Upper Uwchlan Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 200 of the township code1. Building work needs a permit under the statewide Uniform Construction Code2. Septic and well permits for township addresses come from the Chester County Health Department, not the township3.
At a glance
- Building permit
- Required under Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code2
- Zoning
- Township zoning ordinance, Chapter 200, with published districts14
- R-1 minimum lot
- 2 acres, at least 200 feet wide5
- R-1 setbacks
- Front 75 ft, each side 30 ft, rear 40 ft6
- Septic permits
- Chester County Health Department3
- Wells
- Permit required through Chester County Health Department7
- Owner-builder
- Pennsylvania has a statewide owner-builder exemption for licensing8
Who to call
Septic permits
Chester County Health Department
On-lot sewage disposal (septic) permits and well permits for addresses in Chester County, including Upper Uwchlan Township
601 Westtown Road, Suite 295
Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Upper Uwchlan Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
- Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
- Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
- Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
- Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.
These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.
Does Upper Uwchlan Township have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?
Yes. Upper Uwchlan Township enforces its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 200 of the township code, adopted in 1989 and amended since1. The ordinance sets up classes of districts and a zoning map, with R-1 and R-2 among the residential districts4.
In the R-1 Residential District, every lot needs at least 2 acres, and the access strip for an interior lot is counted in addition to that5. R-1 lots must be at least 200 feet wide5. Required yards in R-1 are 75 feet in front, 30 feet on each of two sides, and 40 feet at the rear, with a different rule for reverse frontage lots6.
Other residential districts have different minimums that we could not confirm, so check your parcel's district on the township zoning map before relying on the R-1 numbers4.
Do you need a building permit in Upper Uwchlan Township, and who issues it?
Yes. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code requires property owners to get a permit before starting construction or building work2. The code is enforced locally by municipalities that opt in, using municipal staff or certified third-party agencies9.
We could not confirm which office or agency enforces the code inside Upper Uwchlan Township. Ask the township's code enforcement office before you apply. A certificate of occupancy must be issued before a new building can be used10.
The Chester County Planning Commission supports municipal planning but does not issue building permits or administer municipal zoning11.
How do septic permits work inside Upper Uwchlan Township?
Septic permits for Chester County addresses, townships included, come from the Chester County Health Department3. A permit is required for new systems and for repairs or modifications to existing systems12. New major permits require soil testing12.
County soil data suggests site work matters here: only about 24% of the county's soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so many lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system13. Private water wells are also permitted through the Health Department7.
Whether a given address can connect to public sewer or water is a township question that we could not confirm; ask the township.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Upper Uwchlan Township?
We could not confirm the township's rules on RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny homes. Because the township zones its own land through Chapter 2001, the answer depends on your district and the township's use regulations, not on county or state rules.
Call the township zoning office with your parcel's address before parking an RV on the lot or planning a tiny home, and ask for the answer in writing.
Building a home in Upper Uwchlan Township: the steps, in order
- Find your zoning district on the township zoning map and read its lot area, width and yard rules4.
- Ask the township whether a subdivision or land development plan is needed; Chapter 162 of the township code regulates subdivision and land development14.
- Apply for septic and well permits through the Chester County Health Department, starting with soil testing12.
- Get a building permit under the Uniform Construction Code before work starts2.
- Schedule the required inspections15.
- Obtain a certificate of occupancy before anyone uses the building10.
What stays with Chester County, and what to check before you buy
Chester County keeps septic and well permitting for Upper Uwchlan addresses3. For land outside the township, see the Chester County page.
County-level figures: the effective property tax rate is 1.3%16, and the median property tax bill is $6,191 per year17. The typical home value is $587,74718. These describe Chester County as a whole, not the township alone.
Before you buy, confirm the parcel's district, any subdivision requirements, sewer or on-lot status, and flood or slope limits with the township.
Watch-outs
- Dimensional rules differ by district: the 2-acre minimum applies to R-1, and other districts have different minimums we could not confirm5.
- We could not confirm who enforces building permits, inspections or the owner-builder process inside Upper Uwchlan Township; ask the township before you apply, since the Uniform Construction Code is enforced locally9.
- Septic and well permits come from the Chester County Health Department even though zoning and building work run through the township3.
Sources
- Upper Uwchlan Code Chapter 200 Zoning (Upper Uwchlan Township), quoted and re-checked
- Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Sewage & Water, quoted and re-checked
- Upper Uwchlan Code Chapter 200 Zoning (Upper Uwchlan Township), quoted and re-checked
- Upper Uwchlan Code Article IV R-1 Residential District (Upper Uwchlan Township), quoted and re-checked
- Upper Uwchlan Code Article IV R-1 Residential District (Upper Uwchlan Township), quoted and re-checked
- Sewage & Water, quoted and re-checked
- Contractor Licensing (2026 county census)
- Uniform Construction Code (UCC) (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Planning in Pennsylvania, quoted and re-checked
- Permits for On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
- 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
- Township of Upper Uwchlan, PA code of ordinances (eCode360) table of contents (Upper Uwchlan Township), quoted and re-checked
- Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
- Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
- Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
Written October 14, 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.