Code Enforcement
Code Enforcement Staff
The Code Enforcement Department is staffed by a licensed Building Code Official who holds a combination of titles as a Residential Building Inspector, Commercial Building and Accessibility Inspector, Zoning Officer, and Sewage Enforcement Officer. The Department is also supported by a State licensed Third Party Agency for commercial plan review and inspections. State licensing and continuing education are important and required responsibilities of a properly staffed Code Department.
Aaron Wozniak: Zoning Officer / Sewage Enforcement Officer / Building Code Official
Tasha Amato: Permit Technician
Christine Kofroth: Administrative Assistant
Code Enforcement Duties
The Code Enforcement Department reviews and inspects all permit required construction activities within the Township, issuing more than 700 permits per year since 2004. The Department reviews and inspects construction projects totaling approximately $30,000,000.00 of construction value every year. The Department reviews permit projects ranging from fences and sheds to schools and hospitals for compliance with applicable codes and ordinances. Particular attention is paid to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to be prepared for State audits and to provide Township infrastructure that meets the needs of all its citizens.
In addition to Building Codes, the Department administers and enforces the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, Property Maintenance Code, the Code of Ordinances, and a Property Transfer Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance of 1940 is the first Ordinance of the Township of Spring and regulates the use of land and structures in the Township. The Property Maintenance Code requires land and structures to be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. The Property Transfer Ordinance promotes the sale of residential property in a safe and compliant manner reducing the number of unpermitted structures and property nuisances. The Code of Ordinances provides additional authority for the Code Department to enforce curb replacement, unobstructed streets, unobstructed storm and sewer right-of-ways, clearance of snow from sidewalks and similar requirements that facilitate the continued daily operation and function of the Township.
The future of the Code Enforcement Department will involve continuing education and additional code certifications to meet the expanded qualifications under the State Uniform Construction Code. The Code Department continues to increase its presence and community relations in the pursuit of safe structures and property with a vigilant regard for the protection of health, safety and welfare through the proper application of various State Laws and Local Ordinances.
Code Enforcement FAQ
Yes, a Fence Zoning Permit is required. A permit is required in order to ensure the proper placement in accordance with the Township Zoning Ordinance. Please fill out the Fence Zoning Application and be sure to complete the required drawing. Fences located in a rear yard shall have a maximum height of 6 feet for residential properties and a minimum setback requirement of 6 inches to the rear and side property lines. Fences are permitted to be placed on the property line provided you obtain written permission from the adjacent property owner and you submit that permission along with the fence application. Fences are not permitted within easements. Fences in the front yard are limited to a height of 4 feet and must be an open style fence such as a split rail, chain link, picket or other open style fence with opacity of at least 50%. Fences in the front yard shall be setback a minimum of 3 feet from the road right-of-way line. The setback distance from the edge of the road varies per street and or subdivision. Corner properties that abut two public roads are considered to have two front yards. Fence Permit Application.
Yes, a Utility Building Zoning Permit is required for the placement of a shed to ensure Zoning compliance and to keep structures from being improperly placed within drainage and utility easements and floodplains. Please complete the Utility Building Zoning application. Please be sure to complete the bird’s eye view drawing of your property. The drawing shall include the location of property lines, the house and other structures, roads, alleys and easements and the proposed location of the shed. Please label the setback distances to the property lines and other structures. Sheds are not permitted within a required front or side yard. Sheds placed next to a house must be setback the minimum side yard requirement from the side property line. This distance varies depending on the Zoning District in which your property is located. Sheds located in the rear yard behind the house are given a setback exemption. Sheds that are 150 sqft in size and smaller are permitted to be setback only two feet from the side and two feet from the rear property line. Sheds over 150sqft in size must be setback the minimum side yard requirement from the side and rear property line.
Please fill in the highlighted areas of the Basement Renovation Application and submit two copies of the Basement layout plans. Please also complete the electrical, mechanical and plumbing applications that apply to your project. Please be advised that basements now require a form of emergency egress that communicates directly to the outdoors. If the basement is not equipped with a walkout door, a bilco door, or a window well, an egress will have to be installed.
Please complete the Curb /Sidewalk /Driveway Apron Application. Describe in detail the work to be performed including side walk and curb dimensions. A copy of the Township specs for curb and sidewalks will be returned along with the permit.
Trees and shrubs are not permitted to be located within the Road Right-of-way of any public street. The setback distance from the edge of the road varies between 8 and 15 feet depending on what road your property fronts upon and the subdivision in which your property may be located within. Trees and shrubs are not permitted within Sight triangles of road intersections. Trees and large shrubs are also not permitted within Sanitary Sewer, Storm Sewer and some other utility easements. It is important to keep trees trimmed along public streets. Township Ordinance requires trees to have a minimum clearance of 7ft above sidewalks and 12feet above the paved portion of the street. It is also not a good idea to plant trees near the sewer lateral to your home because the roots could work their way down into the lateral and cause a sewer backup.
We ask that you please fill out the Property Maintenance Complaint form listing the location of the property in question. The Township has and enforces a Grass and Weeds Ordinance. Grass and weeds on a residential property shall not exceed 8 inches in height and grass and weeds on a commercial property shall not exceed 18 inches in height. Upon receipt of the complaint form and verification of the violation, the Township will send out a Grass and Weeds Notice of Violation requesting the property be cut within 7 days of receiving the notice. After the 7th day if the property has not been cut, the Township will contract for the property to be cut. The resulting bill will be sent to the property owner for payment. If un-paid, the amount will result in a lien upon the real-estate. (Link to Property maintenance complaint form).
Pools with the ability to hold more than 24 inches of water require Building and Zoning approval. Pools are not permitted within front yards and easements. Pools are required to be setback a minimum of 15 feet from the side and rear property lines. Pools cannot be placed within 10feet horizontally of any overhead conductors. Pools are considered to be an attractive nuisance and are required to have proper barrier protection. Pools require a 4ft barrier measured from grade level to the top of the barrier. The walls of an above ground pools can count as the barrier provided the wall of the pool is 48” or more above grade level and the pool is protected by a lockable or removable ladder or protected platform. Above ground pools built into the side of a hill or grade require additional protection. In-ground swimming pools require fencing that is at least 4ft in height surrounding the yard or pool area. Doors from the house that open into the pool area must be protected by an audible alarm that sounds when the door is opened. Fences must be equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward away from the pool. Fences protecting a pool cannot be climbable. Along with setback and barrier requirements, pools have electrical requirements as well. Swimming pools require a dedicated out to supply power to the pool pump equipment. Extension cords are not permitted. If you plan to construct a deck around an above ground pool, please complete a separate deck permit application and submit it for review along with the required drawings. A deck around a pool is required to meet certain Zoning Setbacks, Building Code Requirements and Pool barrier requirements. Before buying a pool, please take into consideration pool placement and other expenses for proper barrier protection and electrical wiring.
If you are simply taking out the old windows and replacing them with windows of the same exact size and location, than no, a permit is not required. If you plan on taking out a 3 foot wide window and replacing that with a 6 foot wide double window, then yes a permit would be required because you are making structural changes. The new wider opening has to be properly framed out with the correct size header in order to support the loads of the larger opening. Please complete the Minor Repairs / renovation application describing in detail the work to be done be sure to include window and header dimensions.
Yes, a Porch/Deck/Patio Zoning Permit is required for patios. The Township Zoning Ordinance states that terraces, patios, decks or porches whether roofed or not, but not otherwise enclosed by one or more doors, windows screens walls or siding of any kind, size or dimension provided that such terraces, patios, decks or porches shall not project into the required side yard or yards nor shall the same project more than 5 feet into the required front yard or yards, nor shall the same project more than 1/3 into the required rear yard. The yard requirements vary per Zoning District. Please refer to the Township Zoning Map and Zoning Ordinance.
Water from swimming pools and hot tubs often contains high levels of chlorine. Discharging chlorinated pool or spa water into steams, (irrigation canals or ponds, etc.) is harmful to fish and other aquatic life. The discharge of any sewage or industrial waste, including swimming pool water to any waters of the commonwealth without a permit is a violation of the Clean Steams Law, the Act of June 22, 1927, P.L. 1987, as amended.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) does not require a permit of discharges from single residence pools, provided the guidelines outlined below are followed. Local municipalities should be contacted concerning potential local ordinances.
These guidelines cannot be construed to waive or impair any rights of DEP to prosecute a property (pool) owner and/or pool company for any steam damage that occurs as a result of discharge. Penalties would be assessed under the provisions of the Clean Streams Law.
- Discharge of Water
- Prior to disposing or using the water for irrigation, shut off the chlorination system if there is one, or stop adding chlorine.
- Hold water in the pool or hot tub for two weeks to reduce the chlorine level.
- Discharge or use the water for irrigation in an area where the water will not flow into a stream or storm water.
- Discharge or use the water for irrigating the property and ensure that it does not flow off the property.
- Discharge or use the water for irrigation in a manner that will prevent nuisance conditions (such as creation of odors and fly and mosquito breeding conditions). Nuisance conditions occur when water is held in the pool for a prolonged period.
- The discharge should be at a rate which prevents erosion and optimizes filtration. In no event should pool water be directly discharged to waters of the commonwealth.
- Standing water or accumulated rain and/or pool water from previous season should be pumped from the top as not to disturb settled solids. Solids on the pool bottom should not be discharged. After the water has been pumped, solids should be cleaned out manually. The discharge should not raise stream temperatures by more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit in a one-hour period or a total of 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH should be between six and nine standard units and total chlorine residual should be 0.0 mg/l.
- Cleaning wastewaters that contain muriatic acid and chlorine that is used in cleaning pool surfaces should be treated prior to discharge. Muriatic acid wastewater should be neutralized to a pH between six and nine standard units. Chlorine rinses should stand for a period of 10 days to allow chlorine degradation prior to discharge. Total chlorine residual of the wastewater should be less than 0.5 mg/l. Temperature should be monitored as described above (standing water). Chlorine rinse water pH should be between six and nine standards.
Questions concerning pool guidelines should be directed to DEP’s regional office:
South-central Regional Office
909 Elmerton Ave
Harrisburg, PA 17110-8200
Main Telephone: 717-705-4700
24-Hour Emergency: 877-333-1904
You may also visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection website for additional information.
Yes, please visit our Property Transfer page and follow the instructions.
Your sidewalk must be cleared of snow and ice within 24 hours after the snow or ice ceases to fall or form.
The observed snow and ice on your sidewalk must be cleared within 24 hours to avoid tickets or fines.
The Township may also proceed to immediately clear all snow and ice from the sidewalk and collect the expenses thereof, with any additional amount allowed by law, from the owner or tenant as the case may be. Uncollected costs may result in a lien against the real estate.