Pike Township

Pike Township is a second class township in northeastern Berks County, Pennsylvania, with its municipal building located at 805 Hill Church Road in Boyertown. The township office serves as the administrative center for local government functions including zoning, permitting, stormwater management, road maintenance, tax collection and public records requests. Residents and property owners can reach the office by phone at 610-987-6023.

The township covers a largely rural landscape of working farms, wooded ridges and small historic villages in the Oley Valley region. Pikeville and Lobachsville are among its recognized settlement areas, and the township falls within the Oley Valley School District.

History

Pike Township was originally part of Oley Township and was erected as a separate unit of government in 1812. A portion of Rockland Township was added to its boundaries in 1842. The area's recorded settlement history reaches back further still: Johannes Keim is credited with establishing the first settlement site in the Oley region around 1706, near what is now Pikeville.

The early economy of the township was built on agriculture, lumbering, grist milling and iron production. Forges operated along Pine Creek, and the village of Lobachsville developed into a small industrial center that at various points supported a fulling mill, a woolen factory and the Lobach chair factory. Much of that built heritage survives. The Jacob Keim Homestead, the Yoder Mill and the Mill at Lobachsville are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two historic congregations, St. Paul's United Church of Christ and Hill Church, remain landmarks within the township, and the surrounding farmland and historic landscapes continue to define its character.

Township Government and Meetings

Pike Township is governed by a three-member Board of Supervisors. Each supervisor is elected to a six-year term. The Board meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at the Pike Township Building on Hill Church Road. Meeting agendas are posted in advance and the previous month's minutes are made available so residents can follow decisions on budgets, ordinances, road projects and land use matters.

Several appointed bodies support the Board:

• Planning and Zoning Commission: a five-member commission appointed by the Supervisors to four-year terms. It meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. and reviews subdivision and land development applications under the township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
• Zoning Hearing Board: a three-member board plus an alternate, appointed by the Supervisors, which convenes on an as-needed basis to hear zoning appeals, variance requests and applications for special exceptions.
• Environmental Advisory Council: a five-member council created by ordinance on March 5, 2002. It meets the second Monday of each month.

Permits, Zoning and Code Enforcement

Zoning permits are administered under the township zoning ordinance, with a published permit fee schedule (the 2026 schedule is available through the township). Property owners planning construction, additions, accessory structures or changes in land use should contact the office early to determine which permits apply.

Building code official duties for the township are performed by Technicon Enterprises Inc., which also provides engineering review services. The township additionally has a designated Code Enforcement and Sewage Enforcement Officer who handles on-lot sewage matters and ordinance compliance.

Other permitting functions handled locally include driveway permits issued under the township Driveway Ordinance and water well permitting under the adopted Well Ordinance, which regulates the construction and location of wells within the township.

Stormwater Management

Stormwater is administered through the Pike Township Stormwater Management Ordinance together with the Swamp Creek Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan and Ordinance. Projects that disturb earth or increase impervious coverage are typically subject to review, with engineering assessment provided through Technicon. Applicants are encouraged to confirm requirements before finalizing site plans, since stormwater design can influence lot layout and construction sequencing.

Roads and Emergency Management

Township road maintenance is directed by the Road Master, who operates out of the Township Garage. Responsibilities include routine upkeep of township roads, seasonal work and coordination of driveway access permits where private drives meet township roadways.

Pike Township also maintains a designated Emergency Management Coordinator who oversees local preparedness planning and response coordination. Contact information for the coordinator is made available to residents through the township.

Environmental Advisory Council Programs

The Environmental Advisory Council works to identify environmentally sensitive areas within the township and to provide residents with practical conservation resources. Its ongoing efforts include:

• A pollinator garden established in 2013 in connection with the township's 200th anniversary.
• A significant features inventory that helps landowners identify notable plants, habitats and natural features on their property.
• Stream bank tree plantings along Oysterville Creek to support riparian buffers and water quality.

Notifications and Public Records

Pike Township participates in TextMyGov, a free opt-in text alert service. Residents can subscribe by texting PIKETWP to 91896 and replying YES to confirm. Subscribers receive notices about township meetings, office and building closures, utility outages and other official announcements. Users can opt out at any time by texting STOP.

Public records are available under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Residents may submit the Standard Right-to-Know Law Request Form to the township to request access to public records. Local tax collection is handled by the elected township Tax Collector, who can be reached at 610.987.0942.

Business Directory

The township maintains a business directory featuring enterprises located within Pike Township. Local business owners may submit a form for review to be included, with listings that can display a phone number, address and a short description. The directory is intended to make it easier for residents to identify and connect with businesses operating in their own community.

Visiting the Township Office

The Pike Township Building at 805 Hill Church Road in Boyertown serves as both the administrative office and the meeting location for the Board of Supervisors and appointed boards. Residents are advised to call 610-987-6023 to confirm office hours before visiting, particularly when dropping off applications, permit fees or records requests.