5 rules for unincorporated Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Verified from official government sources
Lancaster County does no zoning. Under the PA Municipalities Planning Code, a no-impact home-based business is a permitted use in every residential district of your municipality, subject to eight statutory conditions your city, borough, or township enforces.
53 P.S. Section 10107 (MPC, Act 247 of 1968)
"No-impact home-based business," a business or commercial 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, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use.
Lancaster County sets no sign rule. State law bars any outside sign of business for a no-impact home-based business. Larger home occupations may display a small sign only if your municipality's zoning ordinance allows it.
53 P.S. Section 10107(4) (MPC no-impact home-based business)
There shall be no outside appearance of a business use, including, but not limited to, parking, signs or lights.
Pennsylvania has no cottage food law and no county food rule. A home food business registers as a Limited Food Establishment with the PA Department of Agriculture, gets an on-site inspection, and pays a $35 fee, with no sales cap.
PA Limited Food Establishment program (PA Dept of Agriculture; 3 Pa.C.S. / 7 Pa. Code Ch. 46)
The Department's Limited Food Establishment program registers home-based and noncommercial food production sites that meet specific guidelines. These kitchens can only make non-hazardous foods that do not require refrigeration of the finished product.
Lancaster County does not license daycares. Under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3290, a family child care home caring for four to six unrelated children must hold a certificate of compliance from the PA Department of Human Services.
55 Pa. Code Section 3290.4 (definition of Family child care home)
A home other than the child's own home, operated for profit or not-for-profit, in which child care is provided at any one time to four, five or six children unrelated to the operator.
Lancaster County issues no home occupation permits. A qualifying no-impact home-based business needs no zoning approval statewide, but a larger home occupation usually needs a zoning permit or special exception from your municipality.
53 P.S. Section 10107(7) (MPC no-impact home-based business)
The business activity shall be conducted only within the dwelling and may not occupy more than 25% of the habitable floor area.
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