Building permits, zoning and septic in Codorus Township, Pennsylvania

At a glance

Building permits

Required for covered construction; township application¹³

Zoning

Township zoning applies²

Septic permits

Local agency approval; contact Hanover Land Services⁵⁴

Construction inspections

Required for residential construction with a UCC permit⁶

Occupancy

UCC residential certificate of occupancy required⁷

Owner building

State licensing exclusion does not establish a building-permit exemption⁸⁹

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 15, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Codorus Township, PA?

Codorus Township requires building permits for covered construction and has adopted a Uniform Construction Codes chapter.¹¹⁰ Pennsylvania requires a residential UCC building permit before covered construction begins, with specified exceptions for limited work.⁹ Ask the township Zoning Officer about the exact project rather than assuming a state construction exemption also resolves local zoning: the township’s application covers all proposed projects, and its project list is not exhaustive.³

Obtain the application from the township office or download it and submit it in person there.³

Who handles building permits and zoning in Codorus Township?

The Codorus Township Office is the intake point for building and zoning applications; the township’s current application page lists Dependable Construction Code Services as Zoning Officer / Code Enforcement.³¹¹ Call the township office for submission questions and the zoning service for questions about whether the project falls under residential or commercial requirements.³

Codorus Township’s zoning application guidance requires a site plan showing property lines, existing structures, the proposed use or structures, dimensions and distances to lot lines, plus the estimated project cost.¹²

Does Codorus Township have zoning, and can you live in an RV or tiny home?

Codorus Township has its own zoning ordinance, and the township zoning application addresses both the location and use of proposed buildings or additional uses.²¹² Ask the Zoning Officer to identify the parcel’s district and confirm the proposed dwelling use, lot-size requirements and setbacks before choosing a home design.¹¹

We could not confirm Codorus Township’s rules for residential RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or minimum dwelling size; ask the Zoning Officer about the specific living arrangement before buying land or moving onto it.¹¹

How do septic permits work inside Codorus Township?

Pennsylvania generally requires a local-agency sewage permit before installing or constructing an onlot system, or occupying a building served by that system, subject to specific exceptions.⁵ Codorus Township lists Hanover Land Services as its Sewage Enforcement Officer; start there for a parcel-specific septic permit discussion.⁴

A composting toilet does not eliminate wastewater planning for a new home: Pennsylvania requires an onlot system or another approved disposal method for washwater and excess liquid.¹³ Ask Hanover Land Services how the proposed sanitation arrangement will be reviewed before committing to an off-grid design.⁴

Building a home in Codorus Township: what steps should you take?

Start by discussing the proposed use and building location with the Codorus Township Zoning Officer, then prepare the site plan and estimated project cost required by the township’s application guidance.¹¹¹² Contact Hanover Land Services about the sewage permit before installing an onlot system.⁴⁵ Obtain the required residential construction permit before beginning covered work and keep permitted construction accessible for inspections.⁹⁶

Codorus Township’s guidance says the completed structure cannot be occupied until final inspections are approved and the township issues a certificate of use and/or occupancy.¹²

What should you check before buying land in Codorus Township?

Ask the Codorus Township Zoning Officer to review the proposed use and site layout, and ask Hanover Land Services about the sewage arrangement before settling on a parcel.¹¹⁴ Codorus Township regulates subdivision and land development, and its application guidance says stormwater requirements may apply depending on the work and location.¹⁴¹²

A driveway built or changed on state highway land, or connecting to a PennDOT drainage facility, requires PennDOT approval.¹⁵ For land outside the township, use the York County guide to orient the search; Codorus Township’s zoning applies inside the township.²

Watch-outs

• We could not confirm Codorus Township’s RV or tiny-home occupancy rules; obtain a parcel-specific answer from the Zoning Officer before planning to live on the land.¹¹
• Doing your own construction does not establish an exemption from residential UCC building permits; Pennsylvania’s contractor-licensing rules and construction-permit requirements address different questions.⁸⁹

Sources

1. Township of Codorus, PA - eCode360 table of contents (Codorus Township), quoted and re-checked
2. Township of Codorus, PA - eCode360 table of contents (Codorus Township), quoted and re-checked
3. Codorus Township Office (codorustownship.org)
4. Sewage Enforcement Officer — Hanover Land Services Inc. (codorustownship.org)
5. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
6. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
7. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
8. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
9. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
10. Township of Codorus, PA - eCode360 table of contents (Codorus Township), quoted and re-checked
11. Zoning Officer / Code Enforcement — Dependable Construction Code Services (codorustownship.org)
12. Codorus Township zoning and construction application guidance (codorustownship.org)
13. 25 Pa. Code § 73.65. Recycling toilet, incinerating toilet or composting toilet (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
14. Township of Codorus, PA - eCode360 table of contents (Codorus Township), quoted and re-checked
15. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 15, 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.