Bolthole Index

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

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

Upper Moreland Township, Pennsylvania (Montgomery County) requires a building permit for construction, and the Township's Code Enforcement Office handles it under the Uniform Construction Code12. The Township sets its own zoning under Chapter 350 of its code, not the county3. On-lot septic permits and well permits come from the Montgomery County Office of Public Health45.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the Township Code Enforcement Office12
Zoning
Township zoning chapter applies to land in the Township3
Septic
On-lot permits: Montgomery County Office of Public Health; holding tanks need Township approval46
Sewer connection
Required within 200 feet of the sewer line after notice7
Wells
County well permit required before installation5
Owner-builder
Statewide: owners may work on their own primary residence without a contractor license8
RV and tiny home living
Not confirmed; Township zoning decides, so ask Code Enforcement3
Property tax
Montgomery County effective rate 1.4%9

Who to call

Building permits

Upper Moreland Township Code Enforcement Office

Building permits, zoning applications and zoning use registration inside Upper Moreland Township

215-659-3100

Septic permits

Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH)

On-lot sewage permits and inspections and individual-water-supply well permits

610-278-5117

publichealth@montgomerycountypa.gov

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 Upper Moreland Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Upper Moreland Township have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Yes. Upper Moreland Township, Pennsylvania adopts its own zoning in Chapter 350 of the Township code, and development in the Township stays subject to it3. Montgomery County does not zone for its municipalities; each of its municipalities makes land-use and zoning decisions individually10.

The Township's published zoning forms include a change-of-zoning application, a zoning hearing application and a zoning use registration permit, all handled through the Code Enforcement Office11.

We could not confirm the Township's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, minimum lot size or setbacks. Ask Township zoning at the Code Enforcement Office before you buy, and get the answer for your specific zoning district in writing.

Do you need a building permit in Upper Moreland Township, and who issues it?

Yes. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code requires a building permit before construction starts12, and Upper Moreland Township has adopted that code in Chapter 115 of its ordinances1. Inside Upper Moreland, the Township's Code Enforcement Office handles building permit applications, not Montgomery County11.

Permit applications are online only, and the Township asks anyone who cannot use the portal to call 215-659-3100 for an in-person appointment11. A certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building can be used13.

Pennsylvania lets an owner work on their own primary residence without a contractor license, but that does not waive the building permit8. We could not confirm Township permit fees or a Township owner-builder rule.

How do septic permits work inside Upper Moreland Township?

Montgomery County, not the Township, permits on-lot septic systems: the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act requires a permit from the Montgomery County Office of Public Health before anyone builds or modifies one414. The process has two phases, soil probes and percolation tests first, then a system design and application15.

Public sewer changes the picture. Owners within 200 feet of the Township sewer line must connect at their own expense after notice from the Authority7. A holding tank needs Township approval and an installation permit before a building permit issues6, and the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer inspects holding tanks periodically at the owner's expense16.

A drilled well needs an Office of Public Health permit before installation5.

Building a home in Upper Moreland Township: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Township Code Enforcement Office at 215-659-3100 to confirm your zoning district, setbacks and permitted use11.
  2. Find out whether the lot is within 200 feet of the sewer line, which decides whether you connect to sewer or need another approved arrangement7.
  3. If the lot needs an on-lot system, apply to the Montgomery County Office of Public Health for soil testing15.
  4. If a subdivision or land development is involved, expect Township plan approval17.
  5. Submit your building permit application through the Township's online portal11.
  6. Pass the required inspections and obtain a certificate of occupancy1813.

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

Montgomery County handles on-lot septic permits and well permits for the Township45. For land outside the Township, see the Montgomery County page.

A driveway onto a state highway needs a PennDOT highway occupancy permit, and the building permit carries a notice saying so19. If construction is in a flood plain, a registered design professional must prepare the flood documentation20.

Montgomery County's effective property tax rate is 1.4%9, and the typical home value is $504,17921. This is a dense suburban area, not raw rural land.

Watch-outs

  • Code Enforcement no longer accepts walk-in or mailed permit applications; call 215-659-3100 if you cannot use the online portal11.
  • We could not confirm the Township's rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, lot size, setbacks, short-term rentals or permit fees; ask Township zoning at the Code Enforcement Office. The Township zoning chapter governs3.
  • Township holding tanks need Township approval before a building permit issues22.

Sources

  1. Chapter 115: Construction Standards - Township of Upper Moreland, PA (Upper Moreland Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. PA Department of Labor & Industry - UCC Regulations & Statutes (2026 county census)
  3. Township of Upper Moreland, PA Code of Ordinances (Upper Moreland Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. On-Lot Sewage Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  5. Individual Water Supply Well Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 256: Sewers and Sewerage - Township of Upper Moreland, PA (Upper Moreland Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 256: Sewers and Sewerage - Township of Upper Moreland, PA (Upper Moreland Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Contractor Licensing (2026 county census)
  9. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  10. Homes For All, quoted and re-checked
  11. Upper Moreland Township Code Enforcement Office (uppermoreland.org)
  12. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  13. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  14. Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) (montgomerycountypa.gov)
  15. On-Lot Sewage Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 256: Sewers and Sewerage - Township of Upper Moreland, PA (Upper Moreland Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 300: Subdivision and Land Development - Township of Upper Moreland, PA (Upper Moreland Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  19. pa.gov, quoted and re-checked
  20. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  21. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  22. Chapter 256: Sewers and Sewerage - Township of Upper Moreland, PA (Upper Moreland Township), 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 Upper Moreland Township

Upper Moreland Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Newly constructed buildings inside Upper Moreland Township that use a holding tank.

    • The Township must approve the holding-tank application and grant an installation permit before a building permit issues.
    “No building permit shall be issued until the Township approves the holding tank application in each instance and grants a permit for its installation”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction governed inside Upper Moreland Township.

    • The code chapter identifies Uniform Construction Code adoption and Township administration and enforcement.
    “§ 115-1 Adoption of Uniform Construction Code.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Holding-tank facilities inside Upper Moreland Township.

    • Periodic inspection is at the owner's expense.
    “Permit the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer or Health Officer or his designated representative to make periodic inspection of holding tank facilities. Said inspection shall be made periodically at the expense of the owner.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Existing buildings inside Upper Moreland Township that use a holding tank.

    • The holding-tank installation must be approved by the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer before an occupancy permit is granted.
    “no occupancy permit shall be granted until the holding tank installation is approved by the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Upper Moreland Township.

    • Development remains subject to the Township zoning chapter.
    “Chapter 350 Zoning (§ 350-1 – § 350-227)”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Holding-tank sewage disposal inside Upper Moreland Township.

    • The Township Sewage Enforcement Officer approves the installation before occupancy approval.
    “The property owner shall submit to the Sewage Enforcement Officer of the Township, for approval of the Township, plans showing the size, shape, location, type of material used in the fabrication of the holding tank and details of its construction”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of holding tanks inside Upper Moreland Township.

    • Township approval and an installation permit are required before issuance of the related building permit.
    “No building permit shall be issued until the Township approves the holding tank application in each instance and grants a permit for its installation”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Holding-tank facilities inside Upper Moreland Township.

    • Periodic inspection is at the owner's expense.
    “Permit the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer or Health Officer or his designated representative to make periodic inspection of holding tank facilities. Said inspection shall be made periodically at the expense of the owner.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    On-site sewage disposal and holding tanks inside Upper Moreland Township.

    • A holding tank requires Township approval and a permit; on premises abutting the sewer system, on-site sewage receptacles are unlawful.
    “No building permit shall be issued until the Township approves the holding tank application in each instance and grants a permit for its installation [...] It shall be unlawful for any person owning any occupied building on premises abutting on the sewer system to erect, construct or use or maintain or cause to be erected, constructed, used or maintained, any privy, cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank or other receptacle on such premises for receiving sewage.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Premises inside Upper Moreland Township situated within 200 feet of the sewer line or sewer system.

    • Connection is at the owner's expense and must be made within two months after notice from the Authority.

    distance from sewer line or sewer system: <= 200 feet (connection follows notice from the Authority)

    “All persons owning premises situated within 200 feet of the sewer line or sewer system shall, at the expense of owner, make a connection with the sewer system within two months after notice to do so from the Authority.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Upper Moreland Township.

    • The code identifies plan approval as required.
    “Article III Subdivision and Land Development Control § 300-5 Subdivision of a lot or construction, opening or dedication of a street. § 300-6 Plan approval required.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Sewer-service-line connections inside Upper Moreland Township.

    • The owner must make a written application on Authority forms; before connection, a permit and payment of the connection charge are required.
    “Any person owning an occupied building upon premises abutting on the sewer system desiring the introduction of a service line from the sewer system to his premises must first make written application on the forms furnished by the Authority. [...] Before making any connection to the sewer system, a permit must be obtained from the Authority. A permit authorizing such connection may be granted after proper application therefor has been made to the Authority and upon payment of the connection charge.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Upper Moreland Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Upper Moreland Township.
  • Minimum lot size — Single-family residential districts inside Upper Moreland Township.
  • Setbacks — Single-family residential districts inside Upper Moreland Township.
  • Lot coverage — Single-family residential districts inside Upper Moreland Township.
12 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Upper Moreland Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Montgomery County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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