Bolthole Index

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic in the Borough of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

The Borough of Jenkintown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 181 of the borough code1. Building work falls under the Uniform Construction Code, which the borough has adopted as its Borough Construction Code2. Permit applications go to Jenkintown Borough Hall3. We could not confirm who handles septic permits inside the borough; ask the Montgomery County Office of Public Health4.

At a glance

Zoning
Set by the borough (Chapter 181), with a published zoning map and district use chart15
Building permit
Required statewide under the Uniform Construction Code; the borough adopted it as its Borough Construction Code26
Who issues building permits
Jenkintown Borough Hall3
Permit fees
Set by Borough Council resolution7
Septic
Not confirmed inside the borough; ask Montgomery County Office of Public Health4
Owner doing own plumbing
Allowed in an owner's own dwelling with a filed plan and permit8
RV living, tiny homes
Not confirmed; ask Borough Hall3

Who to call

Building permits

Jenkintown Borough Hall

Building permit applications, code enforcement and zoning questions inside the borough

215-885-0700

700 Summit Avenue Jenkintown, PA 19046

Codes & inspections

Jenkintown permit applications page

How to submit permit applications

Septic permits

Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH)

On-lot sewage permits and inspections and individual water-supply well permits for Montgomery County

610-278-5117

publichealth@montgomerycountypa.gov

1430 DeKalb Street, PO Box 311, Norristown, PA, 19404-0311

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Jenkintown means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Jenkintown, PA have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Borough of Jenkintown adopted its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 181 of the borough code, and rewrote it in full in 20101. The code publishes a District Use Chart and a Zoning Map, so check which district a lot sits in before you plan anything5. Montgomery County does not zone for its municipalities; each of them makes land-use and zoning decisions individually9.

Dimensional rules differ by district. In the A Residence District, a lot needs at least 25,000 square feet per dwelling and a width of at least 150 feet at the build-to line10. Buildings and paved surfaces may cover no more than 40% of the lot11. Buildings must be at least two stories and no taller than 50 feet, and the side-yard setback grows by one foot for every foot of height above 40 feet12.

We could not confirm the borough's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, accessory dwelling units or minimum dwelling size. Ask Borough Hall3.

Do you need a building permit in Jenkintown, and who issues it?

Yes, building work in Jenkintown goes through the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, which the borough adopted as its Borough Construction Code2. The state requires a permit before starting construction or building work6, and a certificate of occupancy before a finished building is used13.

Borough Council chooses by resolution how the code is administered: borough staff, a third-party agency, another municipality, or the state Department of Labor and Industry for specified structures14. Jenkintown Borough Hall takes applications in person or by mail, and the borough will not accept one without proof of insurance, the permit fee and any necessary plans15. Fees are set by Borough Council resolution, so ask Borough Hall for the current schedule7.

We could not locate the borough's own text on inspections or certificates of occupancy, so the state rules above are the ones to plan around.

Who handles building permits and zoning questions in Jenkintown?

Jenkintown Borough Hall handles them3. Do not send questions about land inside the borough to Montgomery County: the county planning commission only gives advisory review of subdivisions, and the borough makes the final decision16.

A lot cannot be sold, and a building permit cannot issue, until a required subdivision or land-development plan is approved under the borough's Chapter 16017.

How do septic permits work in Jenkintown?

We could not confirm who issues septic permits for addresses inside the borough, or whether the borough requires properties to connect to public sewer. Pennsylvania requires a permit from the local agency before an on-lot sewage system is installed or used18. In Montgomery County, on-lot sewage permits come from the Office of Public Health, and its Sewage Enforcement Officers inspect the installed system19.

Before you plan any well or septic system, call the Office of Public Health at 610-278-51174. Drinking-water, irrigation and geothermal wells in the county need an Office of Public Health permit before installation20.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Jenkintown?

We could not confirm it. The borough's zoning chapter mentions recreational-vehicle storage, but we found no rule on living in an RV or tiny home, so do not assume either is allowed. Ask Borough Hall before buying3. Pennsylvania's statewide RV rule covers state park campgrounds only and does not answer the question for private land in a borough21.

Building a home in Jenkintown: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and dimensional limits in Chapter 1815.
  2. If the project divides a lot or is a land development, get plan approval under Chapter 160 first17.
  3. Apply for a building permit at Borough Hall with proof of insurance, the fee and plans15.
  4. Ask the Office of Public Health about septic or well permits if the property is not on public sewer and water4.
  5. If the driveway meets a state highway, a PennDOT highway occupancy permit is required22.
  6. Pass inspections and get the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in13.

What stays with Montgomery County, and what to check before you buy in Jenkintown?

Montgomery County handles on-lot septic and well permits through the Office of Public Health19. For land outside the borough, see the Montgomery County page. The county's figures, not the borough's, are the ones available here: a median property tax bill of $5,776 a year, with an effective rate of 1.4%2324.

If the lot is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the municipality must issue a floodplain development permit before work begins25. We could not locate the borough's own floodplain rule, so ask Borough Hall.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm the borough's own residential building-permit text, inspection rules or certificate-of-occupancy rules; the state rules apply and Borough Hall can tell you how it administers them14.
  • Fees are set by Borough Council resolution and can change, so get the current schedule from Borough Hall before budgeting7.
  • An owner may do plumbing in their own dwelling only with a filed plan and permit, and not in apartments or buildings built for speculation8.
  • Septic authority inside the borough, accessory dwelling units, short-term rentals and agricultural buildings were not confirmed; ask Borough Hall or the Office of Public Health3.

Sources

  1. Chapter 181: Zoning - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  2. Part 2: Uniform Construction Code - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  3. Jenkintown Borough Hall (jenkintownboro.com)
  4. Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) (montgomerycountypa.gov)
  5. Chapter 181: Zoning - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  6. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  7. Part 2: Uniform Construction Code - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  8. Part 2: Uniform Construction Code - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  9. Homes For All, quoted and re-checked
  10. Article V: A Residence District - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article V: A Residence District - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article V: A Residence District - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  13. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  14. Part 2: Uniform Construction Code - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  15. Jenkintown permit applications page (jenkintownboro.com)
  16. Subdivision & Land Development Reviews, quoted and re-checked
  17. Article I: General Provisions, Chapter 160 Subdivision of Land - Borough of Jenkintown, PA (Borough of Jenkintown), quoted and re-checked
  18. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. On-Lot Sewage Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  20. Individual Water Supply Well Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  21. RV and Tent Campsites (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. PennsylvaniA Floodplain Development Guide (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Borough of Jenkintown

Borough of Jenkintown’s own rules

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    An owner doing plumbing work in the owner's own dwelling inside Jenkintown borough.

    • The owner must file a plan, secure a permit, and comply with the Borough Construction Code.
    • The exception does not apply to the owner's business establishment, apartments, or places built for speculation.
    • The owner may not connect to public or private water and sewer mains.
    • The provision applies to existing and new work.
    “The owner of a dwelling or building within the Borough shall be allowed to do his own plumbing work in his own dwelling, provided that he files a plan, secures a permit and complies with the Borough Construction Code, but not in his business establishment, apartments or other places built by him and owned by him for speculation. The dwelling owner may not make connections into public or private water and sewer mains. This applies to existing and new work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction governed by the Borough Construction Code inside Jenkintown borough.

    • The code is adopted as amended from time to time.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the "Borough Construction Code."”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Jenkintown borough limits.

    • Chapter 181 was amended in its entirety September 13, 2010, with subsequent amendments noted where applicable.
    “[Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Jenkintown 8-25-1941; readopted as amended 11-30-1953 and 6-5-1961; amended in its entirety 9-13-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-06. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Jenkintown borough.

    • The code publishes both a District Use Chart and a Zoning Map as Chapter 181 attachments.
    “ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 - Table 12 - District Use Chart Attachment 2 - Zoning Map”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land-development plans located entirely or partially inside Jenkintown borough.

    • No subdivision or land development may be made except in strict accordance with Chapter 160.
    • A lot may not be sold and a building permit may not issue until the required plan is approved, recorded where required, and improvements are constructed or guaranteed; Borough Council may grant a reasonable exception under the stated hardship/public-interest standard.
    “Borough Council shall review and act upon, as appropriate, all subdivision and land development plans, as defined below and in § 160-5 of this chapter, which are located entirely or partially in the Borough of Jenkintown.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Fees for Borough UCC administration and enforcement inside Jenkintown borough.

    • Fees are established by Borough Council resolution from time to time.
    “Fees assessable by the Borough for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this part and the Code Act shall be established by Borough Council by resolution from time to time.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Borough Construction Code administration and enforcement inside Jenkintown borough.

    • Borough Council determines the chosen administration/enforcement method by resolution.
    • The listed methods include Borough staff, third-party agencies, intermunicipal administration, contracts with another municipality, or an agreement with Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for specified structures.
    “Administration and enforcement of the Borough Construction Code shall be undertaken in any of the following ways, as determined by Borough Council from time to time by resolution:”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Jenkintown

Borough of Jenkintown does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    A Residence District inside Jenkintown borough.

    • Each lot must also have a build-to-line width of at least 150 feet.

    minimum lot area per dwelling: >= 25000 square feet · minimum lot width at build-to line: >= 150 feet

    “Lot area and width. A lot area of not less than 25,000 square feet per dwelling shall be provided. Each lot shall have a width at the build-to line of not less than 150 feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    A Residence District inside Jenkintown borough.

    • This limit covers buildings and paved surfaces.

    maximum impervious coverage: <= 40 percent of lot area

    “Not more than 40% of the lot area shall be covered by buildings and paved surfaces.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    A Residence District inside Jenkintown borough.

    • For every additional foot of height over 40 feet, the minimum required side-yard setback increases by one foot.
    • Buildings must be at least two stories.

    maximum height: <= 50 feet (Side-yard increase applies above 40 feet.)

    “No building shall be less than two stories in height nor shall a building or structure exceed a maximum height of 50 feet, provided that, for every additional foot in height over 40 feet, the minimum required side yard setback is increased by one foot.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Jenkintown or Montgomery County directly.

  • Building permit — Building work inside Jenkintown borough.
  • Inspections — Building work inside Jenkintown borough.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Jenkintown borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — A Residence District inside Jenkintown borough.
  • Living in an RV — Residential RV occupancy on private land inside Jenkintown borough.
14 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Borough of Jenkintown publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Montgomery County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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