LCPD Review of Community Plans, Maps, and Ordinances

Notice: Updated Schedule of Review Fees

For the first time since February 2015, Lancaster County Planning will increase some review fees beginning May 1, 2026.  Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on February 18th, updated review fees will pertain to the following submission types:

  • ​Base fees for Subdivision and/or Land Development Plans will increase from $100 to $125;
  • ​Additional fees for Subdivision and/or Land Development Plans will increase from $15 to $20 for each 1,000 sq. ft. of proposed building area, or each proposed residential unit; and 
  • ​Fees for Community Plans, Maps, and Ordinances (CPOs) will increase from $250 to $325 (unless such fees are waived because submissions are received directly from municipalities).

Our $150 fee for Sewage Facilities Planning Modules will remain unchanged.

Fees for expedited reviews of qualified Subdivision and/or Land Development Plans via Memorandum of Understanding Agreements (MOUs) may still be reduced by 50% from the standard Subdivision and/or Land Development Plan fees noted above.  At present, there are 55 County municipalities with such Agreements. 

We share this fee update with you in advance of its May 1st effective date so that you can plan any future Lancaster County Planning submissions accordingly.  Thank you.

Prior to monthly Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC) meetings, and in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code's Articles III, IV, V, and VI,  Lancaster County Planning Department staff provides advisory review comments on proposed Community Plans, Maps, and Ordinances (CPOs). Such reviews typically address the following CPO types:

  1. Comprehensive Plans for single municipalities, or for regions comprised of several collaborating municipalities;
  2. Any subsequent updates to Comprehensive Plans;
  3. Land Use Controls including Zoning Ordinances (text and/or maps), Subdivision & Land Development Ordinances, and any subsequent ordinance updates;
  4. Official Maps;
  5. Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plans;
  6. Acquisition or sale of publicly owned buildings and/or land; and
  7. Proposed vacation of public rights-of-way.

Applicants must submit CPOs at least 45 days prior to the desired date of LCPC meeting consideration. These public meetings are typically held at 2:30 pm on the second Monday of each month, and all currently scheduled meetings are listed here (2025) and here (2026).

CPOs and any related fees are typically submitted to LCPD by municipality leaders, their solicitors, or other municipal consultants via the e-submission portal. If guidance is needed while registering as a first-time applicant or while completing any subsequent submissions, please refer to the Help function provided throughout the Community Plan, Map, and Ordinance application. Questions can also be forwarded to LCPD’s Applications Coordinator, Farah Eustace, through the e-submission portal, via an email to feustace@lancastercountypa.gov, or by calling or 717-299-8333.  

LCPD review fees have remained unchanged since 2015, and the $250 CPO review fee is typically waived when CPO submissions are received directly from a county municipality. Specific fee calculation formulas for various application types are listed here.

Once received and accepted, each CPO submission is reviewed for consistency with Lancaster County’s Comprehensive Plan, places2040. along with any related plans prepared by affected municipalities. These reviews are led by LCPD Liaisons assigned to the specific county regions identified here. Each CPO is then listed on the LCPC meeting agenda as either an item  ‘For Action’ or as an item ‘For Information’.  All ‘For Action’ CPOs are presented to the Commission by LCPD staff, and they generally include the following CPO types:

  1. The CPO pertains to a proposed rezoning;
  2. The CPO is a draft Comprehensive Plan;
  3. The CPO is a full Zoning Ordinance or Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance update; 
  4. The CPO sets a places2040 precedent and/or has a regional impact; 
  5. The CPO is a Blight Certification;
  6. The CPO directly relates to LCPD’s current Work Program; or
  7. The CPO is recommended for disapproval by LCPD staff due to inconsistency with places2040.

All submitters of ‘For Action’ CPOs are encouraged to participate in LCPC meeting discussions.  Submitters of ‘For Information’ CPOs may also attend these public meetings, but they should not anticipate a staff presentation unless one is specifically requested by a Planning Commission member during the LCPC meeting.