Silver Spring Township, PA: building permits, zoning and septic rules

At a glance

Building permits

Required for new building construction¹

Zoning

Township zoning applies; confirm the parcel’s district with township staff³⁵

Septic permits

Township Sewage Enforcement Officer reviews, issues and inspects⁴

Applications

Submit building and zoning applications online⁶

Owner-builder

Most contractors have no statewide licensing requirement; municipal requirements may apply⁷

Move-in approval

UCC-covered homes need a certificate of occupancy⁸

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 15, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Silver Spring Township?

Silver Spring Township lists new building construction among projects requiring a building permit; the township also has a Uniform Construction Codes chapter.¹⁹ Pennsylvania requires a building permit before residential construction covered by the Uniform Construction Code, subject to the code’s exclusions and limited-work exemptions.¹⁰

Owner-building does not replace that approval: Pennsylvania generally has no statewide licensing requirement for most contractors, but municipalities may impose licensing or certification requirements.⁷ Ask the township building staff to distinguish building-code exemptions from zoning approval for your proposed work.¹

Who handles building permits in Silver Spring Township?

Silver Spring Township Community Development oversees building codes, conducts inspections and issues building permits; the same department handles subdivision and land-development review and stormwater regulation.² Contact the township Permit Clerk at 717-766-0178 x 3501 to identify the application documents for your project.⁶

Silver Spring Township requires online application submission, and review starts only when the required documents have been received and the application is complete.⁶ Use the township’s online application portal for application intake and payment, with instructions on the township application page.⁶

Does Silver Spring Township have zoning for RVs and tiny homes?

Silver Spring Township has its own zoning ordinance; Cumberland County says municipalities establish and administer zoning and should confirm a property’s classification.³⁵ Silver Spring Township requires zoning approval to place a building or structure on a lot, and its guidance directs owners to the Zoning Officer for accessory-building setbacks.¹

We could not confirm Silver Spring Township’s rules for residential RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, minimum dwelling size or district-specific lot dimensions; ask the township Zoning Officer about the proposed use and parcel before buying.³ Ask separately about agricultural buildings: the township lists agricultural buildings under projects needing zoning permits.¹

How do septic permits work in Silver Spring Township?

Silver Spring Township’s Sewage Enforcement Officer tests site suitability before a new septic system, reviews and issues septic permits, and inspects system construction or installation against approved plans and state rules.⁴ Call the Sewage Enforcement Officer at 717-319-1301 about a parcel’s suitability and the proposed system before fixing the house location.⁴

On-lot septic and public sewer have different contacts: the Sewage Enforcement Officer’s duties cover on-lot systems, while public-sewer questions go to the township Sewer Authority at 717-591-1370.⁴ Existing septic systems also come with a township pumping and inspection requirement; ask the Sewage Enforcement Officer for the property’s maintenance obligations.⁴

Building a home in Silver Spring Township: what comes first?

1. Confirm the parcel’s zoning district and proposed residential use with Silver Spring Township; the county advises owners to obtain municipal confirmation of zoning classification.⁵
2. If using on-lot sewage disposal, arrange site-suitability testing and septic permit review with the township Sewage Enforcement Officer.⁴
3. Prepare the applicable township applications: Silver Spring Township reviews driveway, stormwater, zoning and building applications consecutively in that order when applicable, after submission is complete.⁶
4. Keep UCC-permitted construction accessible and notify the construction code official when work is ready for required inspections.¹¹
5. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before using or occupying a UCC-covered home.⁸

What should you check before buying in Silver Spring Township?

Ask Silver Spring Township about driveway review if the proposed access differs from a recorded subdivision plan or work affects the right-of-way of a township road; the township lists separate driveway applications for those situations.¹ Ask Public Works about the right-of-way at 717-766-0178 option 5.¹

We could not confirm parcel-specific well requirements, mandatory public water or sewer connection, or floodplain development conditions; bring those questions to Community Development, whose application page includes a floodplain permit application.⁶ For land outside Silver Spring Township, consult the Cumberland County guide and confirm zoning with the municipality containing the parcel.⁵

Watch-outs

• A building-code exemption does not settle zoning approval: Silver Spring Township separately requires a zoning permit to place a building or structure on a lot.¹
• We could not confirm permission to live in an RV or tiny home on a Silver Spring Township parcel; ask the township Zoning Officer before relying on either as construction-period housing.³
• Silver Spring Township application review does not begin until the required documentation is complete.⁶

Sources

1. Silver Spring Township Building and Zoning (sstwp.org)
2. Silver Spring Township Community Development Department (sstwp.org)
3. Township of Silver Spring, PA Code of Ordinances (eCode360) table of contents (Silver Spring Township), quoted and re-checked
4. Silver Spring Township Sewage Enforcement Officer (sstwp.org)
5. Municipal Information, quoted and re-checked
6. Silver Spring Township Permit Clerk (sstwp.org)
7. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
8. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
9. Township of Silver Spring, PA Code of Ordinances (eCode360) table of contents (Silver Spring Township), quoted and re-checked
10. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
11. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 15, 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.