Bolthole Index

Chester County, Pennsylvania

Borough of Kennett Square, PA: building permits, zoning and septic rules

Borough of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania requires building permits for residential work covered by the Uniform Construction Code and administers its own zoning.123 The borough’s Codes, Planning & Zoning Department issues building and zoning permits; Chester County Health Department handles on-lot sewage and well permits.45 RV living and tiny-home occupancy remain unconfirmed: ask borough zoning before buying for either use.

At a glance

Building permits
Required before UCC-covered residential construction; apply through borough codes14
Zoning
Borough zoning applies; confirm the parcel’s district and proposed use3
Septic permits
Chester County Health Department; new systems, repairs and modifications generally need approval67
Private wells
County permits required, with applications by an appropriately licensed contractor8
RV and tiny-home living
We could not confirm occupancy rules; ask borough Codes, Planning & Zoning34
Owner-builder
No general statewide contractor license for most work; no confirmed borough exemption from building-code requirements92
Water and sewer
Dwelling fixtures must connect to a system approved by the housing officer10

Who to call

Building permits

Borough of Kennett Square Codes, Planning & Zoning Department

Borough building and zoning applications, related trade permits, code enforcement and inspection coordination

610-444-6020

[email protected]

600 S Broad Street Suite 110 Kennett Square, PA 19348

Online permits →

Zoning

Borough of Kennett Square Codes Department — Forms & Permits

Zoning application instructions, construction application forms, contractor registration and resale use-and-occupancy applications

Online permits →

Septic permits

Chester County Health Department — Sewage & Water

On-lot sewage disposal and well construction permits, including properties within the borough

610-344-6225

601 Westtown Road, Suite 295 West Chester, PA, 19380-0990

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Kennett Square means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Borough of Kennett Square, PA?

Borough of Kennett Square has adopted Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code, and covered residential construction requires a building permit before work begins.21 Building permits and zoning approval are separate checks: the borough lists a zoning application for construction, installation or changes in use governed by borough ordinances.11

Pennsylvania exempts certain limited residential work, including ordinary repairs, from a UCC building permit, but the exemptions apply only when the work does not violate another law or ordinance.1 Ask borough codes to classify your project before treating a repair, deck or accessory structure as exempt. Borough building-code fees are set by council resolution; request the current charge for the actual work proposed.12

Who issues building permits in Borough of Kennett Square?

The Borough of Kennett Square Codes, Planning & Zoning Department reviews and issues building, zoning, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, dumpster and sign permits.4 Contact the department at [email protected] or 610-444-6020.4 The borough’s TRAISR portal accepts applications and supporting documents electronically, and payment requests arrive by email after staff review.4

Building inspections are scheduled with Building Inspection Underwriters at 302-266-9057 or 302-266-9053.4 Keep that inspection contact separate from Chester County Health Department, which issues on-lot sewage and well permits.45 Before hiring a builder, account for borough contractor registration: contractors must register before building permits are issued and provide the insurance documentation or exemption affidavit described on the borough forms page.11

Does Borough of Kennett Square have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

Borough of Kennett Square adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance; the R-1 residential district is intended for low-density, single-family detached homes.3 Use borough Codes, Planning & Zoning to identify the parcel’s district and confirm the proposed dwelling, accessory buildings and site plan.4 We could not confirm a complete district-by-district schedule of minimum lot sizes and setbacks here; ask borough zoning for the dimensions that apply to the parcel.

Do not substitute a general Chester County zoning answer for borough approval: municipal ordinances govern local land use across the county.13 For an address outside borough limits, consult the Chester County guide and identify the applicable municipality.13

How do septic and well permits work inside Borough of Kennett Square?

Chester County Health Department handles on-lot sewage and well construction permits inside Borough of Kennett Square.6 New septic systems, repairs and modifications require a permit, except repairs completed without digging equipment, such as exposed tank lids or exposed lateral end extensions; new major permits require soil testing.7 Completed on-lot sewage systems must receive final inspection and written approval before any portion is covered.14

Private water-supply wells require county approval, and an appropriately licensed contractor must apply; for new construction, the property must have public sewerage or a valid sewage permit.8 Borough dwelling fixtures must also connect to water and sewer systems approved by the housing officer.10 That wording does not establish a public-service availability threshold, so ask borough codes and county Sewage & Water how the proposed supply and disposal arrangement would be approved.105

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Borough of Kennett Square?

We could not confirm permission for RV living, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy inside Borough of Kennett Square. Ask borough Codes, Planning & Zoning about the specific unit, parcel and intended duration before buying or moving onto the site. Manufactured housing has a separate zoning pathway: the borough lists mobile homes, mobile-home parks and manufactured homes as special-exception uses, but the available rule does not identify the qualifying district here.15

For a new residence using a composting or incinerating toilet, Pennsylvania still requires an on-lot system or another approved disposal method for washwater or excess liquid, subject to the retaining-tank exception.16 Borough housing rules also require approved water and sewer connections for dwelling fixtures.10 A toilet choice therefore does not settle zoning or the rest of the sanitation plan.316

What are the steps to build a home in Borough of Kennett Square?

  1. Ask borough Codes, Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel’s district, dwelling use and zoning application before committing to a design.311
  2. Resolve water and sewage service with borough codes; if the design uses septic or a well, obtain the applicable Chester County Health Department approval.1078
  3. Submit building and related trade applications and documents through the borough portal, and arrange required contractor registration.411
  4. Obtain the building permit before covered work starts and schedule building inspections through Building Inspection Underwriters.14
  5. Obtain the required UCC certificate of occupancy before using the completed home.17

Owner-performed work does not establish an exemption from those building-code requirements: Pennsylvania has no statewide license for most construction contractors, but covered residential work still requires building approval.91

What should you check before buying in Borough of Kennett Square?

Ask borough codes about resale approval before setting a closing timetable: Kennett Square requires a use-and-occupancy certificate for changes of use, occupancy or ownership.11 For a vacant lot, confirm zoning and the approved water-and-sewage arrangement before assuming the desired home will fit.310 Kennett Square requires paved concrete or bituminous driveways, permits qualifying open-grid blocks only with borough council approval, and prohibits gravel driveways.18

Chester County’s soil rating is regional context rather than a lot-level septic approval: 24% of county soils are rated not limited for conventional drain fields, so an individual site evaluation still matters.19 County Health Department subdivision and land-development review can also apply to projects with on-lot or public sewage facilities; those county requirements do not replace municipal approvals.20

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm a borough minimum dwelling floor area or an RV and tiny-home occupancy pathway; ask borough Codes, Planning & Zoning before choosing a unit or lot.4
  • Borough of Kennett Square prohibits gravel driveways.18
  • Chester County requires final inspection and written approval before a completed septic system is covered.14
  • Kennett Square’s resale use-and-occupancy certificate requirement applies to changes of ownership as well as changes of use or occupancy.11

Sources

  1. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 4 - Buildings and Plumbing (Borough of Kennett Square), quoted and re-checked
  3. 23-12 - R-1 Residential district (Borough of Kennett Square), quoted and re-checked
  4. Borough of Kennett Square Codes, Planning & Zoning Department (kennettsq.org)
  5. Chester County Health Department — Sewage & Water (chesco.org)
  6. Sewage & Water, quoted and re-checked
  7. Permits for On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems (Borough of Kennett Square), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chester County Health Department Rules and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  9. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. library.municode.com (Borough of Kennett Square), quoted and re-checked
  11. Borough of Kennett Square Codes Department — Forms & Permits (kennettsq.org)
  12. Chapter 4 - Buildings and Plumbing (Borough of Kennett Square), quoted and re-checked
  13. chescoplanning.org, quoted and re-checked
  14. Application and Permit Procedure for On Lot Sewage Systems, quoted and re-checked
  15. 23-27 - Uses allowable as special exception, conditional use, or expressly prohibited (Borough of Kennett Square), quoted and re-checked
  16. 25 Pa. Code § 73.65. Recycling toilet, incinerating toilet or composting toilet (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Borough of Kennett Square), quoted and re-checked
  18. library.municode.com (Borough of Kennett Square), quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Subdivision Planning, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Borough of Kennett Square

Borough of Kennett Square’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building, mechanical, and electrical work inside Kennett Square borough.

    • Administration may be by borough employee, third-party agency, intermunicipal agreement, contract with another municipality, or agreement with Pennsylvania Labor and Industry for specified structures.
    • Fees are established by borough council resolution.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 501-405, as amended from time to time, is adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of this borough.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Applicable construction, residential and commercial building changes, building systems, and manufactured or industrialized housing inside the borough.

    • Inspections are required in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, swimming pools or hot tubs, and manufactured or industrialized housing work.
    “Inspections are also necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and the installation of swimming pools or hot tubs.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings and facilities inside Kennett Square borough before use.

    “A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Kennett Square borough; the borough adopts and administers Chapter 23 Zoning.

    “The purpose of the R-1 District is to encourage single-family detached homes at low density, and that fit with the purpose as set forth in section 23-3 of this chapter and maintain land use compatibility within existing areas.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes and manufactured-home parks inside Kennett Square borough.

    • The zoning table lists Mobile Home, Mobile Home Park, Manufactured Home as a special-exception use; floodplain regulations separately prohibit new manufactured-home parks or subdivisions in identified floodplain areas.
    “Mobile Home, Mobile Home Park, Manufactured Home SE”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Every dwelling unit inside Kennett Square borough.

    • The code requires connection to a water and sewer system approved by the housing officer; the cited passage does not state a distance or availability threshold for public service.
    “Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the housing officer.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways serving lots inside Kennett Square borough.

    • Driveways must be paved with concrete or bituminous materials; borough council may allow qualifying open-grid blocks; gravel driveways are prohibited.
    “All driveways shall be constructed and maintained with a paved surface of concrete or bituminous materials. As an alternative, borough council may allow driveways to be constructed with open grid blocks ("geo pavers") that provide the required strength and stabilization and allow grass to be established. Such open grid blocks ("geo pavers") are to be considered "impervious coverage" under the Municipal Code of the Borough of Kennett Square. Gravel driveways are prohibited.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Borough-administered building-code permits and enforcement.

    • Fees are established by borough council by resolution from time to time; no amount was located in the reviewed code passage.
    “Fees assessable by the borough for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this article and the Code shall be established by the borough council by resolution from time to time.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building-code permit administration inside Kennett Square borough.

    • The borough may administer through its employee, a third-party agency, an intermunicipal agreement, another municipality, or a Pennsylvania Labor and Industry agreement for specified structures.
    “Administration and enforcement of the Code within this borough shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by the borough council from time to time by resolution: By the designation of an employee of the borough to serve as the municipal code official to act on behalf of the borough; By the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the borough; By agreement with one or more other municipalities for the joint administration and enforcement of this Act through an intermunicipal agreement; By entering into a contract with another municipality for the administration and enforcement of this Act on behalf of this borough; or”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Kennett Square

Borough of Kennett Square does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Septic permitRequired

    New on-lot sewage systems, repairs, and modifications inside Kennett Square borough.

    • A permit is not required if the repair can be done without digging equipment, including exposed lateral end extensions and exposed tank lids.
    • Major new permits require soil testing.
    “A permit is required for new systems, repairs or modifications to existing systems.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Kennett Square or Chester County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from UCC requirements inside Kennett Square borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Kennett Square borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Kennett Square borough.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Kennett Square borough.
  • Septic inspection — On-lot sewage inspection requirements inside Kennett Square borough.
3 more unanswered
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Borough of Kennett Square publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Chester County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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