Bolthole Index

York County, Pennsylvania

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Jacobus Borough, Pennsylvania

Jacobus Borough in York County, Pennsylvania sets its own zoning through Chapter 250 of the borough code1, and York County does not zone for it2. Building permits fall under the state Uniform Construction Code3; the borough office is the first call4. Septic permits come from a local sewage agency, and the borough runs an on-lot management program through its sewage enforcement officer5.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: borough Chapter 250, with R-1, R-2, commercial, industrial and historic overlay districts16
Building permit
Required under the state Uniform Construction Code; borough-specific steps not confirmed3
Septic
Permit from a local agency; borough has a sewage enforcement officer and pumping program75
R-1 minimum lot
9,000 sq ft and 70 ft wide on public sewer; one acre without it8
Manufactured homes
Limited: allowed as single-family dwellings in R-1 and R-2 with extra requirements9
RV or tiny home living
Not confirmed; ask the borough office4
Who to call
Jacobus Borough office, (717) 428-17524

Who to call

Building permits

Jacobus Borough office

Borough information, ordinances and permit questions for land inside Jacobus Borough

(717) 428-1752

jacobusborough@gmail.com

126 N. Cherry Lane Jacobus Borough, PA 17407-1000

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Jacobus means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Jacobus, PA have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and tiny homes?

Jacobus Borough has its own zoning: Chapter 250 of the borough code divides the whole borough into districts and includes a zoning map1. The districts are R-1 low-density residential, R-2 medium-density residential, C-N neighborhood commercial, C-G general commercial, I-C industrial commercial and a historic overlay, with the floodplain as an overlay on top6. York County does not administer zoning inside the borough; the county's role is planning guidance2.

For RVs, we could not confirm whether the code allows living in one on a residential lot; the use table lists RV campgrounds only for commercial districts1, so ask the borough office before parking one on a lot. We found no tiny-home provision. Manufactured homes are allowed as single-family dwellings in R-1 and R-2 only when they also meet the code's additional manufactured-home requirements, and manufactured home parks are not permitted in those districts9.

What are the lot size, setback and coverage rules in Jacobus Borough?

The rules differ by district. In R-1, a single-family detached dwelling needs at least 9,000 square feet and 70 feet of lot width8. Setbacks in R-1 are 25 feet front, 25 feet rear and 10 feet on each side, with 8 feet on each side for lots created before 200010. Building coverage in R-1 is capped at 40% and impervious coverage at 50%11.

In R-2, a single-family detached dwelling needs at least 2,500 square feet and 25 feet of width12, with setbacks of 10 feet front, 25 feet rear and 3 feet on each side13. R-2 coverage is capped at 60% for buildings and 70% for impervious surface14.

Those lot sizes assume public sewer. Without it, the code requires one acre per dwelling unit8. Most other structures are limited to 40 feet or three stories, whichever is more restrictive15.

Do you need a building permit in Jacobus Borough, and who issues it?

Pennsylvania requires a permit under the Uniform Construction Code before a residential building is constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired or moved3. Inspections and a certificate of occupancy follow before the building can be used16. York County does not issue building permits; the municipality does17.

The borough code has a building construction chapter, but we could not confirm its permit steps, fees or who inspects. Call the Jacobus Borough office to find out who takes applications4. Fees are set locally by the municipality or its third-party agency18. A zoning approval is a separate question from the building permit, and Chapter 250 governs it1.

Building in the floodplain overlay brings extra review; the borough has a separate floodplain management chapter19.

How do septic permits work in Jacobus Borough?

Pennsylvania requires a permit from the local agency before an on-lot sewage system is installed or used20. In York County, local agencies issue those permits7. Jacobus Borough runs an on-lot management program through its sewage enforcement officer, though we could not confirm from the code who issues new permits5.

If a public sewer is accessible, a new building must connect to it at the owner's expense21. Existing on-lot systems must be pumped once every four years on borough notice22. A state exemption can apply to a system serving an owner's residence on a contiguous tract of at least 10 acres, with conditions20, which is rarely relevant on borough lots. Ask the borough office which agency covers your address4.

Building a home in Jacobus Borough: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the district (R-1, R-2 or another) and the lot, setback and coverage rules in Chapter 2506.
  2. Check whether public sewer reaches the lot, because it changes the minimum lot size and the septic path8.
  3. Ask the borough office who issues building permits and what plans they require4.
  4. Apply for the Uniform Construction Code building permit before work starts3.
  5. If you are subdividing, check the borough's subdivision and land development chapter23.
  6. Get the on-lot septic permit from the local agency if no sewer is available20.
  7. Pass the final inspection and obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in16.

What stays with York County, and what to check before you buy in Jacobus

Outside borough limits, the answers change: use the York County page for unincorporated land. Inside Jacobus, the county does not set zoning2.

Before you buy, check the district and floodplain overlay19, whether sewer is accessible21, and the tax picture. York County's effective property tax rate is about 1.7%24, and its median property tax bill is about $3,947 a year25. We could not confirm a borough rule on private wells, so ask the borough office; the state does not require homeowners drilling their own well to hold a driller license26. A driveway onto a state road needs a PennDOT highway occupancy permit27.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm the borough's building permit steps, fees or inspection agency; call the Jacobus Borough office before you plan a start date4.
  • Do not assume an RV or tiny home can be lived in on a residential lot; the zoning use table lists RV campgrounds only for commercial districts1.
  • Lot sizes in R-1 and R-2 assume public sewer; without it the minimum is one acre per dwelling unit8.
  • Pennsylvania's septic permit comes from a local agency, and the borough's sewage enforcement officer enforces pumping every four years22.

Sources

  1. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  2. Data Center Development in York County, quoted and re-checked
  3. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Jacobus Borough office (jacobuspa.com)
  5. Jacobus Code Ch. 180 Sewers and Sewage Disposal (copy hosted by PA PUC) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  6. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  7. Municipal On-Lot Sewage Service Areas, quoted and re-checked
  8. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  9. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  10. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  11. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  12. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  13. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  14. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  15. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  16. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Building Permit Reports | York County Planning Commission PA, quoted and re-checked
  18. PART XIV, quoted and re-checked
  19. Jacobus Borough Code Ch. 250 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  20. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Jacobus Code Ch. 180 Sewers and Sewage Disposal (copy hosted by PA PUC) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  22. Jacobus Code Ch. 180 Sewers and Sewage Disposal (copy hosted by PA PUC) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  23. Borough of Jacobus, PA code table of contents (eCode360) (Borough of Jacobus), quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Apply for a Water Well Drillers License and Rig Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 14, 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 Jacobus

Borough of Jacobus’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside Jacobus borough

    • Chapter 250 Zoning; zoning map is part of the chapter
    “for the purpose of this chapter, jacobus borough is hereby divided into the following zoning districts, with the following abbreviations”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Jacobus borough

    • Floodplain area is an overlay on underlying districts
    “r-1 low-density residential district r-2 medium-density residential district c-n neighborhood commercial district c-g general commercial district i-c industrial commercial district hd historic overlay district”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 low-density residential district, single-family detached dwelling, inside Jacobus borough

    • Lot sizes assume public sewage service; without it one acre minimum per dwelling unit or principal building
    • Other allowed principal uses 15,000 sq ft and 90 ft width
    • Steep slope rules in § 250-30 may require 30,000 sq ft

    minimum lot area: >= 9000 sq ft (1 acre if not on public sewer) · minimum lot width: >= 70 ft

    “1. r-1 low-density residential district: a) single-family detached dwelling a) 9,000 a) 70 all uses: 25 all uses: 25 a) 10 each, except 8 each for lots that were created prior to january 1, 2000 40% for all uses 50% for all uses”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 district single-family detached dwelling inside Jacobus borough

    • Accessory structure and corner lot exceptions in §§ 250-29C, 250-62B

    front setback: >= 25 ft · rear setback: >= 25 ft · side setback each: >= 10 ft (8 ft for lots created before January 1, 2000)

    “1. r-1 low-density residential district: a) single-family detached dwelling a) 9,000 a) 70 all uses: 25 all uses: 25 a) 10 each, except 8 each for lots that were created prior to january 1, 2000 40% for all uses 50% for all uses”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-2 district inside Jacobus borough

    • Attached/semidetached coverage may be averaged across a tract

    max building coverage: <= 60 percent · max impervious coverage: <= 70 percent

    “2. r-2 medium-density residential district: a) single-family detached dwelling a) 2,500 a) 25 (note b) all uses: 10 all uses: 25 a) 3 (note g) all uses: 60% all uses: 70%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Structures in all zoning districts inside Jacobus borough (R-1 and R-2 principal dwellings fall under the general rule)

    • Except as provided in § 250-61 or as specified for a particular use
    • C-N, C-G and I-C districts: 50 ft maximum
    • Accessory structure to a nonresidential use: 25 ft

    max height other structures: <= 40 ft (or three stories, whichever is more restrictive) · max height accessory to dwelling on lot under 1 acre: <= 20 ft (one story)

    “(4) the maximum height for any other structure shall be three stories or 40 feet, whichever is more restrictive.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured/mobile homes as single-family detached dwellings in R-1 and R-2 inside Jacobus borough

    • Must meet additional requirements of § 250-34 (not reviewed)
    • Manufactured/mobile home parks are not permitted in R-1 or R-2; allowed by special exception in I-C
    “single-family detached dwelling (note: manufactured/mobile homes shall also meet the additional requirements of § 250-34.) p p”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Unit for care of relative as accessory use in R-1 and R-2 inside Jacobus borough

    • Additional requirements in § 250-35 (not reviewed)
    • Conversion of a one-family dwelling to more units is not permitted in R-1/R-2
    “unit for care of relative (§ 250-35) p p miscellaneous uses crop farming p p”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    On-lot sewage disposal systems inside Jacobus borough

    • Borough runs an on-lot management program through its sewage enforcement officer (DEP-certified under Act 537)
    • Permit issuance authority not confirmed on opened pages
    “the borough seo or authorized agent may require additional maintenance activity as needed”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Existing on-lot disposal systems inside Jacobus borough

    • Pumping required once every four years on borough notice
    • Inspection fees submitted to the borough office
    • Borough agent may inspect any system on reasonable notice

    pumping interval: 4 years (more frequent if malfunctioning or other cause)

    “inspection of the sewage collection system shall be conducted when an on-lot disposal system is pumped.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New buildings on premises accessible to the sewer system inside Jacobus borough

    • Existing occupied buildings must connect within 90 days after notice
    • Owner pays; applies where premises are accessible to the sewer system
    • Public water connection not addressed in pages opened
    “all persons owning any premises accessible to the sewer system upon which a building is hereafter erected shall, at the time of the erection of such building, and at their own expense, connect the same with the sewer system.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Jacobus borough

    • Chapter text not opened; existence of the chapter only
    “chapter 215 subdivision and land development”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Floodplain areas inside Jacobus borough

    • Separate Chapter 125 Floodplain Management exists; not opened
    “the floodplain area, as defined by article v, shall serve as an overlay district to the applicable underlying districts.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Jacobus borough
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Jacobus borough
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside Jacobus borough
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Jacobus borough
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Jacobus borough
12 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic permit
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Jacobus publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. York County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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