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

Upper Oxford Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New dwellings, additions, accessory buildings and other structures in Upper Oxford township that need a township permit

  • Permit fees are set by a 2005 township resolution that says it is provided for information and planning purposes; official copies come from the township office.
  • The fee schedule does not list every exemption; the township applies the permit requirement structure by structure.

  new dwelling fee, first 2000 sq ft: 1200 USD (additional square footage at 1.00 per sq ft)

  “appointed zoning officer shall charge for municipal permits in accordance with the following schedule of fees: building permits:”

• InspectionsRequired

  Structures in Upper Oxford township that need a township building permit

  • The zoning officer tells the permit holder how many minimum inspections are required when the permit is issued.
  • Inspections are performed under a building inspector named on the township site (Commonwealth Codes Inspection Service); whether that is a third-party agency is not further detailed.

  residential inspection fee: 50 USD (decks and similar structures also 50 USD; re-inspection of failed inspection 50 USD)

  “inspection fees as per required for any structure that needs a permit, when permit is obtained, the zoning officer will infonn resident how many minimum inspections are required.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Upper Oxford township limits; the township's zoning officer and zoning hearing board administer local zoning

  • The zoning ordinance text itself was not located on the township site or in code-library searches, so the adopted ordinance title is not quoted here.
  • District, lot, setback, height and use rules are not recorded in this claim; see the unknown district claims.

  “ted m. jasinski, zoning officer, 610-350-9036”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways onto Upper Oxford township roads

  • The schedule lists a driveway fee for driveways onto township roads; any sight-distance or access standards were not found.

  driveway permit fee, onto township roads: 50 USD

  “driveways driveways onto township roads 50.00”

• Permit feesPublished

  Township building, inspection and zoning permit fees for work inside Upper Oxford township

  • The schedule is Resolution 2005-8, enacted 9 May 2005, and states it is provided on-line for information and planning purposes; official copies must be obtained from the township office.
  • Township minutes in a search snippet mention a zoning fee schedule pending update; that document was not opened, so the 2005 schedule may be superseded.

  new dwelling fee, first 2000 sq ft: 1200 USD (additional square footage at 1.00 per sq ft) · residential inspection fee: 50 USD (per inspection)

  “upper oxford township building permit and inspection schedule of fees resolution # 2005 -8”

Rules another office applies inside Upper Oxford Township

Upper Oxford 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

  On-lot sewage systems on land inside Upper Oxford township, handled by the Chester County Health Department

  • The CCHD page opened here describes its sewage permitting resources; it does not state the Upper Oxford service area in words.
  • A draft township holding tank ordinance was discussed in August 2025 per a planning agenda snippet (not opened); its effect is unknown.

  “the chester county health department offers resources for sewage permitting, system design, and compliance with state and county regulations”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes in Upper Oxford township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts of Upper Oxford township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for the main single-family residential district in Upper Oxford township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for the main single-family residential district in Upper Oxford township
• Setbacks — Setbacks for the main single-family residential district in Upper Oxford 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.