The Planning and Zoning Department administers the Township Zoning Ordinance, coordinates with the Codes Department in the enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance, oversees the process for dividing and developing property, assist the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission in creating policy for the future development of the Township and provides staff support for the Historical Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board.  

The Zoning Ordinance divides the Township into Zoning Districts to accommodate various types of development.  Each zoning district has a list of permitted uses such as single-family dwellings, apartments or offices.  If a use is not on the list, then it is not allowed in that district.  Some uses not deemed acceptable for an entire district but appropriate under the right circumstances are allowed by special exception or conditional use.  Uses not included in a district’s list but in place before the adoption of the applicable provision of the Zoning Ordinance may be granted as a “non-conforming use” and therefore permitted.  However, an extension of that non-conforming use may require approval from the Zoning Hearing Board.  

Each zoning district also has “area and bulk” regulations that determine the buildable area of each lot.  These regulations include minimum size required yards in which buildings cannot be located, maximum amount of property that can have buildings or impervious surfaces, and maximum height for buildings.  The dimensions and locations of new buildings or additions must comply with the districts area and bulk regulations.  Existing lots or buildings that do not comply with regulations adopted after the lots or buildings were created or constructed may be granted as non-conforming and therefore permitted.  However, new construction or additions to such lots or buildings may require approval from the Zoning Hearing Board.  

Zoning regulations also govern topics including but not limited to parking, signs, accessory structures such as sheds and pools, building a floodplain, rules about communication towers, etc.