Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Abbottstown, Pennsylvania

Borough of Abbottstown’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection or alteration of a building, or a change in land use, inside Abbottstown borough.

  • No zoning permit is required for normal maintenance activities, minor repairs, and alterations that do not structurally change a building or structure.
  • The cited permit is a zoning permit.

  “Requirement to obtain a permit. It shall be unlawful for any person to commence work for the erection or alteration of any building or for a change in land use until a permit has been duly issued therefor. No such zoning permit shall be required in case of normal maintenance activities, minor repairs, and alterations which do not structurally change a building or structure.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Property inside Abbottstown borough for which a borough permit has been issued.

  • The minimum inspections are at beginning and completion of construction.
  • If construction does not conform to the approved application, a written violation notice is issued and the violation must be discontinued; construction may proceed after proper correction and written notice.

  “It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer, Building Permit Officer, or other qualified individual authorized by the Borough Council, to make the following minimum number of inspections of property for which a permit has been issued:”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Abbottstown borough.

  • The chapter was amended in its entirety on January 15, 2015; subsequent amendments are noted where applicable.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Abbottstown 11-21-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-2; amended in its entirety 1-15-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-01. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units in the zoning districts marked P in Abbottstown borough's official Table of Uses.

  • The Table of Uses defines P as permitted by right.
  • The table refers to § 204-37A for accessory dwelling units; its detailed standards were not available in the opened material.

  “Accessory dwelling unit P P P P § 204-37A”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Abbottstown borough.

  • Subdivision and land-development plans are subject to the prevailing Borough Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, and other applicable ordinances.

  “All subdivision and land development plans are subject to the prevailing Borough Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, and all other applicable ordinances.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permits, appeals, variances, special exceptions, conditional uses, amendments, bonds, and related zoning matters inside Abbottstown borough.

  • The Borough Council adopts the fee schedule by resolution and may amend it from time to time.
  • The schedule is posted in the Borough Office.
  • Applications are incomplete and no action is taken until applicable fees, charges, and expenses are paid in full.

  “Such fee schedule shall be adopted by resolution of the Borough Council, and may be amended, from time to time and shall be posted in the Borough Office.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit applications for buildings and land uses inside Abbottstown borough.

  • Applications are made to the Zoning Officer.
  • The Zoning Officer acts within 30 days after submission of a complete application.
  • No permit issues until the Zoning Officer certifies compliance with Chapter 204 and all other applicable ordinances.
  • A permit becomes void if construction has not commenced within one year unless a timely extension request is approved; work must be finally completed within 24 months unless a timely extension request is approved.

  zoning officer action period: <= 30 days (following submission of a complete application) · permit commencement period: <= 1 year (unless extension requested and approved) · completion period: <= 24 months (unless extension requested and approved)

  “Time frame for Zoning Officer action. The Zoning Officer shall act upon a request within 30 days following the submission of a complete application.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Abbottstown or Adams County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Abbottstown borough.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Abbottstown borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Abbottstown borough.
• Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside Abbottstown borough.
• Setbacks — Residential districts inside Abbottstown borough.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Abbottstown means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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