Tulpehocken Township

Tulpehocken Township is a municipal government entity in Berks County, Pennsylvania, with its administrative office located at 22 Rehrersburg Road in Rehrersburg. The township is governed by a three-member Board of Supervisors, the standard form of government for second class townships in Pennsylvania, and it handles the full range of local functions residents and property owners encounter: permitting, zoning administration, road maintenance, public sanitary sewer service, real estate tax collection, police protection and the maintenance of public records. The office can be reached at 717-933-5747, and mail should be directed to PO Box 272, Rehrersburg, PA 19550-0272 rather than the street address.

Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM. Because the township operates on a four-day office schedule, residents planning to submit permit applications, pay bills in person or speak with staff are encouraged to allow for that shortened week. Many forms, ordinances and reference documents are available for download at tulpytwp.org, which allows much of the township's routine business to be handled without a trip to the office.

Permits and Code Administration

Permitting is one of the most frequent reasons residents contact the township. Tulpehocken Township issues several distinct categories of permits, each with its own application:

• Building permits, with separate applications for residential and commercial projects. A Uniform Construction Code appeals application is also available for property owners who wish to contest a code decision.
• Zoning permits, administered under the township's 2013-4 Zoning Ordinance and its subsequent amendments.
• Driveway permits, covering both new driveways and modifications to existing ones.
• Road opening permits, issued under Ordinance 2006-1 with fees set by Resolution 2017-8.
• Sewer connection and disconnection permits for properties tied into the public system.
• Backyard chicken permits, issued under Ordinance 2024-1, which establishes the rules for keeping chickens on residential property.
• Wireless Communications Facility permits, issued under Ordinance 2017-2, with fees and right-of-way compensation established by Resolution 2017-11.

The zoning ordinance has been amended over the years to address land use questions that have become more common in rural Pennsylvania municipalities, including solar energy systems, animal units, medical marijuana facilities, signs, wireless facilities and the backyard chicken provisions noted above. A current zoning map is posted online, which is useful for anyone researching a property before purchase, planning an addition or evaluating whether a proposed use is permitted in a given district.

Zoning Hearing Board and Planning Commission

The township maintains a Planning Commission, a Zoning Hearing Board and a Recreation Board in addition to the Board of Supervisors. The Planning Commission reviews subdivision and land development proposals and advises the supervisors on long-range planning matters. The Zoning Hearing Board hears requests for variances, special exceptions and appeals of zoning determinations. Hearing schedules are posted online along with annual meeting calendars for each body, so applicants and interested neighbors can plan ahead. Agendas, meeting minutes, ordinances and resolutions are published on the township website, with archived minutes available going back to 2008. That archive is a practical resource for residents researching the history of a property, a road project or a past zoning decision.

Public Sewer Service

Tulpehocken Township operates a public sanitary sewer system serving properties within its service area. Billing and account questions are handled by the Sewer Secretary, who can be reached by email at tulpysewer@comcast.net. Payments are accepted online through the MuniciPay portal, which gives customers an alternative to mailing a check or visiting the office during the limited weekday hours.

The township regularly reminds sewer customers that so-called flushable wipes and paper towels do not break down in the collection system. These materials are a common cause of blockages that can lead to backups in homes and expensive repairs to both private laterals and public mains. Disposing of them in the trash rather than the toilet is one of the simplest steps a household can take to protect the system.

Police Department

Tulpehocken Township maintains its own police department, a feature not every rural Pennsylvania township retains. The department is led by Chief Bryan Dronick and includes Officers Chad Hepler and John Guacci. The police department can be reached at 717-933-5033 by phone, 717-933-4593 by fax, or by email at tulpypolice@comcast.net. As with any municipal department, emergencies should be reported through 911 rather than the business line.

Taxes and Emergency Medical Services

Real estate tax collection for the township is handled by Tax Collector Ashley E. Batdorf, who can be reached at 717-933-5067 or tulpytaxcollector@gmail.com. Questions about tax bills, due dates, discount and penalty periods and payment methods should be directed to the tax collector rather than the township office.

One distinctive feature of the township's tax structure is the EMS tax, which funds emergency medical coverage for residents. In consideration of that tax, every Tulpehocken Township resident is automatically enrolled in an annual membership with Bethel Community Ambulance at no additional fee. Residents who receive the BCA mailer and choose to return it with payment are making a voluntary donation; the membership itself is already in place through the EMS tax. This arrangement is worth understanding, as it prevents residents from paying twice for coverage they already have.

Right to Know Requests and Citizen Participation

Open records requests under Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law are handled by the township Open Records Officer, Kathy Judy. Requests may be sent to PO Box 272, Rehrersburg, PA 19550, submitted by phone at 717-933-5747 or faxed to 717-933-2014. A standard request form and the township's Open Records Policy are available for download from the website, and the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records maintains additional guidance for requesters at openrecords.pa.gov.

Residents who wish to raise concerns formally can use the township's citizen complaint form, governed by Resolution 2025-12. The form provides a documented channel for property maintenance issues and other matters that fall within township jurisdiction. Tulpehocken Township also runs a volunteer program, with a Volunteer Application and Waiver Form available for residents interested in contributing time to township boards, recreation activities and other community efforts.

Practical Information

• Office address: 22 Rehrersburg Road, Rehrersburg, PA 19550
• Mailing address: PO Box 272, Rehrersburg, PA 19550-0272
• Phone: 717-933-5747
• Fax: 717-933-2014
• Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM
• Website: tulpytwp.org, where forms, ordinances, zoning maps, agendas and minutes are posted

Residents are encouraged to check the website before visiting, since most applications, the fee schedules that accompany them and the current meeting calendars can be downloaded directly, and sewer payments can be completed online at any time.