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

Upper Pottsgrove Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.

  • The ordinance history identifies amendments as applicable.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Upper Pottsgrove 10-27-1976 by Ord. No. 93 (Ch. 27 of the 1993 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.

  • The district boundaries are shown on the Township Zoning Map on file in the Township office.
  • Former AQ Age-Qualified Overlay District was repealed April 4, 2022.

  “Township of Upper Pottsgrove is hereby divided into classes of districts”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  A dwelling, dwelling unit, or other structure designed for residential occupancy inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.

  • Up to 50 square feet of storage area in the basement or attic is counted as inhabitable floor area.

  minimum inhabitable floor area: >= 150 square feet per person (A maximum of 50 square feet of basement or attic storage area is construed as inhabitable floor area.)

  “No dwelling, dwelling unit, or other structure designed for residential occupancy shall be constructed or occupied for residential purposes unless the same shall contain an inhabitable floor area of not less than 150 square feet per person; provided, however, that a maximum of 50 square feet of storage area, contained either in a basement or attic of such structure, shall be construed as "inhabitable floor area" for the purpose of this section.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Mobile homes in a residential district inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.

  • The mobile home must meet applicable single-family detached-dwelling requirements in Articles VII, IX, X, and XI.
  • The mobile home is treated as a single-family detached dwelling requiring on-lot sewerage and water facilities.
  • It must meet residential-district requirements and § 350-31.

  “Mobile homes are a permitted use in any residential district provided that they meet the applicable requirements for single-family detached dwellings as set forth in Articles VII, IX, X and XI of this chapter. However, the proposed mobile home(s) shall be considered as single-family detached dwellings requiring on-lot sewerage and water facilities and meeting all of the requirements of the residential district, as set forth herein, and the requirements of § 350-31 of this article.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  A dwelling erected or altered inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.

  • The access open space must be on the same lot.
  • The right-of-way must extend from the dwelling to a public street or highway.

  minimum access right-of-way width: >= 50 feet (Must extend from the dwelling to a public street or highway.)

  “No dwelling shall hereafter be erected or altered unless there is direct access to it through an open space on the same lot. Such open spaces shall have a right-of-way of at least 50 feet wide, and shall extend from the dwelling to a public street or highway.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits and applications inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.

  • The retrieved official zoning chapter identifies separate sections for permit requirement, permit application, certificate of occupancy, and fees; the operative process text was not retrieved.

  “all applications for zoning permits shall be made in writing”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built homes inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Upper Pottsgrove Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Upper Pottsgrove 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 Pottsgrove 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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