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

Upper Saucon Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New single-family or two-family house, and listed additions, garages, carports and sheds, inside Upper Saucon Township

  • Permits must be applied for and issued before any work may begin.
  • The township page states the residential list applies only to single-family or two-family dwellings; non-residential construction is governed by separate rules that were not verified.
  • Work without a permit is subject to enforcement and fines up to $1,000 per day per violation (per township page).

  “by state law, you will need a permit, inspections, and a certificate of occupancy for: any new house (single-family or two-family dwelling)”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New residential and other construction inside Upper Saucon Township

  • The township building code official administers the 2009 International Construction Code and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (state code).

  “the building code official administers the 2009 international construction code and the pennsylvania uniform construction code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New single-family or two-family house and listed residential additions and accessory structures inside Upper Saucon Township

  • Inspections are required by state law per the township page for a new house; the township's inspection schedule was not retrieved.
  • Non-residential inspection requirements are separate and were not verified.

  “by state law, you will need a permit, inspections, and a certificate of occupancy for: any new house (single-family or two-family dwelling)”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New houses and listed structures, including pools and garages, inside Upper Saucon Township

  • Occupancy without a certificate of occupancy issued by the building code official is a serious violation (per township page).
  • The township page states all structures built since April 9, 2004 must have a legal certificate of occupancy.
  • Non-residential certificate of occupancy requirements are separate and were not verified.

  “please do not occupy or begin using any structure without a certificate of occupancy!”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Upper Saucon Township limits (Center Valley, Lehigh County, PA). The township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance.

  • The ordinance has been amended many times (Ordinances 141-A through 141-HH listed on the township ordinances index); the consolidated current text was not opened.
  • Ordinance 141-GG (village commercial overlay on two Preston Lane / Route 378 parcels) appears in a July 27, 2026 public notice; adoption was not verified.
  • Use rules for specific districts must be checked against the amended ordinance text.

  “ordinance 141: the upper saucon township zoning ordinance of 2009 zoning map ordinance 141-a”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts in Upper Saucon Township (R-2 Suburban Residential confirmed; other districts not verified)

  • Only the R-2 Suburban Residential district is confirmed by an opened township notice; the official zoning map is listed on the township ordinances index but was not opened.
  • Notice concerns parcels at 3537 and 3519 Preston Lane, Center Valley, PA, proposed for a village commercial overlay (Ordinance 141-GG), adoption not verified.

  “the properties are in the suburban residential (r-2) zoning district.”

• Septic permitLimited

  New home building permit applications in Upper Saucon Township where an on-lot sewage system is involved

  • The township lists an on-lot sewage disposal permit among approvals that 'may be required' before a building permit issues; it does not state when one is required.
  • The issuing agency (township sewage enforcement officer or Lehigh County Health Department) was not verified.
  • Applicant is responsible for determining which approvals apply (per township page).

  “there are many other permits and/or approvals that may be required prior to issuance of a building permit at upper saucon township. these include but may not be limited to: zoning permit grading permit tree removal permit geothermal system/geotechnical evaluation permit curb cut permit on-lot sewage disposal permit or sewer connection permit septic abandonment permit water connection permit”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Upper Saucon Township

  • Governed by Ordinance 145, the Upper Saucon Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) of 2011, which replaced a 1975 SALDO (per township index).
  • Ordinance 145 is described as largely procedural and references the zoning, stormwater, and standard construction documents ordinances.

  “this is largely a procedural document that outlines the process a developer must follow to engage in subdivision and land development activities in the township”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway or curb cut access for a new home in Upper Saucon Township

  • A curb cut permit is listed among approvals that 'may be required' before a building permit issues; the township does not state when it applies.
  • The PennDOT highway occupancy permit is also listed 'if applicable' for state roads (per township page).

  “there are many other permits and/or approvals that may be required prior to issuance of a building permit at upper saucon township. these include but may not be limited to: zoning permit grading permit tree removal permit geothermal system/geotechnical evaluation permit curb cut permit on-lot sewage disposal permit or sewer connection permit septic abandonment permit water connection permit”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit and inspection fees in Upper Saucon Township

  • Fees are set by the Board of Supervisors and published in a fee schedule; the fee schedule itself was not retrieved, so no amounts are recorded.
  • Township page directs residents to the township website, community development office, or lobby for a copy.

  “the ucc does not establish fees for permit applications and inspections. all fees regarding building permits and inspections are adopted by the upper saucon township board of supervisors and published in a fee schedule.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process in Upper Saucon Township

  • Initial applications and supporting documents (four copies) go to the township; materials are then transmitted to the building code official (KEYCODES).
  • Review covers UCC, international building codes, the township zoning ordinance and the stormwater ordinance; review time varies.
  • Permits must be applied for and issued before any work may begin.

  “initial permit applications and supporting documents (four copies) shall be submitted directly to the township.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work on a home inside Upper Saucon Township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in R-1 and R-2 zones in Upper Saucon Township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the R-2 Suburban Residential district and R-1 district, Upper Saucon Township
• Setbacks — Yard setbacks in R-1 and R-2 districts, Upper Saucon Township
• Lot coverage — Impervious lot coverage in the R-2 district, Upper Saucon 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.