Upper Bern Township

Upper Bern Township is the municipal government serving a rural community in northern Berks County, Pennsylvania. The township office is located at 25 North 5th Street in Shartlesville, PA 19554, and can be reached by phone at 610-488-1191. The building serves as the administrative center for township business and as the meeting place for the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, the Zoning Hearing Board and the elected auditors.

Like most second class townships in Pennsylvania, Upper Bern operates under a Board of Supervisors, which sets policy, adopts the annual budget, approves ordinances and resolutions, and oversees the township's road program, zoning administration and wastewater system. Advisory and quasi-judicial bodies, including the Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board, handle land use review and appeals. Elected auditors review township finances. All of these bodies hold public meetings at the municipal building, where residents are welcome to attend and comment.

Office Hours and Contact

The township office is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Residents, property owners, contractors and developers can use these hours to pick up and submit permit applications, ask questions about zoning requirements, request records, reserve the township park or follow up on sewer billing. Correspondence can also be sent by email to upperberntownship@comcast.net.

Permits and Code Administration

One of the township's primary day to day functions is permitting. A zoning permit application, accompanied by a zoning plot plan, must be submitted with all other permit applications and must be approved before a building permit can be issued. Permit fees are established by the township's Schedule of Fees resolution.

Permits available through the township office include:

• Zoning permits, required in advance of most construction and land use changes
• Building and electrical permits for homes, businesses, barns, pole buildings, garages, silos, sheds, decks, swimming pools and alternative energy facilities
• Mechanical, plumbing and fire protection permits, each submitted on a separate application
• Driveway permits, required when building a new driveway or relocating an existing one
• Street occupancy permits for curb, sidewalk, storm water, utility or other improvements within the street right-of-way, generally measured 16.5 feet from the street center line
• Peddlers and solicitors permits for door to door sales and business conducted from a non-stationary location
• Property rental licenses for landlords, along with a tenant list form filed every six months
• Inter-township liquor license transfer applications

Uniform Construction Code review and inspections are handled by Building Inspection Underwriters (BIU), the township's third party agency. Inspector Bill Murphy can be reached at 866-344-9681.

Zoning Appeals, Conditional Uses and Land Development

Property owners whose permit application would be denied under the zoning ordinance may file an appeal with the Zoning Hearing Board using the township's application form. Certain uses identified in the township ordinances are permitted only by conditional use; those applications are submitted to the Board of Supervisors and decided after a public hearing.

Subdivision and land development plans are reviewed by both Upper Bern Township and the Berks County Planning Commission. Applicants must submit a minimum of six plan sets, with eight recommended, and two certified copies of the recorded plan must be returned to the township after recording.

Wastewater and On Lot Septic

Properties connected to the township wastewater system receive sewer bills that can be paid online through the township's InvoiceCloud payment portal. A private sewer lateral inspection is required whenever a connected property is transferred to a new owner, which helps identify defects and reduce inflow into the system.

For properties not served by public sewer, the township administers an on lot septic program. Septic tanks must be pumped every three years and a pump out certification must be submitted to the township. Property owners may request a septic tank pumping waiver, which, if approved by the Board of Supervisors, grants a one time exemption for a single three year cycle.

Roads and Winter Maintenance

The township maintains its local road network and plows snow to the edge of the right-of-way during winter storms. Not every road in the township is municipally owned: Shartlesville Road, Wolf Creek Road and Old Route 22 are owned and maintained by PennDOT. Concerns about those roadways should be directed to PennDOT at 610-929-0766 or through PennDOT customer care rather than the township office.

Upper Bern Township Park

The township maintains a 6 acre park with indoor and outdoor pavilions, a band shelter, a playground and off-street parking. The facility is available for rent from June 1 through September 15, between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Events with more than 25 attendees require a special event permit, and applications must be submitted at least seven days in advance.

Property Taxes

Real estate tax collection is handled by Tax Collector Rebecca Thompson, PO Box 106, Shartlesville, PA 19554. She can be reached by email at upperberntax@gmail.com or by phone at 835-261-7014. For 2026, the Upper Bern Township millage is 1.41 and the Berks County millage is 9.013. Payments must be made in the exact amount due, and a copy of the tax bill must accompany payment.

Public Meetings and Records

Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission (which meets at 7:00 PM), Zoning Hearing Board and elected auditor meetings are held at the township building at 25 North 5th Street. Under Resolution No. 6 and No. 8 of 2026, public comment is limited to three minutes per topic. Attendees who need accommodations for a disability may arrange them in advance by calling the Township Secretary at 610-488-1191.

Right to Know requests are submitted to the secretary's office or emailed to upperberntownship@comcast.net. Appeals of open records determinations are directed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, 333 Market St, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234, phone (717) 346-9903. Complaint forms are also available through the office.

Upper Bern Township is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations for meeting attendees with disabilities.