Swimming Pool Regulations

A building permit must be acquired before placing an above ground swimming pool or constructing an in-ground swimming pool on your property. Contact the zoning department to find out what the setbacks are for your property before the construction takes place.

The Lower Windsor Township Zoning Ordinance can be found at the link on the home page. The following is not meant to be all inclusive. The Zoning Ordinance has expanded information that may be helpful to residents when considering construction or use changes. Information on permitted uses, driveways, number of parking spaces required, setbacks, accessory buildings, etc. may be obtained directly from the Zoning Ordinance online, or by calling the Zoning Officer at (717) 244-6813.


The purpose of these regulations is to promote and protect the Township’s health, safety, general welfare, and morals by:

     a) Protecting and preserving natural resources and local heritage including prime agricultural, historical, and environmentally sensitive land;
     b) Facilitating coordinated and practical community development;
     c) Ensuring proper density of population;
     d) Providing access to adequate light and air, police protection, vehicle parking and loading space, transportation, water, sewerage, schools,
         public grounds and other public requirements;
     e) Preventing the overcrowding of land, blight, danger and congestion in travel and transportation; and
      f) Preventing loss of health, life, or property from fire, flood, panic and/or other dangers.

Community Development Objectives
This Ordinance is enacted as a component of the overall plan for the orderly growth and harmonious development of Lower Windsor Township. As such, this Ordinance is based upon the expressed or implied community development objectives provided for in the Lower Windsor Township Comprehensive Plan.

Lower Windsor Township has five (5) zoning districts which are:

• Agriculture

• Residential

• Village

• Waterfront Recreational

• Industrial

Each of these districts have Permitted Uses and Uses Permitted by Special Exception. Each district also has specific setbacks and lot coverage limitations.

Special Exceptions and Variances:
The application for a Special Exception or Variance is available at the township office and also on this website in the Zoning section under Forms…”Zoning Hearing Application” and “Zoning Hearing Instructions.” The process from application to decision may take several months and requires a completed application containing certain requirements along with a $500.00 fee. The applicant must attend the Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board meetings. As part of the procedure, surrounding property owners will be notified of the meeting dates and your property will be posted with a Hearing Notice.

A submittal schedule can be found in the Zoning section under Forms…“Submittal Schedule.”

Requirements for Working from Your Home:

A no-impact home occupation or profession is permitted in all districts except for the Industrial district. It is defined in the Ordinance as “A business activity administered or conducted as an accessory use which is clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling and which involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pick-up, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with the residential use.” Some examples are, but are not limited to, Avon, Rubbermaid, Tupperware, Home Interiors, Jewelry, Pampered Chef, Princess House, health care or diet products, typing and computer services. However, as noted above, there can be no client or customer traffic associated with this use. There is specific criteria which must also be met and can be found in Section 647 of the Zoning Ordinance which is available on this website.

In order to operate this type of business from your home, you must submit a business registration form to the Zoning Officer along with a fee of $10.00 for a Use and Occupancy certificate.

A home occupation or profession is defined as “A business or commercial activity other than a no-impact home-based business that is conducted as an accessory use to a principal dwelling.” A home occupation or profession is permitted by Special Exception in all districts except for the Industrial district. Some examples are, but are not limited to, physician, dentist, clergyman, lawyer, engineer, accountant, artist, licensed insurance or real estate agent, barber, beautician and similar service occupations and professions which have minimal impact on the surrounding area. There is also specific criteria which must be met and can be found in Section 646 of the Zoning Ordinance which is available on this website.

Operating a business without approval is a violation of the Zoning Ordinance and could result in legal action and/or fines.

Permits
Zoning and/or building permits are required when you are erecting, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, altering, moving, changing the use of, or demolishing any building or structure, which activities involve adding or removing structural square footage on the property or when you are improving the land by changing its use or establishing a new use. More detailed information and instructions can be found in the Zoning section under Forms… “Zoning Permit Package.”

Complaints
A complaint form regarding Zoning Ordinance violations such as tall grass/weeds, burning, working without a permit, etc. can be submitted to the Zoning Officer. The forms are available at the township office.

Please direct any and all zoning inquiries to the Zoning Officer, Monica Love, at (717) 244-6813 or mlove@lowerwindsor.com.