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

Upper Bern Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, structural or site alteration, change of use, or addition to a building, structure or sign inside Upper Bern township

  • Permit is a zoning permit and/or building permit issued by the township zoning officer; construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
  • Unless otherwise specified by the zoning ordinance, a zoning permit and/or building permit is not required for normal maintenance and repairs.
  • Certain activities may also require approval of the board of supervisors, planning commission and/or zoning hearing board.

  “no person shall erect, alter, convert, move or add to any building, structure or sign, or alter the use of any land or structure, until the zoning officer issues a zoning permit and/or building permit to the person or applicant for said change or construction.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Occupancy permit for premises in Upper Bern township after completion of work authorized by a zoning or building permit

  • An occupancy permit is issued only where such a permit is required.
  • Zoning officer issues the occupancy permit if the action complies with the zoning permit, building permit and other required approvals.

  “upon completion of such action, the applicant may apply to the zoning officer for an occupancy permit (where such a permit is required).”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Upper Bern township limits: the township administers its own Zoning Ordinance of 2008 through its zoning officer

  • The 2008 ordinance has been amended by numbered ordinances through 165-2024 (ordinances index).
  • District-by-district standards were not opened in this research pass; see the unknown dimensional and zoning_districts claims.

  “the following specific provision shall apply to an application for a zoning permit and/or building permit within upper bern township”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Upper Bern township

  • Governed by the Upper Bern Township subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO), which has amendments 114-2012, 151-2019 and 166-2025.
  • Substantive SALDO standards were not opened in this pass.

  “upper bern subdivision and land development ordinances-amendments to the ordinance: 114-2012, 151-2019, 166-2025”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Upper Bern township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for Upper Bern township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Upper Bern township
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Upper Bern township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Upper Bern 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.