Longswamp Township

Longswamp Township is the municipal government serving a rural section of eastern Berks County, Pennsylvania. The township office is located at 1112 State Street in Mertztown, PA 19539, and can be reached at 610-682-7388. As a second class township governed under Pennsylvania municipal law, Longswamp handles the day to day administration of local roads, zoning and land use, sewage management, rental housing registration, finance and budgeting, parks, and public records for property owners and residents within its boundaries.

The office is open to the public Monday through Thursday and is closed to the public on Fridays. Residents who need permits, applications, ordinance copies, or assistance with a township program generally begin at the State Street office, where administrative staff including a Secretary/Treasurer and a Township Office Administrator coordinate requests and direct them to the appropriate department.

History

The area known as Long Swamp was settled as early as 1734 and was officially erected into a township in 1761, making it one of the older municipalities in Berks County. German speaking settlers knew the area as Langen Schwamm. The name is generally attributed to the marshy ground that follows the length of Toad Creek, known locally as Krotte Krick, a stream that flows eastward from near the borough of Topton and empties into the Little Lehigh Creek where it meets the Swabia Creek in the Village of Lower Longswamp. That watershed still shapes the township's geography and much of its land use policy today.

Township Government

Longswamp Township is governed by a three member Board of Supervisors. The current board consists of Don Hickman as Chairman, Mike Sacks as Vice Chairman, and Mark Hilbert as Supervisor. The supervisors set policy, adopt ordinances, approve the annual budget, and oversee township operations. Township functions are organized into departments covering Administration, Finance, Zoning, Sewage Management, Public Works, Fire and EMS, Parks and Recreation, and Open Records.

Zoning and Building Permits

Zoning permits are issued by the township to verify that a proposed use conforms to the applicable zoning district and that the location of a structure meets the requirements of the zoning ordinance. Zoning administration is handled by Zoning Officer Brad Pflum of LTL Consultants, Ltd., who holds office hours at the township building on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Building permits are regulated under Pennsylvania's statewide Uniform Construction Code. A building permit is required for structural or accessibility work and for detached accessory structures exceeding 1,000 square feet. Residential applications must include two sets of drawings.

The current zoning ordinance took effect 06/14/2022 and copies are available for review or purchase at the office.

Residential Rental Registration and Inspections

Under Ordinance No. 303, adopted September 12, 2023, all owners of residential rental property in the township must register their units annually. Permits are valid for one calendar year and expire December 31.

Inspections are required for new rental units, upon the sale or transfer of a property containing rental units, and every three years at permit renewal. Inspections follow the International Property Maintenance Code and are scheduled through the township code enforcement officer.

Sewage Management Program

The Sewage Management Program is governed by Ordinance 2006-238, adopted December 12, 2006. All properties not connected to the Topton Borough Water Authority system must have their septic tanks pumped at least once every three years. The program operates on a three cycle schedule: Cycle 1 runs 7/1/24 to 6/30/25, Cycle 2 runs 7/1/25 to 6/30/26, and Cycle 3 runs 7/1/26 to 6/30/27. Registered haulers submit the triplicate pumping record to document compliance. The SMP administrator can be reached at 610-682-7388, extension 129.

On Lot Sewage Permits are required, along with an escrow agreement, for septic repairs, modifications, or the installation of new tanks. Applications must be signed by the property owner, filed with the township, and may be picked up at the township office.

Public Works, Finance, and Taxes

The Public Works Department maintains all local roads and township owned land. It is led by Scott Miller, Roadmaster and Public Works Superintendent, who can be reached at 610-682-7388, extension 110.

The Finance Department records and reports all township financial transactions, including payroll, accounts payable, and purchasing. The annual budget is tentatively approved in November and adopted in December. Year end accounts are audited by an independent CPA firm and submitted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Budget documents dating back to 2005 are available through the township Document Center.

Municipal tax rates for 2026 are set at 1.70 for the General Tax Fund, .50 for the Emergency Services Tax, and .75 for Fire Protection. Taxes are collected by Tax Collector Lorraine A. Meck at 9540 Longswamp Road, Mertztown, PA 19539, (610) 641-9119. The township office does not collect or hold tax payments and does not handle tax certifications. Delinquent taxes are directed to the Berks County Tax Claim Bureau at 610-478-6625.

Records, Parks, and Emergency Services

The township reviews all Open Records, Right to Know, and Freedom of Information requests.

The Parks and Recreation Department maintains township park locations and facilities and publishes an event calendar for residents. Fire and emergency services within Longswamp Township are provided by independent organizations, supported through the township's Fire Protection and Emergency Services tax levies. Employee pension administration, including actuarial, investment, and advisory services, is provided through the PSATS Pension Trust with Summit Financial Corporation and Nationwide, with disclosure statements filed in accordance with Chapter 7-A of Act 44 of 2009.

Additional information, forms, ordinances, and meeting details are available.