Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bethel Township, Pennsylvania

Bethel Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Bethel township's limits: development, new construction, structural alteration and changes in use are governed by the township's own zoning ordinance (Ordinance 2021-01).

  • A zoning permit must be obtained before erection, construction, addition or alteration of a building, before a use or change in use, before signs, and before razing structures, per the township zoning page.
  • The ordinance text was opened from the township PDF; it is titled as amended and readopted January 18, 2021.

  “all persons desiring to undertake any development, new construction, structural alteration, or change in use of a building, structure, or land shall apply for a zoning permit.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of Bethel township

  • Districts named: V (village), AP (agricultural preservation), IC (industrial-commercial), EP (environmental protection), R (residential), C (commercial), and an airport district overlay.
  • Official zoning map is referenced in the ordinance and was not opened.

  “for the purposes of this ordinance, the township is hereby divided into the following zoning districts”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings and other uses in the R-Residential district of Bethel township (ordinance section 640a); other districts not verified.

  • Applies unless other use-specific restrictions are specified.
  • Section 640a table: minimum lot width at street line 120 ft and at setback line 120 ft (column mapping read from flattened table text; verify against printed table).
  • Agricultural preservation (AP) and village (V) district lot sizes were not opened.

  minimum lot area: >= 1.5 acres (unless other use-specific restrictions are specified) · minimum lot width at street line: >= 120 ft · minimum lot width at setback line: >= 120 ft

  “640a area, yard, coverage and height restrictions the following are applicable unless other use-specific restrictions are specified: maximum permitted building height lot coverage minimum requirements lot area setback line lot width at street line at setback line rear yard side yard total one side 650a 35 ft (except agricultural structures) 40 percent 1½ acres 50 ft 120 ft 120 ft 50 ft 40 ft 20 ft”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings in the R-Residential district of Bethel township (ordinance section 640a); other districts not verified.

  • Column mapping for side yards (total 40 ft; one side 20 ft) is read from flattened table text; verify against printed table.
  • Setback line is a required distance from the lot line; the front setback is taken from the setback-line column.

  front setback line: >= 50 ft · rear yard: >= 50 ft · side yard, total: >= 40 ft · side yard, one side: >= 20 ft

  “640a area, yard, coverage and height restrictions the following are applicable unless other use-specific restrictions are specified: maximum permitted building height lot coverage minimum requirements lot area setback line lot width at street line at setback line rear yard side yard total one side 650a 35 ft (except agricultural structures) 40 percent 1½ acres 50 ft 120 ft 120 ft 50 ft 40 ft 20 ft”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Residential accessory structures in the AP agricultural preservation district of Bethel township only

    “1020.08 within the ap agricultural preservation zoning district, the side yard setback for residential accessory structures only shall be ten (10) feet.”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Residential accessory structures in the V village district of Bethel township only

    “1020.07 within the v zoning district, the side yard setback for residential accessory structures shall be five (5) feet.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lot coverage in the R-Residential district of Bethel township (ordinance section 640a); other districts not verified.

  • Section 1022.011 separately limits chimney-type structures to 10 percent coverage at base; that rule is not applied here.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 40 percent

  “640a area, yard, coverage and height restrictions the following are applicable unless other use-specific restrictions are specified: maximum permitted building height lot coverage minimum requirements lot area setback line lot width at street line at setback line rear yard side yard total one side 650a 35 ft (except agricultural structures) 40 percent 1½ acres 50 ft 120 ft 120 ft 50 ft 40 ft 20 ft”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings in the R-Residential district of Bethel township (ordinance section 640a); other districts not verified.

  • Exception: agricultural structures are not limited to this height.
  • Section 1022 height rules for church spires, towers and similar structures are separate and not applied here.

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft (except agricultural structures)

  “640a area, yard, coverage and height restrictions the following are applicable unless other use-specific restrictions are specified: maximum permitted building height lot coverage minimum requirements lot area setback line lot width at street line at setback line rear yard side yard total one side 650a 35 ft (except agricultural structures) 40 percent 1½ acres 50 ft 120 ft 120 ft 50 ft 40 ft 20 ft”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Bethel township under the township's own subdivision and land development ordinance

  • The subdivision ordinance itself (2006, amended) was not opened; the zoning ordinance cross-references it for open space and landscaping.
  • Township zoning page lists a subdivision, stormwater, land development application.

  “open space requirements shall follow the requirements set forth in the bethel township subdivision and land development ordinance, as amended.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Access from a lot to a public road inside Bethel township, under the township driveway ordinance

  • The driveway ordinance and the separate driveway permit application were not opened; the requirement is cross-referenced in the zoning ordinance.
  • Access must be shown for lots relying on an access easement.

  “access to the lot shall comply with all requirements of the bethel township driveway ordinance.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permit application process for land inside Bethel township

  • Applications must be signed and may be returned in person, by mail or by fax to the township office.
  • Review timing: the ordinance requires review within 90 days of a completed application, though the page says permits are usually reviewed and issued promptly.

  zoning permit review period: <= 90 days (from receipt of a completed application)

  “the zoning ordinance requires that this be done within 90 days of receipt of a completed application, although permits are usually reviewed and issued promptly.”

Rules another office applies inside Bethel Township

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Sewage (septic) permit for lots inside Bethel township where a sewage permit is required

  • Applies only when a sewage permit is required under Pennsylvania law; the township says the sewage permit must be obtained before a zoning permit issues.
  • The rule for when a sewage permit is required was not opened.

  “pennsylvania law requires that when a sewage permit is required, it must be obtained prior to the issuance of a zoning permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction exemption inside Bethel township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Bethel township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new buildings inside Bethel township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Bethel township
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Bethel 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.