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

Earl Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  House additions on residential property inside Earl township limits.

  • Construction may proceed only after the building permit is issued.
  • The FAQ concerns residential and agricultural uses; generally non-residential work requires commercial building permits.

  “house addition – yes, a building permit is required.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential detached garages (one per lot) inside Earl township; not the principal single-family district setback.

  • Detached garages must be at least as far from the roadway as the principal dwelling.
  • Only one detached garage is allowed on a lot.

  detached garage maximum floor area: <= 1500 sf · detached garage side and rear property line setback: >= 10 ft

  “detached garages may be a maximum of 1500 sf in size. detached garages must be 10’ from side and rear property lines, at least as far from the roadway as the principal dwelling.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential accessory buildings other than detached garages (sheds, accessory buildings) on residential lots inside Earl township; this is not the principal single-family district setback.

    “a residential accessory building (besides a detached garage) and agricultural buildings not housing animals may be placed on a property outside of the required front yard setbacks and at least 10’ from side and rear property lines.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential accessory structures and detached garages inside Earl township; principal dwelling height limit not in the fetched text.

  • Applies to accessory structures and detached garages only, per the same FAQ.

  maximum height, accessory structures and detached garages: <= 35 ft

  “there must be a principal dwelling on the property to have a residential accessory structures. maximum height shall be 35’.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways, expansions of existing driveways and paving of existing driveways inside Earl township.

  • Driveway work within the right-of-way of a state road also requires a PennDOT permit, per the same FAQ.
  • Driveway permit carries a $500 escrow per the permits page.

  “driveways – permits are required for new driveways as well as expansions of existing driveways or paving of existing driveways.”

• Permit processPartial

  Permits issued by Earl township for residential and commercial construction.

  • Application forms are published for building, commercial building, driveway, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, accessory building, pool, deck and fence work; the step-by-step review process was not published in the fetched text.
  • Erosion & sediment control plan required for projects disturbing more than 5,000 sf, approved by the Berks County Conservation District before a permit is issued.

  “any project that disturbs more than 5,000 sf of area requires an erosion & sediment control plan to be approved by the berks county conservation district before a permit is issued.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from contractor or permit requirements inside Earl township.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Earl township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new homes inside Earl township.
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Earl township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for a principal dwelling inside Earl 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.