York County, PA Ordinances (2026)

York County itself sets no rule for RVs, boats, or trailers on residential streets or lots: that is decided by your borough, city, or township under Pennsylvania's Municipalities…

Overnight on-street parking bans are set by individual boroughs and townships, not York County. The county's only overnight restriction applies inside York County Parks, which are…

York County limits marked passenger and loading zones inside its park system to quick, active use only. Under Code § 75-13.B(4), stopping, standing or parking there is allowed solely…

A vehicle that illegally sits on county-owned or leased property for more than 48 hours is abandoned under York County Code Ch. 343. The department responsible for that property sends…

Oversized and overweight vehicle parking is regulated by municipalities across York County, not the county. York City's Article 513 addresses oversize/overweight vehicles and street…

In the York County Park System no one may be in a park between dusk and dawn, except at designated fishing and boating sites. The Parks Director may extend hours by permit. Violating…

Under Pennsylvania's Act 101, recycling is mandatory in 18 York County municipalities, determined by population and density. About 99% of the county's population has access to curbside…

No matter where you live in York County, your hauler must deliver household garbage to the York County Resource Recovery Center, a waste-to-energy plant run by the York County Solid…

York County residents can self-haul bulk trash and special-handling items directly to the York County Resource Recovery Center. Fees are $85 per ton with a $20 minimum for loads up to…

York County requires no permit to remove a single tree, but clearing land that disturbs 5,000 square feet or more triggers an erosion-and-sediment-control plan reviewed by the York…

Recreational backyard fires are allowed under DEP rules when used solely for cooking or recreation, but the specific setbacks and container rules come from your borough or township…

Everyday open burning is regulated by your municipality and by PA DEP (25 Pa. Code Sec. 129.14). York County's Board of Commissioners can, and does, impose a temporary 30-day…

Pennsylvania's Act 74 of 2022 governs fireworks statewide, not York County. Adults 18+ may buy and use consumer (1.4G) fireworks, but never within 150 feet of an occupied structure, on…

York County bans loudspeakers, PA systems and amplifiers outright anywhere in the county park system, and separately makes it illegal to play a radio, television or stereo loud enough…

Loud vehicles and modified exhausts are covered by Pennsylvania's Vehicle Code, which applies countywide in York County. Every motor vehicle must have a working muffler with no cutout…

York County sets no countywide decibel standard for property noise. Pennsylvania does set enforceable motor-vehicle decibel limits by state regulation, measured 50 feet from the road…

York County bans feeding geese, ducks, deer, birds, squirrels or any other wild animal anywhere in its park system, and separately bars leaving food out in a way likely to attract…

York County requires every pet, animal or fowl in its parks to be on a tethered leash and under the owner's immediate physical control at all times. Voice commands and e-collars don't…

York County doesn't stripe on-street bike lanes, but its park system runs miles of paths and trails governed by Code § 75-15. Riders must stay right, cap group riding at two abreast…

York County limits e-bikes to a single trail: the Heritage Rail Trail County Park. Code § 75-16 allows only Class 1 e-bikes there, pedal-assist with no throttle, under 750 watts…

York County bans battery-powered and self-propelled scooters, along with skateboards and hoverboards, throughout its entire park system, including the Heritage Rail Trail. Code §…

York County closes its park system to food trucks and vendors by default. Code § 75-17 bans peddling, soliciting and setting up a booth, table or vehicle sale of any kind anywhere in…

York County's park code makes it a separate offense to sell, use, transport, possess or grow any drug, narcotic or illegal plant such as marijuana anywhere in the county park system…

York County bans transporting, selling, consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages anywhere in the county park system under Chapter 75 § 75-21. Park Rangers confiscate any alcohol…

York County bars skateboards from the Courthouse and every other county building without the Sheriff's written authorization, under Code § 85-10.H's list of prohibited items. The same…

York County makes loitering a stand-alone park violation: § 75-26 bars remaining in any area of the park system for no obvious reason or maliciously prowling around. Park Rangers can…

York County's Blighted Property Review Committee can certify a vacant, derelict property to the Redevelopment Authority for acquisition once the owner is served notice and an order to…

York County requires a rental permit to reserve any park-designated space, and a special events permit plus a special events agreement for bounce houses, tents, canopies, pony rides…

York County levies a 5% excise tax on every hotel, motel, bed-and-breakfast, and rooming-house room rented to transients under County Code § 107-4, adopted by Ordinance 2019-02…

York County limits drone flying in its park system to designated areas only. Section 75-22.D(8) of the Parks and Recreation Rules and Regulations makes it unlawful to operate a drone…

York County taxes short-term rentals and homestays the same as hotels: a 5% excise tax on the rent charged for any single-family dwelling, apartment, or homestay booked for under 30…

York County's only county-level compliance step for a short-term rental or homestay is tax registration, not a land-use permit: § 107-12 requires every operator of a hotel, including…

Maximum lot coverage is set by your borough or township, not York County. In York Township, coverage caps range from 30-40 percent of net lot area in low-density residential districts…

Building setbacks are set by your borough or township zoning ordinance under the PA Municipalities Planning Code, not by York County. In York Township's low-density residential…

Maximum building height is set by your borough or township zoning ordinance, not York County. In York Township, principal residential buildings are capped at 35 feet and accessory…

General fence standards are set by your borough or township, not York County. York Township requires the finished side to face outward, bars fences in sight triangles and…

Boundary and finished-side fence rules are set locally, not by York County. In York Township, a fence may be placed on the property line but its finished side must face the adjoining…

Material limits come from your municipality, not York County. York Township prohibits barbed and razor wire except for industrial uses or to confine farm animals, and bans electrically…

Retaining walls are governed by your municipality and Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code, not by York County. In York Township, retaining walls over 4 feet must meet the UCC, and…

There is no county fence permit. Whether you need a zoning permit depends on your borough or township. In York Township it is unlawful to construct or alter any structure until the…

York County sets no rule on backyard smokers. A smoker used solely to cook food falls under the state open-burning cooking exemption and the county burn ban's grill exemption. Nuisance…

York County confines outdoor cooking fires in its park system to specific spots: charcoal grills only at existing designated grill sites, and gas grills or gas stoves only in pavilion…

Pennsylvania has no cottage-food law and no county rule. Home food sellers register with the state as a "Limited Food Establishment" through the PA Department of Agriculture, which…

Home daycare is licensed by the PA Department of Human Services, not York County. A family child care home caring for four to six unrelated children needs a DHS Certificate of…

York County issues no home-occupation permit. Whether a permit or zoning approval is needed depends on your borough or township ordinance under the PA Municipalities Planning Code…

Above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches need a UCC permit and a compliant barrier under Pennsylvania code. Small prefab pools less than 24 inches deep and under 5,000 gallons are…