Municipality Differences in Central Pennsylvania

Mar 18, 2026 | Construction Basics | 0 comments

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Municipalities in Central Pennsylvania all abide by distinct but similar standards. Regarding construction, many of these rules have to do with zoning codes. In the previous blog, you learned the basics of zoning. This blog will specifically provide you with a rundown of municipality differences in 9 nearby areas. Additionally, there will be information regarding municipality basics and an example walking through obtaining the information from an area’s website.

Municipality Basics

To start off, a municipality is a local authority that governs a specific geographic area. Responsibility falls to each local area to collect taxes, manage public resources, and create regulations for the area. Different variations of municipalities include boroughs, cities, towns, and villages. Each level has its own distinctions of why the municipality is named that way but all act as the governing body. While it does enforce local codes to keep people safe through construction codes, safety codes, and more, it also provides services like police and fire fighters. Due to the services, local taxes are taken to establish those programs and more. How much the taxes are depends on state and local regulations.

Most municipalities are run by elected officials from the community itself in certain geographic boundaries. Each state has its own regulations on what kind of authority its nearby officials have. For example, there are two different legal types of classifications on public power and authority: Dillon’s Rule and Home Rule. The first expressly follows the idea that local power is only given to them through the state and anything not directly by state law, authority that is essential to the management of the local government, and power within emergencies or the like. Home Rule is much more flexible, often offering any type of power that is not contradicted by state authority or if the state does not have a policy, they have the right to put governance in place within reasonable expectations.

A municipality map of a faraway place with a finger pointing to a specific location on the map.

Highlighted Municipalities

Dillsburg - Ordinances - Dillsburg Borough

Within Dillsburg, there are multiple rules regarding property and construction. First, there are property nuisances that act as management regarding vegetation, trash cleanup, and visibility for drivers. This also includes snow and ice removal. In Dillsburg, most remodeling, refurbishment, and repair projects require a building permit, as the borough has a specific outline detailing what does and does not need one. There are several codes that regulate construction within the Dillsburg Borough, including a building code, a fire code, a mechanical code, a plumbing code, a property maintenance code, a safety code, and a uniform construction code. By defying the local building code by not getting a permit, a person is subjected to fees up to $1,000 and could be imprisoned in the county jail if there is a failure to pay those fees. Dillsburg also outlines a specific zoning map that defines residential and commercial.

Camp Hill - Welcome to Camp Hill Borough, PA

Camp Hill has a thoughtful layout in its zoning map where the commercial district is framed by residential areas. There are also intentional spaces for recreation like parks. Its local zoning code has 12 different parts, each covering a specific subdivision that acts as a protection. Its first section explains legal and general provisions, which also includes a chart of zoning districts and their types. The second section covers terms and definitions, which outline specific businesses and their limitations regarding the local area. The next few subdivisions cover the zoning maps themselves with outlines regarding all of the districts. Part 7, for instance, focuses on general regulations and is therefore relevant to the average homeowner. Property lines, setback lines, and everything in between for a residential property owner is covered in that section.

Carlisle - Carlisle, PA

Under the Borough of Carlisle, there is a long list of codes that manage its local inhabitants. The last section under General Legislation is Zoning, at number 255. Every building code and standard is underneath that number. Anything construction related falls under a set rulebook put in place. Carlisle stands out among the areas previously discussed due to the sheer volume of its regulations, which merge both commercial and residential requirements. Additionally, there are zoning rules for its institutional district. That said, Building Construction is its own section under General Legislation, at number 89. All zoning regulations are underneath 255 but most of the nitty gritty details regarding construction can be found in that section. This region is an example of home rule, allowing it to schedule, charge, and collect fees according to its own local regulations.

A picture of a street with a bright orange work zone ahead sign in focus. Out of focus is a bookstore, street, a car, and people.

Harrisburg - Harrisburg, PA

Due to the extensive nature of regulating a city, there is a specifically outlined Planning Director named Geoffrey Knight on Harrisburg’s Planning and Zoning website. The actual building code for zoning on this website is listed below the section important documents, under Zoning Code. The zoning maps are also present on the main website, underneath maps. A unique feature to zoning maps in Harrisburg is their floodplain viewer, since they have to regulate and manage flood zones along the Susquehanna River. Due to a wide range of businesses and homes falling under the floodplain zoning area, Harrisburg recommends additional coverage besides the minimally recommended NFIP, also known as the National Flood Insurance Program. Their zoning code itself spans 150 pages, which also includes special districts like its historic district and its airport. They also have interactive area maps, which is a great addition to see.

Halifax - Halifax Township | Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Although Halifax has a list of ordinances and resolutions on their website, their equivalent of a building code is called Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. It’s attached as a downloadable file that contains over 1,000 subsections. Do not let that scare you, as it’s broken down into categories and easy to read headings. Regarding zoning, the 4th, 5th, and 6th sections will be of interest to the average homeowner in Halifax. Additionally, a distinction that Halifax has is their emphasis on storm water management. This is due to it being located near the Susquehanna river, which requires more precautions, as seen in the Harrisburg section.

Hershey - 2019 Zoning Ordinance

Also known as Derry Township, this local region includes much of Dauphin County and contains Hershey Park. The most up to date information regarding Hershey area’s zoning code is underneath this 2019 Zoning Ordinance. Although it was adopted in 2019, it has been revised since September 2025. On the first page, the zoning maps showcase the different districts. Just like the Carlisle code, all the zoning information is under the number 255. Something distinctive about the Hershey zoning code is the inclusion of Hershey’s commercial districts, downtowns, and the areas surrounding the amusement park. There are twenty different sections under zoning districts and overlays, which goes to show the wide variety of district needs in this specific area. Additionally, there are more resource related restrictions due to the amount of people living in this area having to balance with tourism.

Mechanicsburg - Codes & Zoning Enforcement

Just like Harrisburg, this local municipality has an interactive zoning map that showcases the several districts underneath this borough. Zoning permits are required within Mechanicsburg for every project that changes property, including but not limited to, change of use, hardscaping, and additions to the property. Building permits are also required alongside the zoning permits, but there are a wider number of reasons to receive a building permit in Mechanicsburg. Something unique to this area is the Historic Architectural Review Board, which aspires to retain original features of historic buildings in this region. This board can explicitly offer advice, planning, and more regarding any historic building projects.

Warrington - ZONING ORDINANCE – COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – MAP CHANGE – Warrington Township

Currently, the zoning information of the Warrington area is best found in their zoning ordinance code. The code, which remains unchanged since its amendment in January 2022, is the first main item of note on the website's resources. Articles 3, 4, and 5 of the zoning code are the most relevant sections for the typical homeowner, along with a map that details the districting. Be sure to reach out to [email protected] for any questions or concerns about anything within the code, as there are red markups within the information from when it was last changed. A unique part of Warrington’s policies is the wide specifications regarding article 5 which details the regulations of use extensively.

York - Bureau of Planning and Zoning - City of York, Pennsylvania

The website of York’s Bureau of Planning and Zoning has all necessary permits near the top under the section applications and forms. There are boxes that neatly file information and links to the various highlighted permits. To reach the code itself or the zoning maps, you must click on the red boxes that are named accordingly. Something distinctive about York’s zoning is the concise nature of its zoning code. The zoning code has been streamlined by removing two previous sections to ensure only essential information remains. Since most areas of York have waterfronts, with some of them being the Susquehanna river, there is additional information and emphasis on storm water and flooding. It is also important to note that York exclusively uses OpenGov for all permits and will only review submissions made online.

Example Walk-Through

A quick disclaimer: not all websites are created equal. Some of them may be more intuitive than others or be lacking information. If that is the case, please reach out to either the email or number provided on the website. Additionally, all pictures below are screenshots of the city of Harrisburg website.

Given its central location, Harrisburg will be the example we use for this walk-through. The first step is getting to the Planning and Zoning page under the city of Harrisburg’s website. You’ll then go down to the important documents tab and click the Zoning Code button. That will take you to the code itself. If the website does not have a tab called the zoning code or zoning ordinances, it’s likely that it’ll be called something similar. Do not be afraid to click on it to find out on approved, safe websites.

Harrisburg Planning and Zoning website page with zoning code highlighted.

Next, you’ll scroll from the title page of the code document to the table of contents. Regarding zoning and its applications, most documents will have a table that outlines exactly what is where and under what sections. Then, you simply select which information you wish to read under the code. It’s always good to read over the whole thing but to save yourself time, you can skip reading what you know when they have terms and definitions.

In Harrisburg's Zoning Code with specific zoning district codes highlighted.

Matching heading to the district designation for the zoning code of Harrisburg.

Once you have found the information you were looking for, it’s easy to read what pertains to you. If there are things you don’t understand, reach out to the administrators using the information at the bottom of the website. Every office is accessible through a phone number, cell number, or email address.

Conclusion:

Reviewing the variances between different municipalities is a worthwhile effort in the long run. This not only enhances your understanding of zoning regulations but also ensures you have access to the rules if you are planning a move. The 9 different municipalities covered here are not the only ones in Central Pennsylvania, but they offer a starting point to explore zoning near you. Additionally, we hope the walkthrough was helpful and that the information helps make sense of zoning nearby. For further information regarding zoning, please check out our previous blog post, What You Should Know About Zoning. Thank you so much for reading!

Resources:

BiiLT Contracting Group is a construction and remodeling company that focuses on being a standard of excellence in the field. Our team serves our customers with integrity and invests in the people with our organization. We began blogging to give the average customer more information about the industry so they can begin construction projects everywhere with peace of mind. Stay posted for more content, coming soon!

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