Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Upper Chichester Township, Pennsylvania

Upper Chichester Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings inside Upper Chichester Township.

  • The referenced Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.

  “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of Upper Chichester Township.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Structures other than one-family or two-family dwelling units and utility and miscellaneous use structures inside Upper Chichester Township when the Township enters the described Department of Labor and Industry agreement.

  • The method is selected by Township governing-body resolution.
  • The quoted inspection provision excludes one-family and two-family dwelling units and utility and miscellaneous use structures.

  “By entering into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections and enforcement of structures other than one-family or two-family dwelling units and utility and miscellaneous use structures.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Upper Chichester Township.

  • Development remains subject to the Township zoning ordinance and district controls.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Upper Chichester 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 678. Amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Upper Chichester Township.

  • The chapter was adopted by Ordinance No. 512; amendments are noted where applicable.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Upper Chichester 6-11-1992 by Ord. No. 512 (Ch. 22 of the 1987 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Uniform Construction Code administration and enforcement in Upper Chichester Township.

  • Fees are established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.

  “Fees assessable by Upper Chichester Township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this article and the Code shall be established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Construction-code administration and enforcement in Upper Chichester Township.

  • The governing body determines the administrative method by resolution from time to time.

  “Administration and enforcement of the Code within Upper Chichester Township shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by the governing body of Upper Chichester Township from time to time by resolution:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Upper Chichester Township or Delaware County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Upper Chichester Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Upper Chichester Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Upper Chichester Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential zoning districts inside Upper Chichester Township.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family residential zoning districts inside Upper Chichester Township.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Upper Chichester Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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