Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lower Milford Township, Pennsylvania

Lower Milford Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New structures, home additions and changes of use inside Lower Milford township.

  • Construction may proceed after the required zoning and/or uniform construction permit is issued.
  • Accessory structures of 1,000 square feet or less are exempt from the UCC and need only a zoning permit; accessory structures over 1,000 square feet need both zoning and UCC permits.
  • All permit applications require owner signature and payment at submission.

  accessory structure size threshold for UCC exemption: <= 1000 square feet (Exempt from UCC; zoning permit still required) · earth disturbance threshold for erosion and sedimentation control and grading permit: > 1500 square feet

  “permits are required for the construction of new structures, home additions and changes of use.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Not required — Agricultural buildings inside Lower Milford township: no UCC permit; zoning permit still required.

    “agricultural buildings are exempt from the ucc, only requring zoning permits.”

• InspectionsRequired

  UCC inspections for permitted work inside Lower Milford township.

  • Inspections are handled by the township's building code official, Cowan Associates, under the UCC.
  • Accessory structures of 1,000 square feet or less are exempt from the UCC (see building_permit_requirement claim).

  “uniform construction permit issuance, plan review and inspections as required by the uniform construction code and are handled by cowan associates.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New construction inside Lower Milford township; not required for resale of existing homes.

  • Required for new construction only, per the township's permit FAQ.
  • Certificate issuance procedure not opened.

  “a certificate of occupancy is required for new construction only, not for resale.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Lower Milford township limits (Lehigh County, PA): the township administers its own zoning ordinance.

  • The township's own page lists a 'zoning ordinance of 2009' with a zoning map and amendments of 2016 (Ord. 127), 2021 (Ord. 138) and 2026 (Ord. 146); the amended text itself was not opened.
  • Township page states interim zoning officer appointed February 5, 2026 (Gilmore & Associates, Inc.).

  “zoning ordinance of 2009 zoning map zoning ordinance amendment of 2016 - ordinance no. 127”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot septic systems inside Lower Milford township.

  • Evaluations, ratings and inspections of septic sites are performed by the township sewage enforcement officer, named on the township page as John Kortvely (610-349-9833).
  • Township sewer plant service area (Limeport village and part of Beverly Hills) is served by the Limeport WWTP and is outside this septic rule.

  “the township sewage enforcement officer is responsible for all evaluations, ratings and inspections of septic sites and installations.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic sites and installations inside Lower Milford township.

  • Inspections are performed by the township sewage enforcement officer per the township page.
  • Inspection timing and triggers not stated on the page opened.

  “the township sewage enforcement officer is responsible for all evaluations, ratings and inspections of septic sites and installations.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings inside Lower Milford township: exempt from the UCC building permit only.

  • Exemption is from the UCC only; a zoning permit is still required.
  • The exemption does not state a farm-use zoning exemption; the zoning ordinance's agricultural provisions were not opened.

  “agricultural buildings are exempt from the ucc, only requring zoning permits.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivision and land development inside Lower Milford township.

  • Township subdivision and land development ordinance (Ordinance No. 119) listed on township page; sketch, preliminary and final plan applications are township forms.
  • Ordinance No. 119 is also referenced as Act 167 Perkiomen Creek watershed; watershed stormwater rules not opened.

  “subdivision and land development ordinance no. 119 - act 167 perkiomen creek watershed”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning, UCC and other township permit fees for land inside Lower Milford township.

  • Fee amounts are in the township 2026 fee schedule; the schedule was not opened, so no amounts are recorded.
  • Payment is due at submission per the permit FAQ.

  “miscellaneous documents: workers' compensation insurance form 2026 fee schedule”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Township permit applications for land inside Lower Milford township.

  • Forms are posted (zoning, uniform construction, erosion and sedimentation/grading, driveway, demolition, and others).
  • Applications must be signed by the owner and paid at submission or they will not be accepted.
  • Zoning officer phone and email conversations are not binding; a formal zoning permit application is required for a formal response.

  “all permit applications require owner signature. payment is due at time of submission or the application will not be accepted.”

Rules another office applies inside Lower Milford Township

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction and alterations inside Lower Milford township, which is subject to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.

  • The UCC is enforced in the township through its contracted building code official (Cowan Associates) per the township Zoning & Planning page.
  • State DLI reports over 90% of PA municipalities administer the UCC locally; the 2026 triennial update took effect January 1, 2026 (per the DLI page).

  “uniform construction code (ucc) pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the uniform construction code (ucc), has to be followed by builders in the state.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home inside Lower Milford township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the single-family residential and rural-residential districts inside Lower Milford township.
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the single-family residential and rural-residential districts inside Lower Milford township.
• Setbacks — Yard setbacks in the single-family residential and rural-residential districts inside Lower Milford township.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in the single-family residential and rural-residential districts inside Lower Milford 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.