Bolthole Index

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic in East Hempfield Township, PA

East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance1 and enforces the Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code2. Building permits and zoning approval come from the township office, which also has its own rules for on-lot septic permits3. Living in an RV is limited to temporary stays4.

At a glance

Building permit
Township enforces the Uniform Construction Code2
Zoning
Township zoning ordinance (Chapter 270)1
Septic
Permit required; township on-lot sewage rules53
RV living
Permanent residence prohibited; temporary stays only4
Accessory dwelling
Allowed where the zone permits it, with limits6
Agriculture Zone lot size
10 acres for farm uses; 1 acre for other uses7
Certificate of occupancy
Required after a passing final inspection8

Who to call

Building permits

East Hempfield Township Building/Zoning

Building permits, zoning approval and construction inspections inside East Hempfield Township

(717) 898-3100

1700 Nissley Rd, Landisville, PA 17538

Septic permits

East Hempfield Township On-Lot Septic Disposal Systems (OLDS)

On-lot septic systems, the township sewage enforcement officer and the pumping and inspection program

(717) 898-3100

1700 Nissley Rd, Landisville, PA 17538

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in East Hempfield Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does East Hempfield Township have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and lot size?

East Hempfield Township adopted its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 270, and publishes district regulations with an interactive zoning map19. Rules differ by zone, so look up the parcel's district before you buy.

In the Agriculture Zone, farm uses need 10 acres and all other uses need one acre; single-family dwellings follow a separate article of the ordinance7. Principal buildings there need a 30-foot front setback, 15-foot side setback and 30-foot rear setback10. Residential lot coverage is capped at 35 percent11, and residential buildings may be 35 feet tall12.

Permanent residence in a tent, travel trailer, camper or motor home is prohibited in East Hempfield Township. Temporary stays are allowed in an approved campground or for up to 14 days per calendar year on a friend or relative's lot, and a longer stay needs a written request to the Zoning Officer4. We could not confirm a township rule on tiny homes, so ask the township office before planning one.

Do you need a building permit in East Hempfield Township, and who issues it?

East Hempfield Township adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code, with local amendments in Chapter 1302. Building permits and zoning approval go through the township's own office rather than Lancaster County, which does not issue them13.

The township says it has a building code official who performs permit reviews and inspections, and it uses one generic form for residential building and zoning14. Fees are set by the Board of Supervisors by resolution and kept on file at the township office; a four-dollar state fee is added per permit15. After a passing final inspection, the township issues the certificate of occupancy within five business days8.

We could not find an owner-builder exemption in the township code, so confirm with the township office before assuming one applies.

How do septic permits work in East Hempfield Township?

Septic permits inside East Hempfield Township are handled under the township's own on-lot sewage provisions in Chapter 2003. A project that needs an on-lot system permit must have it issued before the building permit can be issued5. Pennsylvania requires a permit for any building served by an individual or community on-lot system16.

In the Agriculture Zone, public sewer and water may not be extended, so every use there must rely on on-lot sewer and water facilities17. Plan for a septic system and a well on any parcel in that zone.

Existing systems must be pumped and inspected at least once every three years by a township-approved pumper18. Across Lancaster County, 45.1 percent of soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so a site evaluation matters before you buy19. We could not confirm a township well-permit rule; ask the township office.

Building a home in East Hempfield Township: the steps, in order

  1. Look up the parcel's zoning district on the township's interactive zoning map and read the district rules9.
  2. If the parcel is outside public sewer, arrange the on-lot septic permit first, because the building permit cannot be issued without it5.
  3. Check the parcel against the floodplain map; construction in an identified floodplain also needs a development permit from the township Floodplain Administrator20.
  4. Confirm driveway design with the township Road Ordinance21; a driveway onto a state highway also needs a PennDOT permit22.
  5. Apply for the building permit and zoning approval with the township's combined form14.
  6. Pass the final inspection and receive the certificate of occupancy8.

What stays with Lancaster County, and what should you check before you buy?

Land outside East Hempfield Township is governed by other municipalities, each with its own offices; see the Lancaster County page for the county overview. Lancaster County farmland sells for about $21,633 per acre23, and the typical county home value is $392,78024.

Before buying, confirm the zoning district, whether public sewer reaches the lot, the flood status, and the access road. Subdivision and land development inside the township follow Chapter 26525. Short-stay rentals and similar uses are not covered by anything we confirmed, so ask the township office.

Watch-outs

  • Permanent residence in an RV, camper or tent is prohibited, and temporary stays are limited to 14 days per calendar year on a friend or relative's lot4.
  • A building permit cannot be issued until the on-lot septic permit is issued5.
  • An accessory dwelling needs a permit and a recorded, notarized owner certification, and the landowner must live in one of the two dwellings6.
  • We could not confirm the township's rules on tiny homes, manufactured homes, minimum dwelling size or private wells; ask the township office at (717) 898-310014.

Sources

  1. Chapter 270 Zoning - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 130 Construction Codes - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 200 Sewers and Sewage Disposal - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Article 4 General Provisions - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 130 Construction Codes - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article 5 Special Use Regulations - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article 3 Zone Regulations - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 130 Construction Codes - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 270 Zoning - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article 3 Zone Regulations - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article 3 Zone Regulations - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article 3 Zone Regulations - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Simplified Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  14. East Hempfield Township Building/Zoning (easthempfield.org)
  15. Chapter 130 Construction Codes - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Article 3 Zone Regulations - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. East Hempfield Township On-Lot Septic Disposal Systems (OLDS) (easthempfield.org)
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Chapter 250 Floodplain Management Administration - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. Chapter 265 Design Standards - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  22. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  24. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  25. Chapter 265 Subdivision and Land Development - Township of East Hempfield, PA (East Hempfield Township), quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for East Hempfield Township

East Hempfield Township’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction within East Hempfield Township.

    • The adopted UCC includes local amendments and insertions in Chapter 130.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time, (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "code") is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of East Hempfield Township”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Permitted construction in identified floodplain areas inside East Hempfield Township.

    • Inspections occur during construction and upon completion as necessary to determine compliance.
    “During the construction period, the Floodplain Administrator or other authorized official shall inspect the premises to determine that the work is progressing in compliance with the information provided on the permit application and with all applicable municipal laws and ordinances. He/she shall make as many inspections during and upon completion of the work as are necessary.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Work within East Hempfield Township for which a final inspection report shows compliance with the UCC, Zoning Ordinance, and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

    • The certificate is issued within five business days after receipt of a compliant final inspection report.

    issuance deadline: <= 5 business days (After receipt of a final inspection report indicating compliance.)

    “A building code official shall issue a certificate of occupancy within five business days after receipt of a final inspection report that indicates compliance with the Uniform Construction Code, the Zoning Ordinance, and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of East Hempfield Township.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside East Hempfield Township.

    • Chapter 270 was adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors and amended as noted in its history.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of East Hempfield by 8-6-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-06. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside East Hempfield Township.

    • Chapter 270 publishes district regulations and links to an interactive zoning map.
    “An interactive zoning map is available online. Direct links to the map for each district have been added throughout the chapter.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Occupancy of travel trailers, campers, and motor homes inside East Hempfield Township.

    • Permanent residence in the listed vehicles is prohibited.
    • Temporary occupancy is allowed in an approved campground or for up to 14 days per calendar year on a friend or relative's lot.
    • For a longer stay, a written request stating the additional time and justification must be submitted to the Zoning Officer for review.

    temporary occupancy: <= 14 days per calendar year (On the lot of a friend or relative; approved campgrounds are separately permitted.)

    “No persons or family shall be allowed to permanently reside within any tent, travel trailer, bus, boat, camper, or motor home. However, temporary occupancy of a tent, travel trailer, camper, or motor home shall be permitted within an approved campground or for periods of up to 14 days in any calendar year on the lot of a friend or relative. If longer time is needed, a written request including the additional time needed and justification for additional time shall be provided to the Zoning Officer for review.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Tent occupancy inside East Hempfield Township.

    • Permanent residence in a tent is prohibited.
    • Temporary tent occupancy is allowed in an approved campground or for up to 14 days per calendar year on a friend or relative's lot.
    • A longer stay requires a written request to the Zoning Officer stating additional time and justification.

    temporary occupancy: <= 14 days per calendar year (On the lot of a friend or relative; approved campgrounds are separately permitted.)

    “No persons or family shall be allowed to permanently reside within any tent, travel trailer, bus, boat, camper, or motor home. However, temporary occupancy of a tent, travel trailer, camper, or motor home shall be permitted within an approved campground or for periods of up to 14 days in any calendar year on the lot of a friend or relative. If longer time is needed, a written request including the additional time needed and justification for additional time shall be provided to the Zoning Officer for review.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units inside East Hempfield Township where the use is permitted under the applicable zone.

    • Must meet applicable zone setback, height, coverage, lot-width, on-lot-sewage, and single-family dimensional requirements.
    • Maximum floor area is 40% of the primary structure; one ADU per lot.
    • Landowner must maintain principal residency in either dwelling.
    • The unit cannot be occupied by non-family members of principal-building occupants.
    • A permit and recorded notarized owner certification are required before issuance.

    maximum ADU size: <= 40 percent of primary structure square footage · ADU units per lot: <= 1 unit

    “Shall not exceed 40% of the total square footage of the primary structure. Limit one accessory dwelling unit per lot. [...] A permit for an accessory dwelling unit must be approved and issued prior to its construction and the accessory dwelling unit must be in compliance with all other applicable East Hempfield Township codes and ordinances.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    On-lot sewage systems inside East Hempfield Township.

    • Chapter 200 includes Township on-lot sewage-system provisions.
    “§ 200-20 Permit required for all lots. § 200-21 Permit requirements and procedures. § 200-22 Permit requirements for nonstandard OLDS.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Projects inside East Hempfield Township that need a permit to construct and operate an individual or community on-lot sewage disposal system.

    • The system-installation and operation permit must be issued before the building code official may issue the related building permit.
    “Furthermore, the building code official may not issue a permit for a project which will need a permit to construct and operate an individual or community on-lot sewage disposal system unless a permit has been issued for such system installation and operation.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside East Hempfield Township.

    • The Township has adopted Chapter 265; plan-processing and design standards are contained in that chapter.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of East Hempfield by 8-6-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-07. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Streets, access drives, driveways, and associated improvements inside East Hempfield Township.

    • Design must comply with the East Hempfield Township Road Ordinance.
    • Agricultural, horticultural, and forestry lanes exclusively serving those activities are exempt from the Agriculture Zone driveway/access-drive requirements.
    “All driveways serving single-family dwellings and all access drives shall be in accordance with the East Hempfield Township Road Ordinance. All lanes exclusively serving agricultural, horticultural and/or forestry-related activities shall be exempt from driveway and access drive requirements.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction or development in identified floodplain areas inside East Hempfield Township.

    • The floodplain administrator issues a permit only after determining that the proposed work conforms to this and other applicable codes and ordinances.
    • Before issuance, the administrator reviews whether necessary state and federal permits have been obtained.
    • Work must begin within 180 days and be completed within 12 months unless a written extension is granted.
    “The Floodplain Administrator shall issue a permit only after it has been determined that the proposed work to be undertaken will be in conformance with the requirements of this and all other applicable codes and ordinances.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Township construction-code permits, plan reviews, and inspections.

    • The Board of Supervisors may establish and modify fees by resolution.
    • The code states that the current fee schedule is on file in the Township office.
    • A four-dollar fee per permit is also paid to the Township for remittance to DCED.

    state training fee: 4 USD per permit (Remitted quarterly to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.)

    “The Board of Supervisors may establish fees and modify such fees from time to time for permits, plan reviews and inspections by resolution. [...] In addition, a four-dollar fee per permit shall be paid to East Hempfield Township, which fee shall be remitted quarterly by East Hempfield Township to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and which will be used to subsidize code official training.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Floodplain development permits inside East Hempfield Township.

    • The application must be made in writing on Township-supplied forms.
    • The floodplain administrator cannot issue the permit until conformance and required government permits are determined.
    • Work must begin within 180 days and be completed within 12 months unless a written extension is granted.

    start-work deadline: <= 180 days (After issue date; extension provisions apply.) · completion deadline: <= 12 months (After issue date; extension provisions apply.)

    “Application for such a permit shall be made, in writing, to the Floodplain Administrator on forms supplied by the Township of East Hempfield. [...] Work on the proposed construction or development shall begin within 180 days after the date of issuance of the development permit. Work shall also be completed within 12 months after the date of issuance of the permit or the permit shall expire unless a time extension is granted, in writing, by the Floodplain Administrator.”

Rules another office applies inside East Hempfield Township

East Hempfield Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Agriculture Zone (A), including single-family detached dwellings subject to Article 5.

    • Farm uses require 10 acres; other uses require one acre.
    • Single-family detached dwellings are governed by Article 5.
    • Agricultural uses nonconforming to minimum lot area that existed at the zoning chapter's effective date are permitted.

    farm minimum lot area: >= 10 acres · other-use minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (Single-family detached dwelling: see Article 5.)

    “Minimum lot area: Farm: 10 acres. All others uses: one acre minimum. Single-family detached dwelling: See Article 5 (Single-family dwellings).”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Agriculture Zone (A).

    • These are minimum setbacks for principal, accessory, and accessory-dwelling uses; Article 4 may provide modifications and exceptions.

    principal front setback: >= 30 feet · principal side setback: >= 15 feet · principal rear setback: >= 30 feet

    “Minimum setbacks for principal uses, accessory uses, and accessory dwellings: Setback | Principal(feet) | Accessory(feet) | Accessory Dwelling(feet) Front | 30 | Not permitted | Not permitted in front yard Side | 15 | 10 | 10 Rear | 30 | 10 | 10”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Agriculture Zone (A).

    • The percentage depends on whether the use is agricultural, business, civic/social, or residential.

    residential maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent · agricultural maximum lot coverage: <= 60 percent

    “Maximum lot coverage: Agricultural: 60%. Business: 70%. Civic/social: 70%. Residential: 35%.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Agriculture Zone (A).

    • Article 4 exceptions may apply.

    residential maximum building height: <= 35 feet · nonresidential maximum building height: <= 45 feet

    “Maximum building height: Residential use: 35 feet. Nonresidential/uses structures: 45 feet.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Uses in the Township Agriculture Zone (A).

    • On-lot sewer and water facilities are required because public utility services may not be extended into the Agriculture Zone.
    • Any individual or community on-lot system remains subject to the required system permit.
    “All uses in this zone shall provide for individual on-lot sewer and water facilities.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Uses in the Township Agriculture Zone (A).

    • Public sewer and water utility services may not be extended into the Agriculture Zone.
    • Each use in the Agriculture Zone must be served by on-lot sewer and water facilities.
    “In order to preserve the agricultural and rural character of the area, public sewer and water utility services shall not be extended into the Agriculture Zone, and instead, each use in this zone shall be serviced with on-lot sewer and water facilities.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural uses in the Agriculture Zone (A) that did not meet the section's minimum lot-area requirements but existed on the effective date of Chapter 270.

    • Only agricultural uses existing as of the effective date of the zoning chapter qualify.
    “Agricultural uses that do not conform to the minimum lot area requirements imposed by this section but were in existence as of the effective date of this chapter are permitted.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside East Hempfield Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling units inside East Hempfield Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside East Hempfield Township.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside East Hempfield Township.
  • Septic inspection — On-lot sewage systems inside East Hempfield Township.
2 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that East Hempfield Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lancaster County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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