Lower Merion Township

Montgomery County – Lower Merion Township

General Information

Type of Government:

1st Class Township

Hours of Operation:

8:15 AM to 4:30 PM, Mon-Fri.

Contact Information

Residential Resale Inspection Information

Inspection Fee:

$70/$115 with less than 20 days lead time

Reinspection Fee:

Exterior

• Sidewalks and Curbs
• House numbers
• Pools – Please contact Lower Merion Building & Planning Department for swimming pool, spa and hot tub barrier requirements effective 6/2010.
• Abandoned oil tanks must be removed – Permit required.

Interior

• Smoke alarm – Buyer and seller must provide notorized copy of Smoke Detector Affidavit at settlement
• No interior inspection required.

Other

• Contact Township Inspector for latest copy of Resale Certification Memo (610) 645-6168 Resale certifications are required for vacant ground and commercial properties.
• For applications received with more than 20 days processing time, the fee is $70.00, however the fee is $115.00 for applications received in less than 20 days processing time.
• Real Estate Deed Registration form required upon change in ownership or legal description – $10.00 fee. www.lowermerion.org
• Inspection requests must be submitted 20 days before settlement.

Required Certifications

Building Codes and Sign Ordinances

Building Code Requirements

• PA UCC 2009
• IPMC
• IRC

Open House Directionals

• Maximum of 2 directional signs designating open house containing only directional info and the name of the real estate agent or individual holding the open house. Signs must be erected & removed on same day. Not to block pedestrian or vehicular traffic or attached to pole, tree or other natural resource.

For Sale/Sold Signs

• Signs may be a maximum of 6 sq. ft. per side & 5 feet above grade. No internal lighting, one sign for each street frontage.

Rental Property Inspection Information

Inspection Fee:

$ Contact township

Reinspection Fee:

$

Rental Property Registration/License Required:

Yes

Cost of Registration/Licensure:

Varies – contact Township

Registration Valid For:

1 year

Other Rental Property Inspection Required:

Exterior

• Housing inspections for all rental housing must comply with IPMC

Interior

• Housing inspections for all rental housing must comply with IPMC.

Other

• Housing inspection required prior to settlement.
• Contact township for Rental License fees

Required Certifications

Elected Officials

• Township Manager (Appointed) – Douglas S. Cleland
• Board of Commissioners – Paul A. McElhaney, Cheryl B. Gelber, Liz Rogan, George T. Manos, Lewis F. Gould, Jr., Brian A. Gordon, V. Scott Zelov, Jane Dellheim, Philip Rosenzweig, Jennifer Brown, Steven K. Lindner, Richard Churchill, C. Brian McGuire, Daniel S. Bernheim

Find your elected state and federal legislators.

Tax Information

Millage Rate

Realty Transfer Percent

Other Information

Other Tax Information

Uniform Construction Code

Many local governments have adopted use and occupancy ordinances. Increasingly, code officials are citing non-permitted uses and or structures during their inspections. The following lists the enforcement policies as they relate to a residential resale inspection. Please see link below for more information regarding Pennsylvania’s statewide building code, the Uniform Construction Code (UCC).
PA Labor and Industry Building Codes Homepage

• Non-permitted decks that have been installed: Owner must remove or get a permit and ensure structure is compliant with codes
• Non-permitted finished basements: Owner must remove or get a permit and ensure structure is compliant with codes
• Means of egress for finished basement is required when includes sleeping quarters and/or Required in new construction
• Non-permitted fences, sheds, or other structures: Owner must remove or get a permit and ensure structure is compliant with codes
• We do not enter the property, only what is seen from the street is addressed. RESALE CERTIFICATION is required.
• Our web address for building and/or zoning codes is: http://www.lowermerion.org
• Our web address for use and occupancy inspection checklist and/or application is: http://www.lowermerion.org
• We have not separately adopted NFPA standard 211, Chapters 13 &/or 14, which regulate fireplace and heater chimney maintenance.

The information contained in this profile is only intended to provide a general summary of real estate-related laws and regulations in this municipality. It is not intended to take the place of written law, ordinances, or regulations that can be obtained directly from the municipality.