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

Greenwich Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Greenwich township, under the township uniform construction code ordinance

  • The 2004-1 uniform construction code ordinance is listed on the township ordinances page; its text was not opened, so the code edition and enforcing office are not confirmed.

  “2004-1 uniform construction code download 2004-2 appeals board”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Greenwich township's limits: the township administers its own zoning ordinance with zoning districts (Article II definition of district).

  • The posted document is the 1973 Greenwich Township Zoning Ordinance. The township ordinances list also shows amendments 2003-1 and 2003-2 (amended zoning ordinance) and 2012-1 (amended zoning ordinance); those amendments were not opened and may change the text.
  • The township website states that the electronic version is not the document of issue and that the printed and published code controls.

  “district or zoning district: a portion of greenwich township within which certain uniform regulations and requirements, or combinations thereof, apply under the provisions of this ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Greenwich township's limits: zoning districts are set out in the township zoning ordinance, including Section 402 (conservation district), Section 404 (LDR low density residential district) and Section 405 (higher-density residential district).

  • Only the 1973 text was opened; district boundaries (zoning map) were not located.
  • Section 405 district name not shown in the opened excerpt.

  “section 405. hdr high density residential district 405.1 the intent of this district is to provide an area where a variety of residential building types may locate at varied densities, depending upon the availability of public or community sewer and water facilities.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  New single-family detached lots in the LDR low density residential district (Section 404) inside Greenwich township

  • Figures are from Section 404.2 of the 1973 ordinance as posted; the 2003-1, 2003-2 and 2012-1 amendments were not checked.
  • The minimum depends on whether the lot uses on-lot or public water and on-lot sewage disposal, or central water and central sewage disposal.
  • Other uses in the district have separate standards that were not captured here.

  minimum net lot area (on-lot or public water and on-lot sewage): >= 1 acre (single-family detached dwelling, LDR district) · minimum net lot area (central water and central sewage): >= 0.5 acre (single-family detached dwelling, LDR district)

  “each new lot for a single family detached dwelling proposing to utilize a central water supply and central sewage disposal shall be as follows: minimum net lot area 1/2 acre”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  New single-family detached lots in the LDR low density residential district (Section 404) inside Greenwich township

  • On-lot water and sewage: front yard 50 ft, side yard 20 ft each, rear yard 50 ft.
  • Central water and sewage: front yard 40 ft, side yard 15 ft each, rear yard 40 ft.
  • Figures are from the 1973 ordinance as posted; amendments not checked.

  minimum front yard setback (on-lot): >= 50 feet (on-lot or public water and on-lot sewage) · minimum side yard each (on-lot): >= 20 feet (on-lot or public water and on-lot sewage) · minimum rear yard (on-lot): >= 50 feet (on-lot or public water and on-lot sewage) · minimum front yard setback (central): >= 40 feet (central water and central sewage) · minimum side yard each (central): >= 15 feet (central water and central sewage) · minimum rear yard (central): >= 40 feet (central water and central sewage)

  “minimum front yard setback......................................... 50 feet minimum side yard (each)............................................ 20 feet minimum rear yard......................................................... 50 feet”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  New single-family detached lots in the LDR low density residential district (Section 404) inside Greenwich township

  • On-lot water and sewage: maximum lot coverage 25%, maximum building coverage 20%.
  • Central water and sewage: maximum lot coverage 30%, maximum building coverage 25%.
  • Figures are from the 1973 ordinance as posted; amendments not checked.

  maximum lot coverage (on-lot): <= 25 percent (on-lot or public water and on-lot sewage) · maximum building coverage (on-lot): <= 20 percent (on-lot or public water and on-lot sewage) · maximum lot coverage (central): <= 30 percent (central water and central sewage) · maximum building coverage (central): <= 25 percent (central water and central sewage)

  “maximum lot coverage..................................................... 25% maximum building coverage.......................................... 20%”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  New single-family detached lots in the LDR low density residential district (Section 404) inside Greenwich township

  • Maximum building height 35 feet or 2 1/2 stories, for both on-lot and central water and sewage lots.
  • Figures are from the 1973 ordinance as posted; amendments not checked.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (single-family detached dwelling, LDR district; 2 1/2 stories alternative)

  “maximum building height............................................. 35 feet or 2 ½ stories”

• Subdividing landRegulated

  Land divisions inside Greenwich township, under the township subdivision and land development ordinance

  • The township subdivision and land development ordinance (ordinance 1996-1, SALDO) is listed on the township ordinances page; its text was not opened.
  • Density in some districts is tied to the number of permitted dwellings on the parent tract, per the zoning ordinance.

  “1996-1 subdivision and land development (saldo) ordinance download”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways onto township roads inside Greenwich township

  • Driveway ordinance 2001-2, amended by 2002-2, is listed on the township ordinances page; the access requirements were not read.

  “2001-2 driveway ordinance (also see ordinance 2002-2) download”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in mapped flood plains inside Greenwich township

  • A flood plain ordinance amendment (2012-4) is listed on the township ordinances page; its text was not opened, so the permit rules are not confirmed.

  “2012-4 flood plain ordinance amendment download”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits for the farm-related business use inside Greenwich township (only use found in the opened text)

  • Only the farm-related business standard was read; the general zoning permit procedure and fees were not located.

  “a zoning permit shall be required for a farm-related business.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New dwelling construction inside Greenwich township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes inside Greenwich township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new dwellings inside Greenwich township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new dwellings inside Greenwich township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Greenwich 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.