New Freedom Borough in York County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance and its own Building and Zoning Department, so zoning approval and building permits inside the borough come from the borough office, not York County12. Septic permits come from a local agency under state law, and we could not confirm which one covers the borough3.
At a glance
- Zoning
- Borough zoning ordinance with several districts and a zoning map14
- Building permit
- Required under the statewide code; issued by the borough, not York County56
- Minimum lot, SF district
- 20,000 sq ft and 100 ft wide7
- Minimum lot, RR district
- 43,560 sq ft (1 acre) and 150 ft wide for other principal uses8
- Septic permit
- Issued by a local agency under state law; borough agency not confirmed39
- Accessory dwelling
- Special exception from the zoning hearing board10
Who to call
Building permits
New Freedom Borough Building and Zoning Department
Building permits, zoning permits and zoning administration inside New Freedom Borough; applications are downloadable online or available on paper at the Municipal Office
49 East High Street, New Freedom, PA 17349
Planning & zoning
York County Planning Commission
County planning information, building-permit reports and referrals to the correct municipal permit office; it does not issue building permits
28 E Market Street, 3rd Floor, York, PA 17401
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 New Freedom 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.
These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.
Does New Freedom, PA have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?
New Freedom Borough has its own zoning ordinance, with districts shown on the borough's zoning map1. The districts include natural resources, rural residential, single family residential, traditional neighborhood, central business and light industrial4. York County does not zone for the borough: zoning and land-use policy in York County is delegated to municipalities11.
Rules differ by district. In the single family residential (SF) district, permitted principal uses need at least 20,000 square feet and 100 feet of lot width7, with setbacks of 25 feet in front, 10 feet on the side and 20 feet at the rear12. Buildings may cover up to 20% of an SF lot and all impervious coverage up to 30%13.
In the rural residential (RR) district, other principal uses need 43,560 square feet (1 acre) and 150 feet of width8, with setbacks of 40 feet front, 15 feet side and 25 feet rear for most uses14. RR building coverage tops out at 15% and total lot coverage at 20%15. Check your parcel's district on the borough's interactive zoning map before you make an offer.
Do you need a building permit in New Freedom Borough, and who issues it?
Yes. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code requires a building permit before work starts5, and in York County the municipality issues that permit rather than the county6. Inside New Freedom, the borough's Building and Zoning Department administers the building and zoning codes2.
The borough's permits page lists applications for residential building permits, zoning permits, driveway permits and fence permits2. Paper applications are available at the Municipal Office, and the borough warns that work without a permit may be subject to removal or other costly remedies2.
The York County Planning Commission does not issue building permits and sends callers to the municipality where the property sits16. Statewide, fees for permits the borough issues are set locally and published by the municipality17. We could not confirm the borough's own fee schedule, so ask the borough office for it.
How do septic permits work in New Freedom Borough?
Pennsylvania requires a permit from the local agency before a building served by an on-lot sewage system is installed, built, occupied or used9. In York County those local agencies, not the county planning office, are responsible for issuing septic permits3. Local agencies can be municipalities, groups of municipalities, or county health departments18.
We could not confirm which agency handles septic permits inside New Freedom Borough, or whether the borough sits on public sewer for your address. Ask the borough office at (717) 235-2337 which agency and sewage enforcement officer covers your parcel2.
If you plan a larger tract, one state exemption can apply to a residence on a contiguous tract of at least 10 acres, subject to owner-of-record date, siting and notification conditions9. That is rarely a fit for a lot inside a borough. Wells are a separate matter: homeowners drilling their own water well on their own land are not subject to the state driller licensing requirement19.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in New Freedom Borough?
We could not confirm whether the borough allows living in an RV or tiny home on a lot, or for how long, so do not assume either way. The zoning ordinance's general provisions are where such rules would sit, and the zoning officer at the borough office is the person to ask2.
What the borough's zoning does say: an accessory dwelling unit in the SF district, and as a special exception in the NR and RR districts, is allowed only as a special exception authorized by the zoning hearing board10. Mobile home parks appear as a conditional use in the RR district20.
State rules that mention RVs apply to state park campgrounds and do not give you the right to live in an RV on your own lot21. Get the borough's answer in writing before you buy a trailer, park model or tiny home for a New Freedom lot.
Building a home in New Freedom Borough: the steps, in order
- Confirm the parcel's zoning district on the borough's zoning map and read the lot size, width and setback rules for that district14.
- Ask the borough office whether public sewer serves the lot, and if not, which local agency handles on-lot septic permits92.
- Apply to the borough for a zoning permit and a residential building permit2.
- If the driveway meets a state road, add a PennDOT highway occupancy permit22. A borough driveway permit application also exists2.
- Keep work open for inspection. Pennsylvania residential permits require inspections of foundations, plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems, frame and masonry, and wallboard, plus a final inspection23.
- Obtain a certificate of occupancy before anyone uses the building24.
Subdivision of a larger parcel is regulated under the borough's chapter on subdivision and land development25.
What stays with York County, and what to check before you buy in New Freedom?
The county does not issue building permits or run zoning for the borough2616. For land outside the borough, see the York County page; borough rules do not follow you into the townships around it.
Before you buy, check four things. First, the lot's district and whether the planned use is permitted or needs a special exception10. Second, whether the property is in a flood plain: construction there needs documentation sealed by a registered design professional27. Third, sewer or septic status and which agency permits it3. Fourth, taxes: York County's effective property tax rate is about 1.7%28, and the county's median property tax bill is $3,947 a year29.
The USDA rates about 18% of York County soils as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so many lots outside sewer service need a site evaluation or an engineered system30.
Watch-outs
- The borough's building code chapter, permit fees, certificate-of-occupancy rules and septic agency were not confirmed for this guide, so ask the borough office at (717) 235-2337 before you rely on a state default2.
- Setbacks, coverage and lot sizes in the borough's zoning ordinance change by district and can be modified by its general provisions, so confirm your parcel's district and any modifiers with the zoning officer12.
- A statewide building permit requirement does not mean one office issues everything: building permits come from the borough, septic permits from a local agency, and highway driveway permits from PennDOT223.
Sources
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- New Freedom Borough Building and Zoning Department (newfreedomboro.org)
- Municipal On-Lot Sewage Service Areas, quoted and re-checked
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
- York County Planning Commission - Building Permit Reports (2026 county census)
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- Data Center Development in York County, quoted and re-checked
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- York County Planning Commission (ycpc.org)
- PART XIV, quoted and re-checked
- Act 537 Sewage Facilities, quoted and re-checked
- Apply for a Water Well Drillers License and Rig Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- RV and Tent Campsites (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Borough of New Freedom Code, Chapter 225 Zoning, Article III District Regulations (Borough of New Freedom), quoted and re-checked
- Data Center Development in York County, quoted and re-checked
- Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
- Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
- 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
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.