Zoning, building permits and septic rules in West Marlborough Township, Pennsylvania

West Marlborough Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside West Marlborough township limits: the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Official Zoning Ordinance, with zone regulations in Article 2).

  • Homepage lists the zoning ordinance as last updated 9/5/2017; the PDF cover describes amendments codified through Sept. 5, 2017.
  • Zoning applies by district; see the district claims for limits.

  “village residential zone (r-1) purpose - this zone is meant to accommodate suburban residential growth within the township’s villages.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zone districts inside West Marlborough township: A-C agricultural-conservation (sec. 200), R-1 village residential (sec. 201), R-2 medium to high density residential (sec. 202), B-1 local business (sec. 203), FP floodplain (sec. 204), airport safety overlay (sec. 205), A-R agricultural-rural development (sec. 206), historic village residential (sec. 207).

  • Table of contents of the township zoning ordinance lists the zones; the district text was only partly read.

  “section 202 medium to high density residential zone (r-2)”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings in the R-2 medium to high density residential zone (section 202), by utility availability

  • Table in section 202.5 gives lot area by utility status: no public utilities 43,560 sq ft; public sewer 20,000 sq ft; public water 35,000 sq ft; both public sewer and public water 12,500 sq ft.
  • Column alignment of the remaining table fields (width, coverage, yards, height) was not confirmed; only the lot-area column is recorded here.
  • Section 202.2 says the increased density is permitted only when public sewer and/or public water are assured.

  minimum lot area, both public sewer and public water: >= 12500 sq ft (other utility combinations listed in table) · minimum lot area, public sewer only: >= 20000 sq ft (public water not available) · minimum lot area, public water only: >= 35000 sq ft (public sewer not available) · minimum lot area, no public utilities: >= 43560 sq ft (none)

  “both public sewer and public water 12,500 sq. ft. 100 ft. 30%”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 village residential zone (section 201), all uses in the zone

    “lot area requirements - unless otherwise specified, all uses within this zone shall contain a minimum of one acre (43,560 square feet).”

  • Specified — Single-family detached dwellings in the A-C agricultural-conservation zone (section 200) inside West Marlborough township

    “the lot area shall be a minimum of one (1) acre per dwelling”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the R-1 village residential zone (section 201)

  • Front setback is measured from the street right-of-way line; where an adjacent building within 100 feet is set back less, the average of those distances applies, but never less than 10 feet from the right-of-way.
  • Accessory structures: no accessory structure in the front yard; side 6 ft each; rear 6 ft (section 201.8).

  front yard setback: >= 25 ft (averaging with adjacent building; minimum 10 ft from right-of-way) · side yard setback each side: >= 20 ft (none) · rear yard setback: >= 50 ft (none)

  “side yard setbacks - twenty feet (20') on each side (40 feet total). rear yard setbacks - fifty feet (50').”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Agricultural, horticultural and forestry uses other than farm dwellings in the A-C agricultural-conservation zone (section 200). Dwelling setbacks in this zone were not read.

    “side yard setback - fifty feet (50') on each side (100 feet total).”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  All uses in the R-1 village residential zone (section 201)

  • Applies unless otherwise specified in the zone.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent (unless otherwise specified)

  “maximum lot coverage - unless otherwise specified, thirty-five percent (35%).”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal and accessory buildings in the R-1 village residential zone (section 201)

  • Accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet, but an accessory structure may extend to 25 feet if set back from each side and rear lot line a distance equal to its height.

  maximum height, principal buildings and structures: <= 35 ft (none stated) · maximum height, accessory buildings and structures: <= 15 ft (up to 25 ft if setback equals height)

  “principal buildings and structures - thirty-five feet (35').”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile or manufactured homes used as single-family detached dwellings inside the township

  • Counts as a single-family detached dwelling only if it meets all dwelling requirements and is securely anchored to a permanent foundation.
  • All transport apparatus, including the towing hitch, must be removed.
  • Mobile home parks are a conditional use in the R-2 zone (section 202.4).

  “mobile homes can be considered single-family, detached dwellings if, in addition to the requirements listed for all dwellings, the mobile home is securely anchored to the permanent foundation, and all of the apparatuses used to transport the unit shall be removed, including the towing hitch.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside the township

  • Homepage lists a subdivision and land development ordinance, shown as updated 1990; the ordinance text was not opened.

  “zoning ordinance last updated 9/5/2017 subdivision and land development ordinance updated 1990”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways serving single-family dwellings in the R-1 zone

  • Driveways must comply with section 309 of the zoning ordinance; section 309 text was not read, so its width and permit requirements are unverified.
  • Access drives serving other uses must comply with section 310.

  “all driveways serving single-family dwellings shall be in accordance with section 309 of this ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township building, mechanical, demolition and zoning permit fees

  • Homepage lists permit fees as a 2024 document; the fee schedule was not opened, so amounts are not recorded.
  • Subdivision and land development fee schedule listed as 2025 on the same page.

  “permit fees 2024 wmt permit application 2024”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside West Marlborough township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside West Marlborough township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy or use-and-occupancy for new dwellings inside West Marlborough township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside West Marlborough township
• Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside West Marlborough 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.