Environmental Rules in Harrisburg, PA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, regulated activities need an approved stormwater management (SWM) site plan before work begins, and the plan must show capacity for volume and rate control. Violations are summary offenses with fines up to $1,000 per violation per day.
Harrisburg PA Stormwater Management Rules
Significant RestrictionsHarrisburg Codified Ordinances § 9-903.1
§ 9-903.1. General requirements. A. For all regulated activities, unless specifically exempted in § 9-903.2: (1) Preparation and implementation of an approved SWM site plan is required. (2) No regulated activities shall commence until the City of Harrisburg issues written approval of a SWM site plan, which demonstrates compliance with the requirements of this Part 9. (3) The SWM site plan shall...
Erosion Control
In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, earth disturbance requires written erosion and sediment control plans, plan approval and NPDES permits under Codified Ordinances § 9-905.1, with proof of PADEP or Dauphin County Conservation District approval given to the City and the approved plan kept on site. Violations are a summary offense up to $1,000 per day.
Erosion and Sediment Control During Construction in Harrisburg, PA
Significant RestrictionsHarrisburg Codified Ordinances § 9-905.1
A. The applicant shall meet requirements as contained in 25 Pa. Code, Chapters 92 and 102, as required, and applicable as follows: (1) The implementation and maintenance of erosion and sediment control BMPs. (2) Development of written plans. (3) Submission of plans for approval. (4) Obtaining erosion and sediment control and NPDES permits. (5) Maintaining plans and permits on site. B. Evidence ...
Flood Zones
In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the Floodplain Overlay District covers every area on the City's Floodplain Map and sits on top of the underlying zoning. No construction or development can start anywhere in the City without a zoning permit from the Zoning Officer, who serves as Floodplain Administrator, and certain uses are banned outright in flood areas.
Floodplain Overlay District Rules in Harrisburg, PA
Significant RestrictionsHarrisburg Codified Ordinances § 7-315.2
This chapter shall apply to all lands shown on the City of Harrisburg Floodplain Map which is adopted as part of the City of Harrisburg Zoning Code, as further described under Section 7-315.8, Identification of Floodplain Areas, referred to otherwise as the "Floodplain Overlay District." The Floodplain Overlay District overlays the underlying zoning districts, and this chapter supplements the r...
Vehicle Idling Restrictions
In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the engine of a heavy-duty diesel-powered vehicle cannot idle for more than two consecutive minutes inside a residential zoning district, and layovers get zero minutes. Cold and hot weather exceptions stretch the limit to five or 20 minutes. Fines run from $50 to $500 for a first offense.
Harrisburg PA Heavy-Duty Diesel Idling Limits
Some RestrictionsHarrisburg Codified Ordinances § 3-145.2
§ 3-145.2. No excessive idling. A. No person shall permit, cause, suffer or allow the engine of a heavy-duty diesel-powered motor vehicle to idle prior to, during layover between, or at the conclusion of any trip or route for any period of time beyond which is reasonably required to attain, or to secure from, normal operating conditions, within any residential zoning district included under Cha...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the regulatory flood elevation is the base flood elevation plus a freeboard safety factor of 1 1/2 feet. New or substantially improved residential buildings in the AE, A1-30, and AH Zones must have the lowest floor, including the basement, elevated to or above that level.
Base Flood Elevation and Freeboard in Harrisburg, PA
Some RestrictionsHarrisburg Codified Ordinances § 7-315.3
For purposes of this chapter, the terms that follow shall have the definitions indicated: ... BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE) The elevation shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Zones AE, AH, A1-30 that indicates the water surface elevation resulting from a flood that has a one-percent or greater chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. ... REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION The bas...