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Community & Economic Development

The Community Development staff administers programs based upon adopted codes and standards. The types of regulated activities typically include:

  • Building construction (new buildings, additions, alterations, relocation and demolition)

  • Subdivision and land development (review of traffic, stormwater, and environmental impacts)

  • Use and occupancy of buildings and land (property maintenance, compliance with fire protection rules)

  • Zoning (permitted uses, required parking, signs, building height limits, use standards)

  • Stormwater management (planning, impact mitigation, installation & maintenance of facilities)

  • Excavating and filling land (stormwater management and erosion/sediment pollution controls)

  • Right-of-way (streets, curbs, sidewalks, driveways)

  • Floodplain management (improvements in the floodplain)

The department staff is responsible for three categories of public services:

  • Building Codes Enforcement

  • Planning and Zoning

  • Geographical Information System (GIS)

Building Codes Enforcement

In 2004, the PA Legislature created Act 45, better known as the PA Uniform Construction Code, to set minimum statewide standards for the construction of commercial and residential buildings. The PA Uniform Construction Code requires that all municipalities adopt this standard for building construction within Pennsylvania. The PA Uniform Construction Code mandates the use of model codes published by the International Code Council. The ICC model codes are updated every three years and adopted by the PA Uniform Construction Code.

The ICC Codes include the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Energy Code, International Existing Building Code, and National Electric Code. The PA Department of Labor and Industry maintains the role of updating PA UCC regulations, inspector and plan reviewer certifications, Accessibility Board of Appeals, and other related matters.

Lower Allen Township opted to administer and enforce the PA Uniform Construction Code with certified inspectors and plan reviewers on staff within the Community & Economic Development Department. The Township continued to enforce existing local ordinances with compliance standards more stringent than or not included within the PA Uniform Construction Code. The Township also enforces the provisions in the International Fire Code and the International Property Maintenance Code not referenced in the International Building Code and the International Residential Code.

Planning and Zoning

Planning and Zoning staff strive to assist residents, developers, and other interested parties in meeting their land use goals and objectives while offering high quality level of service throughout the plan review process. Subdivision and land development plans are processed under the guidelines of the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) and reviewed in accordance with the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and the Zoning Ordinance. Plans are reviewed by the Township Engineer prior to the Township Planning Commission, who will then provide comments and recommendations. The Township Board of Commissioners will grant plan approval after all comments have been addressed.

GIS

In 2025, Lower Allen Township entered a partnership with CAI Technologies to deploy AxisGIS. AxisGIS enhances the traditional tax parcel mapping services by providing additional capabilities to residents and staff. Through AxisGIS, residents can find essential property information, zoning information, floodplain data, leaf and trash pickup schedules, and a wide array of other details. Residents and interested parties are encouraged to check out AxiGIS in our GIS subpage.