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

Borough of Strasburg’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential and nonresidential construction inside Strasburg Borough for which a Construction Code permit is required.

  • Before work, the owner, lessee if any, and contractor must determine that the Construction Code permit and all other required permits and approvals have been obtained.
  • A completed permit application requires required zoning permit and proof of required subdivision/land-development and stormwater approvals.
  • The Borough additionally requires permits for accessory structures of 400 square feet or more, and for smaller accessory structures with utility service.
  • Listed minor residential repairs remain exempt from a permit.

  accessory structure area requiring permit: >= 400 square feet (Applies whether or not connected to utility.)

  “Construction Code permit [...] before performing any work.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction Code-regulated construction within Strasburg Borough.

  • The Borough adopted the Pennsylvania UCC standards identified in L&I Regulations § 403.21, with listed local additions to the 2003 International Building Code.
  • The ordinance does not adopt the International Property Maintenance Code.
  • Construction exempt under the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act or L&I Regulations is exempt from this Construction Code but remains subject to other applicable Borough ordinances.

  “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 Section 403.21 of the L & I Regulations as the Strasburg Borough Construction Code with the following additions to the International Building Code/2003:”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction Code-permitted construction inside Strasburg Borough.

  • The Borough incorporates specified L&I regulations governing inspections.
  • Applicants must pay estimated fees for all required inspections before permit issuance; additional necessary inspection costs are reimbursable within 15 days after invoice.

  “Sections 109.3, 109.4, 109.5 and 109.6 of the International Building Code/2003 shall be deleted and the Borough hereby adopts Sections 403.45, 403.64 and 403.86 of the L & I Regulations governing inspections with the changes set forth below:”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New buildings in Strasburg Borough for which a certificate of use and occupancy is required by the Borough Zoning Ordinance.

  • A certificate of occupancy does not permit occupancy or commencement of a use if another ordinance requires a permit or certificate first.
  • A building number must be affixed before issuance of the certificate of use and occupancy.

  “prior to the issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy as required by the Strasburg Borough Zoning Ordinance”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Strasburg Borough.

  • The current ordinance is maintained separately from the codified ordinance text and is available for inspection in the Borough Secretary's office.

  “following Ordinance governing subdivisions and land developments within the limits of Strasburg Borough.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Construction Code permits inside Strasburg Borough.

  • Application and plan-review fees are paid at application.
  • Estimated fees for required inspections are paid before permit issuance.
  • Additional-inspection costs must be reimbursed within 15 days after invoice.
  • Starting work before a necessary permit incurs an expedited-processing fee equal to the application fee, in addition to the normal application fee.

  “Applicants for permits under this Construction Code shall pay to the Borough at the time of application all fees established for the review of the application and plans. Prior to the issuance of a Construction Code permit, applicants shall pay to the Borough the estimated fees for all inspections required.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Construction Code permit applications inside Strasburg Borough.

  • At filing, applicants must provide evidence of permits, licenses, approvals, or variances from authorities with jurisdiction.
  • A permit application is incomplete without a required zoning permit and proof of required subdivision/land-development and stormwater approvals.
  • The permit must be posted visibly on the property.

  “At the time of filing an application for a Construction Code permit, the applicant shall present to the building code official adequate evidence that the applicant has obtained from all governmental authorities having jurisdiction, all permits, licenses, approvals and/or variances required in connection with the proposed use, occupancy, construction, enlargement, alteration or demolition.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Strasburg Borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Strasburg Borough.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family residential districts inside Strasburg Borough.
• Setbacks — Single-family residential districts inside Strasburg Borough.
• Lot coverage — Single-family residential districts inside Strasburg 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 Strasburg 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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