. The final decision shall be delivered to the applicant personally or mailed to him not later than the day following its date.

The Township no longer requires contractors to register with the Township. The Township however does require the Contractors PA License and expiration date (for residential permits only) and your current insurance certificate, with the Township as the certificate holder (General Contractors Only). This information is needed before we can begin to process your permit application.