Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Mount Penn, Pennsylvania

Borough of Mount Penn’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, demolition or change of occupancy inside Mount Penn borough

  • Exempt: fences no more than 6 feet high (shorter fences still need a zoning permit)
  • Exempt: retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting a surcharge
  • Exempt: water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons
  • Exempt: sidewalks and driveways 30 inches or less above grade
  • Exempt: prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep, playground equipment, awnings projecting no more than 54 inches, uncovered decks no more than 30 inches above grade
  • Residential permit review up to three weeks; commercial up to a month

  “the uniform construction code requires that permits be acquired by an owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential or commercial building”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Mount Penn borough

  • Uniform Construction Code with IRC 2018, IBC 2018, National Electric Code, IMC 2018, IPC 2018 for inspections

  “the borough of mount penn has adopted the uniform construction code and underneath that law uses the international residential code 2018, international building code 2018, national electric code, international mechanical code 2018, and international plumbing code 2018 for inspections.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Mount Penn borough, Berks County, PA

  • Zoning is a joint zoning ordinance shared with Lower Alsace Township
  • Borough also issues zoning permits

  “the 2011 joint zoning ordinance was adopted on november 22, 2011.”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit applications inside Mount Penn borough

  • Permit forms and checklists are posted on the borough site
  • Residential review up to three weeks; commercial up to a month

  “for residential permits it is up to three weeks, and for commercial permits it is up to a month for review.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Mount Penn or Berks County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Mount Penn borough
• Inspections — Inspections inside Mount Penn borough
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Mount Penn borough
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Mount Penn borough
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in Mount Penn borough districts

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.