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

Kennett Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction or alterations inside Kennett Township that affect structure, safety systems, utilities, or egress.

  • The official page describes the requirement as applying to most such construction or alterations.
  • Separate zoning compliance is required before a building permit may issue.

  “Permits are required for most construction or alterations that affect structure, safety systems, utilities, or egress. This includes adding walls, changing structural elements, moving utilities (water, gas, electrical, plumbing), and other significant work.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction and development activities inside Kennett Township.

  • The Township states that it administers the UCC as amended.
  • Permits submitted after January 1, 2026 must conform to the 2021 codes or the applicant must provide additional information.
  • Beginning July 1, 2026 all permit submittals must conform to the 2021 code standards.

  “The Township has adopted and enforces the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC), as amended, which establishes statewide standards for building design, construction, accessibility, energy conservation, and safety.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

  • Zoning permits and approvals are administered under the Township zoning ordinance.

  “The Planning and Zoning Department administers the Township Zoning Ordinance, coordinates with the Codes Department in the enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance, oversees the process for dividing and developing property”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Kennett Township.

  • The Zoning Officer maintains the current map and ordinance amendments.

  “The Zoning Ordinance divides the Township into Zoning Districts to accommodate various types of development. Each zoning district has a list of permitted uses such as single-family dwellings, apartments or offices.”

Rules another office applies inside Kennett Township

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage approval for development inside Kennett Township.

  • Kennett Township requires Chester County Health Department approval before it issues a zoning permit for new on-site sewage or waste disposal, or for changes increasing on-site sewage or waste volume.

  “No permit for any new use or construction which will involve on-site disposal of sewage or waste and no permit for a change in use or a building alteration which will result in an increased volume of sewage or waste to be disposed of on the site shall be issued until a certificate of approval has been issued by the Chester County Department of Health.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New uses or construction involving on-site sewage or waste disposal, and changes increasing the volume disposed of on site, inside Kennett Township.

  • No Township zoning permit may issue until the Chester County Department of Health has issued a certificate of approval.
  • Other required permits must be obtained before the zoning permit issues.

  “Permits are issued for the installation of individual and small community on-lot sewage disposal systems, and well construction.”

• Well permitRequired

  Well construction inside Kennett Township.

  • The County identifies private water supply, geothermal, agricultural, monitoring wells, and boreholes among permitted wells.

  “To help accomplish this, licenses and permits are issued for various facilities and activities in Chester County. Here, you’ll find information on the licenses and permits required for food establishments, institutions, sewage facilities, wells, public bathing places, and mobile home parks.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Kennett Township.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Kennett Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for structures inside Kennett Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Kennett Township.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family residential lots inside Kennett 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.