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

Borough of Lititz’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction governed by the Borough of Lititz Construction Code inside Lititz borough.

  • The ordinance adopts Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code standards identified in Labor and Industry Regulations § 403.21.
  • The code has stated additions to the International Building Code/2003.

  “The Borough hereby adopts the standards which the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has made part of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code identified in § 403.21 of the Labor and Industry Regulations as the Borough of Lititz Construction Code with the following additions to the International Building Code/2003:”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction performed under a Borough construction-code permit inside Lititz borough.

  • The Construction Code Official performs the inspection.
  • The permit applicant must pay required inspection fees before the certificate of occupancy is issued.

  “The Construction Code Official shall perform plan review of construction documents, issue construction code permits, inspect construction, provide the Building Code Official with reports of inspections and recommendations upon issuance of certificates of occupancy, and administer and enforce this construction code.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Structures for which a Borough construction-code permit and certificate of occupancy are issued inside Lititz borough.

  • The work must have successfully passed final inspection.
  • All fees must be paid.
  • A certificate does not substitute for another ordinance's required permit or certificate.

  “The Building Code Official shall issue the certificate of occupancy after receipt of notification from the Construction Code Official that the work has been finally inspected and all fees have been paid.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Lititz borough limits.

  • The Zoning Ordinance of 1994 is on file in the Borough Manager's office.

  “The provisions of the Borough of Lititz Zoning Ordinance of 1994”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Holding-tank sewage disposal, including chemical toilets, retention tanks, and vault pit privies, inside Lititz borough.

  • The Borough Authority controls the methods of holding-tank sewage disposal and its collection and transportation.
  • The chapter establishes procedures for use and maintenance of holding tanks.

  “control and methods of holding tank sewage disposal”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Lititz borough.

  • The Borough's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of 1993 is on file in the Borough Manager's office.

  “Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of 1993”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Borough licenses, permits, and regulated activities, including UCC building permits, inside Lititz borough.

  • The specific code chapter governs applications and issuance.
  • UCC building permits carry a 10% administrative fee on total plan-review and inspection fees.
  • Building permits also carry a $2 state fee payable to the Borough.

  residential new-construction plan review and consulting: 200 USD per dwelling unit (IRC-regulated new construction) · UCC building-permit administrative fee: 10 percent (of total plan review and inspection fees) · state fee: 2 USD per permit (all building permits issued)

  “Plan review and consulting: $200 per dwelling unit.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Construction-code permit applicants inside Lititz borough.

  • Applicant submits two complete application copies to the Building Code Official.
  • The Official transmits one complete copy to the Construction Code Official for review, issuance, and inspection.
  • Plan-review and estimated-inspection fees must be paid before permit issuance.
  • An alternative third-party plan-review procedure is available under the ordinance.

  “submit two complete copies of the application”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New residential construction inside Lititz borough.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Lititz borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Lititz borough.
• Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside Lititz borough.
• Setbacks — Residential districts inside Lititz 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 Lititz 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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