Bolthole Index

Washington County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania

Hanover Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance, and a zoning certificate from the Township comes before any building permit12. Building permits are issued under Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code3. Septic permits come from a local agency, and we could not confirm which agency covers Hanover4.

At a glance

Zoning
Township zoning ordinance applies; zoning certificate required15
Building permit
Required for most construction; zoning certificate comes first2
Agricultural buildings
Listed as not needing a building permit in the Township's 2026 fee schedule6
Septic
Local agency permit; Hanover's agency not confirmed4
Manufactured home
Allowed on an individual lot if the zoning district's single-family rules are met7
Zoning certificate fee
$25 residential, plus the building-permit fee8

Who to call

Building permits

Hanover Township Municipal Building (Zoning Officer / Building Code Inspector)

Zoning certificates, building permits and certificates of occupancy inside Hanover Township

(724) 947-9109

hanovertwp@comcast.net

11 Municipal Drive, Burgettstown, PA 15021

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 Hanover Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Hanover Township, PA have zoning, and what does it mean for homes and manufactured homes?

Hanover Township adopts and enforces its own zoning ordinance, Ordinance No. 109, and land use and structures inside the township must comply with it1. Washington County has no countywide zoning, and the county directs zoning questions to the municipality where the property sits, so the Township is the office to ask9.

A manufactured home can serve as a single-family dwelling on an individual lot outside a mobile home park if the lot meets the single-family requirements of its zoning district7. The home must bear a HUD seal and sit on a frost-free foundation or footer7.

In the R-P Rural Preservation and R-1 Rural Residential districts, one accessory dwelling is allowed on a lot that already has a house, but only to house a family member through a hardship, under a written agreement with the Township10. We could not confirm Hanover's rules on RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny homes or minimum house size; ask the Zoning Officer before you buy.

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

Yes for most construction. Hanover Township requires a building permit for new construction, alteration and demolition, and a zoning certificate must be issued first2. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code is the statewide building code, administered locally3.

The Township's 2026 fee schedule lists agricultural buildings as not needing a building permit, though other Township approvals may still apply6. Pennsylvania's code also excludes agricultural buildings, but that does not exempt them from zoning, septic or floodplain rules11.

A certificate of occupancy is required before anyone uses or occupies a building in the township12. A final inspection is required for all building permits, and inspections are requested no sooner than 48 hours before they are needed13. The Township's Zoning Officer and Building Code Inspector is the office to call14.

What does a building permit cost in Hanover Township?

A residential zoning certificate costs $25 and a commercial one $50, each in addition to the building-permit fee, which the Building Inspector sets8. A floodplain permit costs $100 plus any engineering cost8. All fees are paid in advance, and later reviews or inspections can be billed at the current hourly rate8.

How do septic permits work in Hanover Township?

Pennsylvania requires a permit from the local agency before an on-lot sewage system is installed4. A local agency can be a municipality, a joint agency or a county health department, and the right one must be identified parcel by parcel15. We could not confirm which agency or Sewage Enforcement Officer serves Hanover Township, so ask the Township office at the number below.

A manufactured home on a lot without public sewer needs an on-lot system meeting Pennsylvania DEP standards, and potable water from the owner's or an adjacent well if public water is unavailable16. Pennsylvania has no construction standards for private water wells17. Washington County's soils matter too: only a tiny share are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system18.

Building a home in Hanover Township: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Township office whether your parcel's zoning district allows the use14.
  2. If you are dividing land, expect Township subdivision review and a mandatory Washington County Planning Commission review before final approval19.
  3. File a written zoning certificate application with the Zoning Officer5.
  4. Get septic approval from the local agency, and arrange well water if public water is not available4.
  5. Obtain the building permit, then request inspections2.
  6. Get the certificate of occupancy before you move in12.

What stays with Washington County, and what to check before you buy

Washington County does not set zoning inside Hanover Township; its Planning Commission reviews subdivisions and land developments for landslides, wetlands, flooding and mine subsidence, but does not check compliance with municipal zoning19. Land outside Hanover is covered on the Washington County page.

County-level context: Washington County's effective property tax rate is 1.1%20, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 20 miles from the county center21. Building in a floodplain requires documentation sealed by a registered design professional under the state code22, and a Township floodplain permit8.

Watch-outs

  • Hanover Township's septic permitting agency and Sewage Enforcement Officer were not confirmed; call the Township office before you rely on any lot4.
  • The Township's zoning form references the 2004 Uniform Construction Code, so confirm with the Building Code Inspector which code edition is enforced today14.
  • Agricultural buildings are listed as not needing a building permit, but a zoning certificate and other approvals may still apply6.

Sources

  1. Township of Hanover Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 109 (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Township of Hanover Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 109 (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Uniform Construction Code (UCC) (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Township of Hanover Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 109 (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Hanover Township Fee Schedule, Resolution 2026-4 (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Township of Hanover Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 109 (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Hanover Township Fee Schedule, Resolution 2026-4 (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Subdivision & Land Development Review, quoted and re-checked
  10. Township of Hanover Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 109 (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, quoted and re-checked
  12. Township of Hanover Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 109 (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Permit Application (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Hanover Township Municipal Building (Zoning Officer / Building Code Inspector) (hanovertwp.org)
  15. Municipal On Lot Sewage Service Areas, quoted and re-checked
  16. Township of Hanover Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 109 (Hanover Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Apply for a Water Well Drillers License and Rig Permit, quoted and re-checked
  18. 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
  19. Washington County Planning Commission Subdivision and Land Development Review Policy, quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, 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 Hanover Township

Hanover Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction, alteration, demolition, and other work requiring a building permit inside Hanover Township.

    • A zoning certificate is a prerequisite to a building permit.
    • The Township's 2026 fee schedule expressly exempts specified small or agricultural structures from a building permit.
    “The Zoning Certificate shall be prerequisite to issuance of a Building Permit; and, where no Building Permit is required, the Zoning Certificate shall be prerequisite to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work performed under a Hanover Township building permit.

    • The application says a project may not require every listed inspection and directs the applicant to consult the Township Inspector.
    • Inspection requests must be made no sooner than 48 hours before inspection is required.
    “The following inspections are required to ensure compliance with the Building Permit you have been issued. All inspections shall be requested no sooner than 48 hours before the inspection is required. A FINAL INSPECTION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL BUILDING PERMITS.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of a building, structure, lot, or part thereof inside Hanover Township.

    • For work under a building permit, the certificate includes Building Inspector certification that Township Building Code requirements have been met.
    • The certificate remains valid only while the use and occupancy continuously comply with approval requirements and ordinance regulations.
    “It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building, structure or lot, or part thereof, until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued therefor by the Zoning Officer.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Hanover Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

    • Land use and structures must comply with the Township zoning ordinance and required permits and certificates.
    “BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Hanover, Washington County, Pennsylvania, as follows:”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    A mobile/manufactured home proposed as a single-family dwelling on an individual lot of record outside a mobile-home park inside Hanover Township.

    • The lot must meet all applicable single-family-dwelling requirements for its zoning district.
    • The home must bear a HUD seal, be installed on and fastened to a frost-free foundation or footer, and meet water, sewer, utility, and enclosure requirements.
    “A mobile home which is proposed to be used as a single family dwelling and is to be erected on an individual lot of record outside a mobile home park shall meet the following requirements: A. The lot shall meet all applicable requirements for a single family dwelling in the Zoning District in which it is proposed to be located.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    One accessory dwelling on a lot or parcel in the R-P Rural Preservation or R-1 Rural Residential District that contains an existing single-family dwelling.

    • A Township-applicant agreement must specify the hardship and reasonable time limit.
    • Evidence of Local Sanitary Council-approved sanitary sewer service is required.
    • The applicant must demonstrate a hardship to house a family member on a short-term basis.
    • The accessory dwelling may not be sold or leased to a non-family member unless the lot is recorded subject to Township subdivision-plan approval.

    maximum accessory dwellings: 1 dwelling per lot or parcel (Only on a lot or parcel in R-P or R-1 containing an existing single-family dwelling.)

    “One (1) accessory dwelling shall be permitted to be constructed on a lot or parcel in the R-P or R-1 District containing an existing single family dwelling without subdividing the property for the secondary dwelling, provided all of the following requirements are met:”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    A mobile home proposed as a single-family dwelling on an individual lot of record outside a mobile-home park inside Hanover Township where public sewer is unavailable.

    • The on-lot sewage disposal system must meet Pennsylvania DEP standards.
    • The owner must provide potable water from the owner's or an adjacent well if public water is unavailable.
    “If not, the owner shall provide a potable water supply from his own, or an adjacent well, and shall provide an on-lot sewage disposal system that shall meet the standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    A mobile home proposed as a single-family dwelling on an individual lot of record outside a mobile-home park inside Hanover Township.

    • Public water and public sewer connection is required if available.
    • If unavailable, the owner must provide potable water from the owner's or an adjacent well and an on-lot sewage system meeting Pennsylvania DEP standards.
    • Before occupancy, the mobile home must connect to available utilities for adequate heat and light.
    “The mobile home shall be connected to public water and a public sewer system, if available. If not, the owner shall provide a potable water supply from his own, or an adjacent well, and shall provide an on-lot sewage disposal system that shall meet the standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural buildings inside Hanover Township.

    • The Township's published 2026 schedule labels agricultural buildings as not requiring a building permit; other Township approvals may still apply.
    “No Building Permit Required for the following: Agricultural Building”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions and land developments inside Hanover Township.

    • Where a proposed use requires a land-development plan under the Township SALDO, the plan must be reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved by the Board of Supervisors before issuance of a zoning certificate.

    minor subdivision fee: 30 USD (Plus engineering cost, if any; $15 for each additional lot.) · major subdivision fee: 100 USD (Plus $750 engineering escrow bond; surplus returned.)

    “If the proposed use requires approval of a land development plan under the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, the Zoning Officer shall not issue a Zoning Certificate until the land development plan has been reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved by the Board of Supervisors.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Township zoning, occupancy, subdivision, road, and floodplain permits and related applications inside Hanover Township.

    • All fees must be paid in advance.
    • Additional legal, engineering, or inspection fees may be billed at their current hourly rate for subsequent reviews or inspections.
    • Building-permit fees are set by the Building Inspector.

    residential zoning certificate: 25 USD (Plus building-permit fee set by Building Inspector.) · commercial zoning certificate: 50 USD (Plus building-permit fee set by Building Inspector.) · floodplain permit: 100 USD (Plus engineering cost, if any.)

    “All fees must be paid in advance and are made payable to Hanover Township. Additional legal, engineering or inspection fees will be billed at their current hourly rate for subsequent reviews or inspections.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Applications for zoning certificates inside Hanover Township.

    • Application must be in writing and filed with the Zoning Officer.
    • Conditional-use and special-exception approval must be granted before a zoning certificate is issued when applicable.
    • A zoning certificate is a prerequisite to a building permit.
    “In those instances where a Zoning Certificate is applied for, the application shall be made in writing by the owner, tenant, vendee under contract of sale or authorized agent, on a form supplied by the Township and shall be filed with the Zoning Officer.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Hanover Township.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Hanover Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Hanover Township.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Hanover Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hanover Township.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • 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 Hanover Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Washington County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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