Bolthole Index

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Marietta borough, Pennsylvania

Marietta borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 370, and a zoning map that sets the rules lot by lot1. Building work that needs a construction-code permit requires one before work starts2. We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside the borough, so ask the Borough Office before you buy3.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: Marietta borough zones under Chapter 370 and a Zoning Map14
Building permit
Required for work that needs a construction-code permit, obtained before work starts2
Inspections
Construction Code Official inspects permitted work5
Certificate of occupancy
Required after final inspection and payment of fees6
Lot size and setbacks
Set by zoning district (Table 4 and Table 6)78
Septic
Not confirmed inside the borough; ask the Borough Office3
RV and tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask the Zoning Officer3
Owner-builder contractor license
Pennsylvania has no statewide license for most contractors9

Who to call

Building permits

Borough of Marietta Borough Offices

The borough's front office; start here for zoning and construction-code permit questions

(717) 426-4143

111 East Market Street, Marietta, PA 17547

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 Borough of Marietta means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Marietta, PA have zoning, and what does it mean for lots and setbacks?

Yes. Marietta borough regulates land under its own Chapter 370 zoning ordinance, which the borough says is a simple set of provisions about the form and function of lot development1. The borough is divided into districts on the Zoning Map, and the map held at the Borough Municipal Building is the final authority on a parcel's current zoning status4.

Minimum lot size and setbacks depend on the district, including Residential A and Residential B. Look up the parcel's mapped district, then read the lot-size table and sections 370-204 through 370-2107, and the setback table for front, side and rear yards8.

We could not confirm the borough's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, lot coverage or building height. Ask the Borough Office before assuming any of these is allowed on a lot3.

Do you need a building permit in Marietta, PA, and who issues it?

Work in Marietta borough that falls under the Uniform Construction Code needs a construction-code permit, and the owner, any lessee and the contractor share the duty to confirm all required permits and approvals are in hand before work begins2. Pennsylvania's rules list small exceptions, such as fences up to 6 feet high and uncovered decks no more than 30 inches above grade, so ask before assuming a project is exempt10.

The borough's Construction Code Official reviews plans, issues permits and inspects the work5. Applicants submit two complete copies of the application to the Building Code Official11. The administrative fee is due at application, and plan-review and estimated inspection fees are due before the permit is issued12. We did not confirm a published fee amount.

A certificate of occupancy follows a successful final inspection and payment of all fees6.

How do septic permits and wells work in Marietta, PA?

We could not confirm who administers on-lot septic permits inside Marietta borough, or whether the borough has an on-lot sewage permit rule of its own. Pennsylvania law requires a permit from the local agency before installing or using an on-lot sewage system, and local agencies are municipalities, groups of municipalities or county health departments1314. Lancaster County has no county health department, and on-lot permits are issued by municipal Sewage Enforcement Officers15.

If the lot may be served by public sewer, ask about connection too: we did not find a borough rule on sewer availability. Call the Borough Office to learn which agency covers your address3.

Pennsylvania requires drillers, not homeowners drilling their own well, to be licensed, and the state sets no construction standards for private wells16. We found no borough well-permit rule.

Building a home in Marietta, PA: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district on the Zoning Map at the Borough Municipal Building, then check lot size and setbacks48.
  2. Ask the Borough Office about septic or sewer, wells, floodplain and any RV or accessory-dwelling plans, which we could not confirm3.
  3. If the project involves subdividing or land development, get the borough's separate subdivision regulations, which are excluded from the online code and available at the Borough offices17.
  4. Submit two complete copies of the construction-code permit application11.
  5. Pay the administrative fee at application, then plan-review and estimated inspection fees before issuance12.
  6. Pass inspections and the final inspection to receive the certificate of occupancy6.

Pennsylvania has no statewide license for most construction contractors, though municipalities may add their own9. We could not confirm a borough owner-builder exemption.

What stays with Lancaster County and the state, and what to check before you buy

Land outside the borough is a different case: unincorporated Lancaster County has no county building or zoning office, because Pennsylvania counties can zone only where a municipality has no zoning ordinance of its own18. See the Lancaster County page for neighboring townships.

A driveway onto a state highway needs a PennDOT permit, usually issued within 30 days of a complete application19. We could not confirm a borough driveway rule or floodplain permit rule, so ask the Borough Office if the lot is near the Susquehanna River3.

Lancaster County's effective property tax rate is 1.4%20.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm whether the borough regulates RV occupancy, tiny homes or accessory dwellings, so do not assume they are allowed; ask the Borough Office3.
  • We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside Marietta borough, so confirm the agency for your address before you sign a purchase contract3.
  • Subdivision and land development rules are kept outside the online borough code; get them from the Borough offices17.

Sources

  1. Article II: Form and Function, Chapter 370 Zoning (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 135 Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  3. Borough of Marietta Borough Offices (boroughofmarietta.com)
  4. Article II: Form and Function, Chapter 370 Zoning (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 135 Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 135 Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article II: Form and Function, Chapter 370 Zoning (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article II: Form and Function, Chapter 370 Zoning (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  9. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 135 Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 135 Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  13. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Act 537 Sewage Facilities (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. PA DEP - Act 537 Onlot Disposal System (2026 county census)
  16. Apply for a Water Well Drillers License and Rig Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 305 Subdivision and Land Development (Borough of Marietta), quoted and re-checked
  18. Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Section 602 (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

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 Borough of Marietta

Borough of Marietta’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Work in Marietta borough for which a construction-code permit is required.

    • Owner, lessee, if any, and contractor jointly must determine that all required permits and approvals have been obtained.
    • A required construction-code permit must be obtained and posted before work.
    “It shall be the joint responsibility of the owner, lessee, if any, and the contractor to determine that a construction code permit (and all other required permits and approvals) has been obtained before performing any work.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction-code-permitted construction in Marietta borough.

    • The Construction Code Official performs inspections and reports final-inspection completion to the Building Code Official.
    “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 occupancyRequired

    Structures receiving a construction-code permit in Marietta borough.

    • Final inspection must be successful and all fees paid before issuance.
    • A certificate does not itself authorize occupancy where another ordinance requires a prior 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 Marietta borough.

    • Zoning requirements are administered through Chapter 370 and the Borough Zoning Map.
    “This Zoning Ordinance presents a straight forward and simple set of regulatory provisions related to retaining cohesive form and function of lot development within the Borough of Marietta.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    All land inside Marietta borough.

    • The final authority for current zoning status is the Zoning Map at the Borough Municipal Building.
    “The Borough of Marietta is divided into zoning districts as shown on the Borough of Marietta Zoning Map which is referred to as the "Zoning Map," and, together with all explanations on it, is adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots in the Borough's mapped zoning districts, including Residential A and Residential B.

    • Applicants must use the parcel's mapped district and Table 4 and district sections to determine the applicable minimum lot size.
    “What is the minimum lot size? | See Table 4 and §§ 370-204 through 370-210.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots in the Borough's mapped zoning districts, including Residential A and Residential B.

    • Applicable front, side, and rear setbacks are determined by Table 6.
    “What are the various front, side and rear yard setbacks affecting my lot? | See Table 6.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Marietta borough.

    • The adopted regulations are excluded from the online Borough Code and are available online or at Borough offices.
    “The Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of the Borough of Marietta is excluded from the Borough's Code. Current regulations are available online or at the Borough offices.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Construction-code permits in Marietta borough.

    • Administrative fee is due at application.
    • Plan-review and estimated-inspection fees are due before permit issuance.
    • Additional inspection costs must be reimbursed within 15 days after invoice.
    “An applicant for a permit under this Construction Code shall pay the Borough's administrative fee to the Borough at the time of application. Prior to the issuance of a construction code permit, the applicant shall pay to the Construction Code Official the plan review fee and the estimated fee for all inspections required.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction-code permit applications in Marietta borough.

    • Applicant submits two complete copies to the Building Code Official.
    • Plan review, required approvals, fees, and final inspection precede the certificate of occupancy.
    “An applicant for construction code permits shall submit two complete copies of the application to the Building Code Official. The Building Code Official shall transmit a complete copy of the construction code permit application to the Construction Code Official for plan review, issuance of the construction code permit, and inspection of construction.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in Marietta borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Residential A and Residential B districts inside Marietta borough.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside Marietta borough.
  • Building height — Buildings inside Marietta borough.
  • Living in an RV — Recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside Marietta borough.
13 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Borough of Marietta publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lancaster County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Lancaster County: county rules, score and offices