Bolthole Index

Washington County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania

Hopewell Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance, and the Township requires a zoning certificate before a building permit can be issued12. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code applies to building work, and the Township has adopted it as its own building code3. Sewage authorization, such as an on-lot septic permit, is required before a building permit for a structure that needs it4.

At a glance

Zoning
Township zoning (Chapter 320) applies inside Hopewell Township1
Building permit
Zoning certificate first, then a building permit under the Uniform Construction Code32
Septic
Sewage authorization required before a building permit; Township or its designee is the agency4
Agricultural district lot size
40,000 square feet per dwelling unit5
Driveways
Individual driveway permit; PennDOT permit where the road is state-owned6
Property tax (Washington County)
1.1% effective rate; median bill $2,445 a year78

Who to call

Building permits

Hopewell Township municipal office

Zoning certificates, building and zoning questions, and the Township's ordinances (also published on eCode360)

724-345-3333

20 Parkview Road, Avella, PA 15312

Planning & zoning

Washington County Planning Commission

County environmental review of subdivision and land development plans; zoning questions go to the Township

(724) 228-6811

95 W Beau St, Washington, PA 15301

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

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Does Hopewell Township, PA have zoning?

Yes. Hopewell Township, Washington County adopted Chapter 320 Zoning, and land uses and development inside the Township remain subject to it1. Washington County itself has no countywide zoning, so the Township, not the county, answers zoning questions for land inside Hopewell Township910.

The zoning ordinance publishes a zoning map and tables for land uses, dimensional standards, accessory structures and additional lot requirements11. In the A: Agricultural District, the minimum lot area is 40,000 square feet per dwelling unit5. Principal and accessory structures there need a front yard of 65 feet, side yards of 20 feet and a rear yard of 15 feet12. Impervious coverage in that district is capped at 20 percent, with an exemption for buildings devoted to farm use13, and building height is capped at 35 feet outside agricultural buildings14. The Residential/Residential Overlay District also lists 40,000 square feet per dwelling unit15.

We could not confirm the Township's rules on RVs, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings, so ask the Township office before you plan to live on a parcel in any of those ways16.

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

Yes. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code requires a building permit before construction begins17, and Hopewell Township has adopted that code as the "Hopewell Township Building Code"3. Statutory exclusions exist for items such as agricultural buildings and qualifying recreational cabins, but they do not cover an ordinary dwelling18.

The Township adds a step first: the owner must obtain a zoning certificate from the Township's Code Enforcement Officer or Zoning Officer before applying for a building permit, and the Township will not issue the building permit until the certificate exists19. The officer has 10 days from receipt of the application to review it against the zoning and subdivision ordinances19. The application is in writing with plans, the estimated cost and the names of any architect, engineer or contractor19. Fees are set by the Board of Supervisors by resolution, so call the Township office for current amounts2016.

After construction, the owner must obtain an occupancy certificate from the Zoning Officer before the new structure is used2.

How do septic permits work in Hopewell Township?

Septic permits in Hopewell Township come from a local agency under Pennsylvania's Act 537 program, not from a county health department2122. The Township's own ordinance defines the agency as Hopewell Township or its designee, and it asks the building-permit issuer to see a sewage authorization before issuing a building permit4.

Accepted sewage authorizations include an on-lot septic system permit, a deemed-adequate confirmation for the ten-acre exemption system, and a tap-in fee receipt for a public sewer line23. Washington County's soils matter here: only a very small share rate as not limited for a conventional drain field24, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system. We could not confirm whether the Township requires inspection of on-lot systems after installation; ask the Township office16.

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

  1. Call the Hopewell Township office at the number below to confirm the zoning district and the setbacks that apply to your parcel16.
  2. Get sewage authorization, such as an on-lot septic permit, because the Township wants to see it before issuing a building permit4.
  3. Apply in writing for the zoning certificate, with plans and cost estimate19.
  4. After the zoning certificate, apply for the building permit under the Uniform Construction Code23.
  5. Get a driveway permit before work on any driveway connecting to a Township road; a PennDOT driveway permit applies at state-road intersections6.
  6. Obtain the occupancy certificate from the Zoning Officer after construction and before moving in2.

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

Subdivision plans for Hopewell Township go through the Township's Chapter 282 and also through a mandatory review by the Washington County Planning Commission for landslides, wetlands, flooding, mine subsidence and natural heritage areas2510. For land outside the Township, see the Washington County page.

Building in a floodplain requires documentation sealed by a registered design professional26. Private wells are not covered by a state permit for homeowners drilling on their own land, and we could not confirm a Township well rule27.

Washington County's effective property tax rate is 1.1% and the median bill is $2,445 a year78. Farmland there averages $7,188 per acre28.

Watch-outs

  • Do not use the hopewelltwp.com website or its phone numbers: that site belongs to a different Hopewell Township, in Beaver County, not Hopewell Township in Washington County; the Washington County township office is listed on this page16.
  • We could not confirm Township rules for RV living, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or minimum dwelling size; call the Township office before you buy16.
  • Fees for zoning certificates and permits are set by resolution and may change each year20.

Sources

  1. Chapter 320 Zoning (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 89 Building Permits (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 117 Construction Codes, Uniform (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 89 Building Permits (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 320 Attachment 2: Table 2, Dimensional Standards (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 121 Driveways (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  8. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  9. Washington County PA - Planning / Subdivision & Land Development (2026 county census)
  10. Washington County Planning Commission (washingtoncopa.gov)
  11. Chapter 320 Zoning (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. ecode360.com (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. ecode360.com (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. ecode360.com (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 320 Attachment 2: Table 2, Dimensional Standards (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Hopewell Township municipal office (hopewelltownshippa.com)
  17. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  18. PA Dept. of Labor & Industry — Uniform Construction Code (2026 county census)
  19. Chapter 89 Building Permits (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. Chapter 89 Building Permits (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. PA DEP - Sewage Enforcement Officers (Act 537) (2026 county census)
  22. Municipal On Lot Sewage Service Areas, quoted and re-checked
  23. Chapter 89 Building Permits (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  24. 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
  25. Chapter 282 Subdivision and Land Development (Hopewell Township), quoted and re-checked
  26. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  27. Apply for a Water Well Drillers License and Rig Permit, quoted and re-checked
  28. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): 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 Hopewell Township

Hopewell Township’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Hopewell Township.

    • The incorporated Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein, referenced as the "Hopewell Township Building Code."”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New structures constructed under Chapter 89 inside Hopewell Township.

    • The certificate is obtained after the contemplated construction has been completed and before occupancy and use.
    “Each property owner will be required to obtain a zoning certificate (AKA "occupancy certificate") from the Zoning Officer after the construction contemplated hereunder has been completed and before occupancy and use of the new structure can take place.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Hopewell Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

    • Land uses and development remain subject to Chapter 320 and other applicable Township ordinances.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Hopewell 10-8-2018. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Hopewell Township.

    • Chapter 320 publishes a zoning map and tables for principal/accessory land use, dimensional standards, accessory structures, additional lot requirements, and land uses.
    “ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 - Table 1, Principal and Accessory Land Use Attachment 2 - Table 2, Dimensional Standards Attachment 3 - Table 3, Accessory Structures Attachment 4 - Table 4, Additional Lot Requirements Attachment 5 - Table 5, Land Use Table Attachment 6 - Zoning Map”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Sewage authorizations for buildings and property in Hopewell Township.

    • The Township rules must conform to applicable Commonwealth laws and administrative-agency rules.
    • Sewage authorization is required where applicable under the PADEP Sewage Facilities Act.
    “AGENCY Hopewell Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, or its designee.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid/on-lot sewage disposal serving a building requiring sewage authorization inside Hopewell Township.

    • An on-lot sewage septic-system permit is one listed sewage authorization.
    • A ten-acre exemption system requires deemed-adequate confirmation.
    “On-lot sewage septic system permit. [...] Deemed adequate confirmation for the ten-acre exemption system.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural/farm driveways inside Hopewell Township.

    • The exemption applies only to agricultural/farm driveways providing access to pastures, land used for agricultural purposes, farmland, and similar agricultural land.
    “Agricultural/farm driveways. Agricultural/farm driveways that provide access to pastures, land used for agricultural purposes, farmland, etc. shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Hopewell Township.

    • The Chapter includes plan-processing procedures, application forms and fees, preliminary plans, final plans, agricultural subdivision plans, recording plans, and occupancy permits.
    “Article III Plan Processing Procedures § 282-301 General procedures. § 282-302 Official submission date. § 282-303 Application forms and fees. § 282-304 Sketch plan. § 282-305 Preliminary plan. § 282-306 Final plan. § 282-307 Agricultural subdivision plan. § 282-308 Recording plans. § 282-309 Resubdivision procedure.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway work connecting to a Township public road inside Hopewell Township.

    • Each driveway requires an individual permit.
    • State-road intersections require a PennDOT driveway permit.
    • Agricultural/farm driveways are exempt from Chapter 121.

    application lead time: >= 15 days (Before anticipated start of work.)

    “Permit required. No person, owner and/or contractor shall hereafter install, initiate any work or alter an existing driveway or allow any work incident to the alteration or installation of a driveway including the alteration of existing drainage characteristics without first obtaining a permit from the Township.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Township zoning certificates, building-code administration, and related permits.

    • Fees are set by the Board of Supervisors and may be changed annually by resolution.
    • The opened code did not provide dollar amounts.
    “Zoning certificate: a fee as set by the Board of Supervisors. [...] All rates and fees may be changed by Board of Supervisors each year at their reorganization meeting and shall be done by resolution, which shall be dated and attached to this ordinance.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building/zoning applications inside Hopewell Township.

    • A written application must include plans and specifications, applicable architect/engineer/contractor identity, estimated cost, and mailing addresses.
    • The Zoning or Code Enforcement Officer has 10 days to review Chapters 320 and 282.

    zoning review period: 10 days

    “Prior to making application for a building permit, the applicant/owner shall be required to furnish the Code Enforcement Officer or Zoning Officer of the Township of Hopewell an application, in writing, which shall include a copy of the plans and specifications, together with the name of the architect, engineer and/or contractor, if applicable, a statement of the estimated costs of said building or alteration, enlargement or repair thereof and their mailing addresses.”

Rules another office applies inside Hopewell Township

Hopewell 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

    A: Agricultural District in Hopewell Township.

    • The dimensional table expresses the standard per dwelling unit.

    minimum lot area per dwelling unit: 40000 square feet

    “Minimum lot area per dwelling unit (square feet) 40,000 40,000 15,000”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal and accessory structures in the A: Agricultural District.

    • Agricultural/livestock buildings have separate listed setbacks.

    minimum front yard: 65 feet · minimum side yard: 20 feet · minimum rear yard: 15 feet

    “Principal and accessory minimum front yard (A) (feet) 65 65 4 25 50 [...] Principal and accessory minimum side yard (B) (feet) 20 20 5 5 15 30 [...] Principal and accessory minimum rear yard (C) (feet) 15 15 10 5 35 50”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    A: Agricultural District in Hopewell Township.

    • Buildings devoted to farm use are exempt.

    maximum impervious coverage: 20 percent (Buildings devoted to farm use.)

    “Maximum impervious coverage (percent) 20% 20% 50% 85% 60% Exemptions Buildings devoted to farm use Buildings devoted to farm use”
  • Building heightSpecified

    A: Agricultural District in Hopewell Township.

    • Buildings devoted to agricultural use are exempt.

    maximum height: 35 feet (Buildings devoted to agricultural use.)

    “Maximum height (feet) 35 35 35 60 40 35 Exemptions Buildings devoted to agricultural use Buildings devoted to agricultural use”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Hopewell Township.
  • Inspections — Building-code inspections for construction inside Hopewell Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Hopewell Township.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside Hopewell Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hopewell Township.
7 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • 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 Hopewell 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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