Lancaster County, PA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Maximum building height is a municipal zoning standard, not a county one. MPC §603(b) lets each municipality regulate the “height… of structures.” Lancaster City's zoning code (Chapter 300) sets height by district, for example, five stories or 60 feet, whichever is more restrictive, in certain districts, while suburban townships often cap residential buildings around 35 to 45 feet. Chimneys, antennas, and similar appurtenances are typically exempt up to a stated amount. Because Lancaster County has 60 municipalities each with its own districts, look up the height row in the dimensional table for your specific zoning district rather than assuming a single countywide number.