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

Highland Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Highland township limits. Highland township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Highland Township Zoning Ordinance, as amended 2022).

  • Uses and lots are regulated by district, with by-right, special exception and conditional use categories.
  • Overlay districts (scenic, flood hazard) apply in addition to base districts.

  “highland township is hereby divided into four (4) base districts and two (2) overlay districts.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Base districts (agricultural preservation (a), rural conservation (rc), rural village (rv-1, rv-2), industrial (ind)) and overlay districts inside Highland township.

  • Zoning map is kept at the township offices and incorporated by reference.
  • Overlay districts add to the base district rules.

  “the boundaries of all base districts shall be shown on the map made part of this ordinance”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Parcels for agricultural uses in the (a) agricultural preservation district inside Highland township. Single-family dwelling lot standards in Section 301.4 were not captured.

  minimum lot area for agricultural use parcels: >= 10 acres

  “minimum lot area: 10 acres minimum lot width at road line: 300 feet minimum setback from road right-of-way: 50 feet minimum side yard setback: 25 feet each minimum rear yard setback: 25 feet maximum impervious surface coverage: 2 percent total* maximum building height: 35 feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Parcels for agricultural uses in the (a) agricultural preservation district inside Highland township

  • All agricultural building setbacks are subject to Section 603.
  • Farm buildings and outbuildings must be at least 50 feet from any street right-of-way (Section 603).

  minimum setback from road right-of-way: >= 50 feet · minimum side yard setback: >= 25 feet · minimum rear yard setback: >= 25 feet

  “minimum setback from road right-of-way: 50 feet minimum side yard setback: 25 feet each minimum rear yard setback: 25 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Parcels for agricultural uses in the (a) agricultural preservation district inside Highland township; the 2% figure covers the entire parent tract

  • Coverage reflects the total for the entire parent tract, inclusive of future subdivided lots for residential purposes.

  maximum impervious surface coverage: <= 2 percent

  “maximum impervious surface coverage: 2 percent total* maximum building height: 35 feet * impervious surface coverage reflects the total coverage for the entire parent tract, inclusive of future subdivided lots for residential purposes.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Agricultural-use buildings in the (a) agricultural preservation district inside Highland township. Height for single-family dwellings in the (a) district was not captured.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “maximum impervious surface coverage: 2 percent total* maximum building height: 35 feet”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile home parks inside Highland township. The district listing this special exception was not identified in the captured text.

  • Permitted only as a special exception by the zoning hearing board under Section 1111.
  • Subject to the requirements in the township mobile home park ordinance (Highland Township ordinance #61-1, as amended by ordinance #77-2), which was not retrieved.

  “c. mobile home parks, subject to the requirements in the township mobile home park ordinance (see highland township ordinance #61-1, as amended by ordinance #77-2).”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Lots and structures inside Highland township (road access rule; driveway permit not captured)

  • Access must be direct to a public road or approved private road.
  • Frontage at the road line must be at least one-half the required lot width in the zoning district.

  “h. structures to have access. all lots shall have direct access to a public road or approved private road with frontage at the road line to be a minimum of one-half the required lot width in the zoning district.”

Still unanswered

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

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