Zoning, building permits and septic rules in London Britain Township, Pennsylvania

London Britain Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside London Britain township limits: the township administers its own zoning ordinance (London Britain Township Zoning Ordinance of 2017, as amended by Ordinance 25-1), not county zoning.

  • Ordinance 25-1 was proposed and adopted at the July 14, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting per the minutes; it amends definitions and sign regulations.
  • The township zoning officer administers the ordinance, per the minutes listing the zoning officer in attendance.
  • The 2017 ordinance text itself was not reachable in this research pass; district standards are not verified here.

  “ordinance #25-1 hearing- township attorney tom oeste discussed a proposed ordinance of london britain township amending the london britain township zoning ordinance of 2017 by adding definitions and revising regulations applicable to signs.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development of land inside London Britain township, under the township's own subdivision and land development ordinance

  • Subdivision plans are reviewed by the township under the township subdivision and land development ordinance, in addition to zoning.
  • The ordinance number and adoption date of the current subdivision ordinance were not verified on an opened official page.

  “nothing contained in this decision and order shall be construed to abrogate or limit the obligation of the applicant to comply with the applicable requirements of the zoning ordinance and township subdivision and land development ordinance.”

Rules another office applies inside London Britain Township

London Britain 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 disposal systems on land inside London Britain township: the Chester County Health Department is the permitting and approving authority. The township separately runs a pumping-receipt program.

  • Subdivision approvals require Chester County Health Department approval of primary and replacement septic absorption areas for new lots (Resolution #25-13 condition 5 in the July 14, 2025 minutes).
  • The township on-lot pumping program applies in addition to county permitting (per township notice posted July 14, 2021).

  “the chester county health department is responsible for preventing or minimizing public health hazards caused by malfunctioning on-lot sewage disposal systems.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, repair or modification of an on-lot sewage disposal system on land inside London Britain township, permitted by the Chester County Health Department.

  • The permit is a permit to proceed, not final approval; the county document states the permit is only a permit to proceed.
  • The permit fee must be paid when the record and rider forms are submitted, before the required soils testing.
  • Permit issuance depends on completing the county application process in effect when the application is filed.

  “permits are required for the installation, repair or modification of on-lot sewage disposal systems.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new construction inside London Britain township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building work inside London Britain township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside London Britain township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside London Britain township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside London Britain 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.