Bolthole Index

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Lansdale, Pennsylvania

The Borough of Lansdale, Pennsylvania requires a building permit before any building or structure is erected, added to or structurally altered, and the permit comes from the borough, not Montgomery County1. Lansdale adopts its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 405, with district-by-district rules2. Septic permits and well permits in Montgomery County run through the county Office of Public Health, so confirm with that office whether any on-lot system applies to your address3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before work starts; issued by the borough1
Building code
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, adopted as the borough's Municipal Building Code4
Zoning
Borough zoning ordinance (Chapter 405) with mapped districts25
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new or altered building is occupied6
Permit fees
Set by Borough Council and changed from time to time7
Septic and wells
County Office of Public Health handles on-lot sewage and well permits in Montgomery County; applicability inside the borough unconfirmed38

Who to call

Building permits

Lansdale Borough Code Enforcement

Building permits, zoning administration, inspections and use-and-occupancy permits inside Lansdale Borough

215-368-1691

One Vine Street, Suite 201, Lansdale, PA 19446

Septic permits

Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH)

On-lot sewage permits and inspections and individual water supply well permits in Montgomery County

610-278-5117

[email protected]

1430 DeKalb Street, PO Box 311, Norristown, PA, 19404-0311

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Lansdale means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Lansdale, PA?

Yes. Lansdale's zoning chapter says no building or structure may be erected, added to or structurally altered, and no work may begin, until the borough official in charge has issued a permit1. Construction follows the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, which Lansdale adopted as its own Municipal Building Code4.

Apply with two scaled copies of a layout or plot plan showing the lot's dimensions and the size and location of the building and any accessory buildings9. Fees are set by Borough Council and change from time to time, so ask Code Enforcement for the current schedule7. We could not confirm whether the borough offers an owner-builder exemption or what triggers each inspection; ask Code Enforcement before you plan around either.

Who issues building permits in Lansdale, and how do you reach them?

Lansdale Borough Code Enforcement administers and enforces borough ordinances along with federal and state building codes, and it issues permits for use and occupancy, repairs, replacements and additions10. Call 215-368-1691 or visit One Vine Street, Suite 201, Lansdale, PA 1944610.

The county does not issue building permits for a Lansdale address. Montgomery County leaves building permits to each municipality or a certified third-party agency11. Anyone searching "Montgomery County building department" should come to the borough instead. Before you move in, a certificate of occupancy is required for any newly constructed building, extension or altered building6.

Does Lansdale have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Chapter 405 is the borough's zoning ordinance, and it divides Lansdale into districts with their own use and dimension rules25. Zoning here comes from the borough, since Montgomery County has no single county zoning ordinance12.

Rules differ by district. In the Class A Residential District, building height may not exceed 35 feet or three stories under the standard option13. Check the borough's zoning map for your parcel's district before relying on any setback or lot figure. We could not confirm the borough's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or minimum house size; ask Code Enforcement, and do not assume these uses are allowed.

How do septic permits and wells work for a Lansdale address?

In Montgomery County, the Office of Public Health issues permits for on-lot sewage systems and inspects installed systems314. Drinking-water, irrigation and geothermal wells also need an OPH permit before installation8.

We could not confirm how those rules apply to parcels inside Lansdale Borough. Ask the borough whether public sewer and water reach your lot, and call the county Office of Public Health at 610-278-5117 if an on-lot system or well is on the table15.

Building a home in Lansdale: the steps, in order

  1. Find the parcel's zoning district on the borough's zoning map and read the Chapter 405 rules for it5.
  2. Ask Code Enforcement about utilities, floodplain rules and any rule on your intended use, since we could not confirm several of these10.
  3. Prepare two copies of a scaled plot plan9.
  4. Apply for the building permit and pay the fee Borough Council has set; work may not begin first17.
  5. If the lot needs a well or on-lot septic system, get the county Office of Public Health permit816.
  6. Obtain a certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in6.

What stays with Montgomery County, and what to check before you buy

Land outside Lansdale's limits follows other rules; see the Montgomery County page for unincorporated and neighboring-municipality answers. The county handles septic and well permits, and the Planning Commission reviews subdivision and land-development proposals alongside the borough173.

A driveway onto a state highway needs a PennDOT highway occupancy permit, and the building permit must carry notice of that requirement18. Construction in a floodplain needs documentation sealed by a registered design professional19. Montgomery County's effective property tax rate is 1.4%20, and the typical home value is about $504,17921.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Lansdale's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals or owner-built homes; call Code Enforcement at 215-368-1691 before buying for any of these10.
  • Septic and well rules for parcels inside the borough are unconfirmed; ask Code Enforcement about sewer and water service and the Montgomery County Office of Public Health about on-lot systems3.
  • The permit fee schedule changes whenever Borough Council acts, so get current fees from Code Enforcement rather than relying on an old figure7.

Sources

  1. Article XXI: Administration - Borough of Lansdale, PA (Borough of Lansdale), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 405: Zoning - Borough of Lansdale, PA (Borough of Lansdale), quoted and re-checked
  3. On-Lot Sewage Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 146: Building Construction - Borough of Lansdale, PA (Borough of Lansdale), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 405: Zoning - Borough of Lansdale, PA (Borough of Lansdale), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article XXI: Administration - Borough of Lansdale, PA (Borough of Lansdale), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article XXI: Administration - Borough of Lansdale, PA (Borough of Lansdale), quoted and re-checked
  8. Individual Water Supply Well Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  9. Article XXI: Administration - Borough of Lansdale, PA (Borough of Lansdale), quoted and re-checked
  10. Lansdale Borough Code Enforcement (lansdale.org)
  11. Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  12. Homes For All, quoted and re-checked
  13. Article IV: Class A Residential District - Borough of Lansdale, PA (Borough of Lansdale), quoted and re-checked
  14. On-Lot Sewage Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  15. Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) (montgomerycountypa.gov)
  16. On-Lot Sewage Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  17. Subdivision & Land Development Reviews, quoted and re-checked
  18. pa.gov, quoted and re-checked
  19. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Borough of Lansdale

Borough of Lansdale’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, addition to, or structural alteration of a building or structure inside Lansdale borough.

    • The permit must be issued before work commences.
    • Applications must comply with Chapter 405, the Borough Building Code, and applicable Borough, Pennsylvania, and United States requirements.
    “No building or structure shall be erected, added to or structurally altered nor shall any work therefor commence until a permit therefor has been issued by the Borough official charged with administration and enforcement of this chapter in accordance with Chapter 146, Building Construction, Article I.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction within Lansdale borough.

    • The adopted Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.
    “The Uniform Construction Code contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the "Municipal Building Code of the Borough of Lansdale."”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Newly constructed buildings, extensions, and buildings altered under a building permit inside Lansdale borough.

    • A certificate must first be applied for and granted before occupancy or use.
    • A certificate may not issue unless the official is satisfied that the building or use complies with Borough ordinances and regulations.
    “No newly constructed building nor any extension to an existing building nor any existing building to which alterations have been made pursuant to a building permit shall be occupied or used, even though such use and occupancy is in conformance with the provisions of this chapter, unless a certificate of occupancy shall have first been applied for to the Borough official charged with administration and enforcement of this chapter and granted by him.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Lansdale borough limits.

    • Chapter 405 is the Borough's zoning ordinance and contains district-specific use and dimensional controls.
    “For the purpose of this chapter, the Borough of Lansdale has been divided into districts which shall be designated as follows:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Lansdale borough.

    • The published ordinance identifies an Article III, “Districts,” including sections titled “Districts established” and “Zoning Map.”
    “For the purpose of this chapter, the Borough of Lansdale has been divided into districts which shall be designated as follows:”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Lansdale borough.

    • The Borough's chapter includes plan filing, processing, review, and recording provisions; specific applicability and waiver conditions were not opened.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Lansdale 4-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-1908. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permits inside Lansdale borough.

    • Fees are designated by Borough Council in rules and regulations promulgated from time to time.
    “Said building permit shall be issued upon the payment of the fees as designated by the Borough Council of the Borough of Lansdale in rules and regulations promulgated by it from time to time.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permits inside Lansdale borough.

    • Two copies of a scaled layout or plot plan are required with all building-permit applications.
    • The plan must show actual lot dimensions, exact size and location of proposed buildings and accessory buildings, and other information needed for enforcement.

    layout or plot plan copies: 2 copies

    “There shall be submitted with all applications for building permits two copies of a layout or plot plan drawn to scale, showing the actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the exact size and location on the lot of the building and accessory buildings to be erected and such other information as may be necessary to determine and provide for the enforcement of this chapter.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Lansdale

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

  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Class A Residential District inside Lansdale borough; standard permitted-use option where two or fewer permitted residential structures are present on a block or blocks are not present.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Alternative maximum is three stories.) · maximum stories: <= 3 stories (Alternative maximum is 35 feet.)

    “Building height shall not exceed 35 feet or three stories.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Lansdale or Montgomery County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Lansdale borough.
  • Inspections — Building construction inside Lansdale borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Class A Residential District inside Lansdale borough.
  • Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Lansdale borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Lansdale borough.
13 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Borough of Lansdale publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Montgomery County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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