Please transact Township business via phone, 610-294-9154, via email at the addresses below, or fax 610-294-9889. Staff is available to speak with you by phone or email from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. In-person meetings with the Zoning Official, Building Code Official, or other office staff are by appointment only. Please call (610) 294-9154 to schedule an appointment. Building Code and Zoning Officials are part time and have limited hours. Scheduling an appointment enables officials to prepare for your appointment and ensures that you make the best use of your time.
Documents may be sent to: Tinicum Township, 163 Municipal Road, Pipersville, PA 18947 or placed in the drop box located near the office door 9 am to 5 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Wednesday 9 am to noon.
Zoning Review
Tinicum Township is a Zoned Community. Please check with the Zoning Officer before you erect, construct, reconstruct, alter, resize, and/or remove a structure in Tinicum Township. The Zoning Officer can be reached at (610) 294-8076 and zoning@tinicumbucks.org. In-person meetings with the Zoning Officer are by appointment only.
Scheduling Building Inspections
Please call the Township office at (610) 294-9154 to schedule required building inspections for permitted projects at the appropriate construction phases to ensure that all building specifications and materials meet code. You will need to provide the permit number, location, type of inspection requested, contact name and contact number when scheduling an inspection.
Inspections are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday mornings starting at 9:00 AM. Call (610) 294-9154 during office hours to schedule. Please do NOT leave voice message. Cut off for scheduling a ‘next-day’ inspection is noon.
Please note that PA Uniform Construction Code 2018 went into effect statewide as of February 12, 2022.
Submitting Applications
Applications can be mailed to: Tinicum Township, 163 Municipal Road, Pipersville, PA 18947 or placed in the gray drop box located near the office door 9 am to 5 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Wednesday 9 am to noon.
Application Fees
An application review fee of $50 per application is required at the time of submission. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Your permit must be approved and issued before any work can begin. Click here for fees.
Picking Up Permits
Upon payment of permit fees, you can choose to have your permits mailed or emailed to you or you can make arrangements to pay for and pick up your permit during regular office hours from 9 am to 5 pm and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and on Wednesday 9 am to noon. If you choose to come to the office to pick-up permits, please call ahead so we can have your permit ready.
Zoning & Building Officials Information
| Gary Smith, Keystone Municipal Services, Inc. | Zoning Official (part-time) | zoning@tinicumbucks.org | (610) 294-8076 |
| James Kopchak, BCO, Keystone Municipal Services, Inc. | Building Code Official (part-time) | tinicumcodeofficial@gmail.com | (610) 294-9154 |
| Curtis J. Genner, Jr., Wynn Associates, Inc. | Township Engineer & Flood Plain Administrator (consulting basis) | 610-294-9154 |
Applications and Forms
Please be aware that upon review the Zoning Officer and/or the Building Official may require additional information, applications and/or reviews by other experts. This list is intended only as a basic guide.
| Type | Applications & Forms | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Additions | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application & Instructions | • Zoning Officer • Building Inspector |
| Alarms | Alarm Registration Application | Police Dept. |
| Alterations/Renovations | Building Permit Application & Instructions | Building Inspector |
| Attic Renovation | • Building Permit Application & Instructions • Proof of Septic • BC Health Inspection for Bedroom | • BC Health Inspection for Bedroom • Building Inspector • Bucks County DOH for Bedroom |
| Basement Renovation | • Building Permit Application & Instructions • Proof of Septic • BC Health Inspection for Bedroom | • Building Inspector • Bucks County DOH for Bedroom |
| Bathroom Renovation | Building Permit Application & Instructions if moving pipes or complete redo | Building Inspector |
| Bed & Breakfast | Bed & Breakfast Permit Application | Zoning Officer |
| Building Permit (includes Electrical) | Building Permit Application & Instructions | Building Inspector |
| Burning | • Open Burning – Township • Open Burning – DEP | Tinicum Township is within the Dept. of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) air basin, and, except in limited circumstances, DEP prohibits burning within the air basin. |
| Concern/Complaint | Complaint/Concern Form | Township Manager |
| Conditional Use | Conditional Use Application | • Zoning Officer • Board of Supervisors |
| Deck | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application & Instructions | Zoning Officer |
| Demolition | Demo Permit Application | • Zoning Officer • Building Inspector |
| Dog License | www.padoglicense.com | |
| Driveway | Driveway/Road Encroachment Application | • Zoning Officer • Building Inspector • Township Engineer |
| Electrical | Electrical Application | • Building Inspector • 3rd Party Electrical Underwriter licensed in PA |
| Erosion & Soil Application (Bucks County) | Bucks County Erosion Control App | Bucks County Conservation District |
| Fees | 2024 Tinicum Fee Schedule | |
| Fence | Fence Permit Application | Zoning Officer |
| Fireworks | Fireworks Application & Policy | • Zoning Officer • Police Chief • Fire Chief |
| Floodplain | Floodplain Application • FEMA flood maps available on: www.bucksgis.maps.arcgis.com | FEMA flood maps available on: www.bucksgis.maps.arcgis.com • Zoning Officer • Township Engineer • Building Inspector |
| Garage – under 1,000 sq. ft. | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application if attached to house | • Zoning Officer • Building Inspector |
| Garage – over 1,000 sq. ft. | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application & Instructions • Grading Permit Application • Stormwater Management Application | • Zoning Officer • Building Inspector |
| Generator | Generator | • Zoning Officer • Building Inspector 3rd Party Electrical • Underwriter licensed in PA |
| Geothermal | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application– mechanical section | • Zoning Officer • Building Inspector |
| Grading | Grading Permit Application | • Zoning Officer • Township Engineer |
| Home Based Occupation | Home-Based Occupation Permit | Zoning Officer |
| HVAC/AC | Building Permit Application & Instructions | Building Inspector |
| Kitchen Renovation | Building Permit Application & Instructions, if complete redo | Building Inspector |
| Land Development | Land Development Application | Zoning Officer |
| Land Preservation | • Conservation Easement Procedure • Fully-Donated Conservation Easement App • Conservation Easement Application • Property Evaluation Criteria Sheet | • Land Preservation Committee • Tinicum Conservancy • Township Manager • Zoning Officer • Board of Supervisors |
| Patio | Zoning Permit Application | Zoning Inspector |
| Professional Services Contract | Professional Services Contract | Township Manager |
| Rentals | • Bed & Breakfast Application • Short-Term Rental Application (Transient) & Neighbor Notification • Long-Term Rental Tenant Registration Form | • B&B = Zoning Officer • Short-Term = Zoning Officer • Long-Term = Office |
| Right-To- Know Requests | Right-to-Know Request Form & Policy | Right-To-Know Officer |
| Roof Repair/Replacement | No permit is required unless structural changes are taking place. | |
| Septic System Repairs/Replacement | • Bucks County Dept. Of Health Application • Sewage Management Permit Application | • Bucks County DOH • Township Enginee |
| Shed – under 1,000 sq. ft. | Zoning Permit Application | Zoning Officer |
| Shed – over 1,000 sq. ft. | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application & Instructions • Stormwater Management Application | • Zoning Officer • Building Officer • Township Engineer |
| Short-Term Rental | Short-Term Rental Application (Transient) & Neighbor Notification | Zoning Officer |
| Sign | Sign Permit Application | Zoning Officer |
| Single Family Detached Dwelling (New) | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application & Instructions • Grading Permit Application • Stormwater Management Application • Driveway/Road Encroachment Application • Bucks County Dept. Of Health Application • Sewage Management Permit Application • Well Permit Application • Water test | • Water Test • Zoning Officer • Building Inspector • Township Engineer • Bucks County Dept. Of Health |
| Solar on the Ground | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application & Instructions | • Zoning Officer • Building Officer |
| Solar on the Roof | Building Permit Application & Instructions | Building Inspector |
| Stormwater Management | Stormwater Management Application | • Zoning Officer • Township Engineer |
| Sprinkler Waiver | Residential Sprinkler Waiver | Building Inspector |
| Subdivision | Subdivision Application | Zoning |
| Swimming Pool – above ground | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application & Instructions • Fence Permit Application | • Zoning Officer • Building Officer |
| Swimming Pool – below ground | • Zoning Permit Application • Building Permit Application & Instructions • Fence Permit Application • Grading Permit Application | • Zoning Officer • Township Engineer • Building Inspector |
| Outdoor Lighting | Outdoor Lighting Regulations | |
| Tank Removal | Building Permit Application & Instructions | Building Inspector |
| Tenant Registration | Tenant Registration Form | Tenant info is provided to the 911 system. All entrances and addresses must be well marked for emergency response. |
| Tree Harvesting | Tree Harvesting Application | Zoning Officer |
| Uniform Construction Code Appeal | UCC Appeals Board Application | Building Code of Appeals Board |
| Use | Use Permit Application | Zoning Officer |
| Well | • Well Permit Application • Water Testing Labs | Zoning Officer |
| Wood Fired Boiler | • Wood Fired Boiler Application • DEP Wood Fired Boiler Fact Sheet | Zoning Officer |
| Zoning Hearing Board | Zoning Hearing Board Application | • Board of Supervisors • Zoning Hearing Board |
| Zoning | Zoning Permit Application | • Zoning Officer • Zoning Hearing Board |
