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

Upper Hanover Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, placement of structures, repairs, and alterations inside Upper Hanover Township where the UCC or Township ordinance requires a permit.

  • The Township additionally requires permits for accessory structures at least 200 square feet, and for smaller accessory structures provided with utility service.
  • The ordinance retains stated exemptions for certain residential alterations and repairs.

  accessory-structure threshold: >= 200 square feet (Permit required whether or not connected to utility.)

  “In addition to all types of construction, placement of structures, repairs and alterations for which the Uniform Construction Code requires a permit, the Township, pursuant to the authorization of Act 92 of 2004, shall require persons to obtain permits under the Upper Hanover Township Uniform Construction Code for all of the following:”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction within Upper Hanover Township.

  • The adopted Uniform Construction Code is incorporated as amended from time to time.
  • Administration and enforcement are undertaken through retained Building Code Officials or third-party agencies acting for the Township.

  “hereby adopts the Uniform Construction Code”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Upper Hanover Township.

  • Chapter 500 was adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors and has amendments noted where applicable.

  “Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Upper Hanover”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts within Upper Hanover Township.

  • The published zoning chapter contains an Article XI entitled Zoning District Classifications.

  “Article XI Zoning District Classifications § 500-1100 Zoning districts.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways constructed inside Upper Hanover Township.

  • The driveway must meet Township design and construction standards.
  • A stopping area 20 feet behind the right-of-way line is required and may not exceed a four-percent grade.
  • Driveways must be at least 40 feet from a street intersection.

  stopping-area distance behind right-of-way: 20 feet (May not exceed a four-percent grade.) · street-intersection separation: >= 40 feet

  “A stopping area measured 20 feet behind the right-of-way line shall be provided, not to exceed a four-percent grade. [...] not less than 40 feet”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Uniform Construction Code administration and enforcement inside Upper Hanover Township.

  • Fees are established by Township resolution from time to time.

  “Fees assessable by Upper Hanover Township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the code shall be established by Upper Hanover Township through resolution from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Administration and enforcement of the adopted building code inside Upper Hanover Township.

  • Administration and enforcement may be undertaken by retained Building Code Officials or third-party agencies acting for the Township.

  “Building Code Officials or third-party agencies”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Upper Hanover Township.
• Inspections — Building work inside Upper Hanover Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Upper Hanover Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential and agricultural/rural residential zoning districts inside Upper Hanover Township.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family residential and agricultural/rural residential zoning districts inside Upper Hanover 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Upper Hanover 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.

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