Engineering Division
Changing the Grading on Your Property

Any time you remove or add soil to your property you potentially are making a grading change.  Changes in grading can occur as a result of installing a fence, a retaining wall, an in-ground or above-ground pool, a paver or concrete patio, sport court ,as well as, performing any other new construction or making additions to existing structures.  Unless you are applying for a Pool Permit, you need to obtain a Grading and Clearing Permit from the Engineering Division any time you perform a grading change.

Prior to actually disturbing or bringing in soil, you need to file a Grading and Clearing Permit Application.  This application is available from the Engineering Division and has a fee of $50 per acre (minimum fee is $50) 5000 Square feet (50’ x 100’ equivalent) of disturbed area.  You should attach to the application a survey of the property with the affected areas outlined and a topographic map showing existing and proposed contours.  If there are no adverse effects to either your property or your neighbor's property, and no restrictions on the property, such as:other reason to deny the application (e.g., easements, wetlands, stream encroachment and/or other issues), your request will be approved.  If you are grading land in conjunction with the installation of a pool, then you do not need to obtain a separate Grading and Clearing Permit as long as you supply a grading plan with your Pool Permit application that you file with the Zoning Division. However, you are still required to fill out a Clearing (Tree Removal) Permit in order to remove trees for the installation of a pool.

All proposed changes to the land must be in compliance with Township Ordinances.  The minimum slope for lawns is 3/4 % (a one foot vertical change for every 133 feet horizontally).  The maximum slope is 10% for areas within five feet of a building (a 6-inch vertical drop is allowed within five feet).  The maximum slope for lawns further than 5 feet from a building is 25%  (a one foot vertical change for every 4 feet horizontally). Furthermore you may not raise the elevation of any point within five feet of a property line, and you may not raise any point within 15 feet of a property line an elevation of three feet or more.  Each application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Previous Page