Upper Tulpehocken Township

Upper Tulpehocken Township is the municipal government serving a rural community in northwestern Berks County, Pennsylvania. The township office is located at 6501 Old Route 22 in Bernville, PA 19506, and can be reached by phone at 610-488-7170. As a Second Class Township under Pennsylvania law, it handles the everyday functions of local government: zoning and building permits, road maintenance and snow removal, sewage permitting, emergency management coordination, recycling, land development review and public records requests.

The township sits in a largely agricultural stretch of the county between the Blue Mountain and the Tulpehocken Valley, with Route 183 and Old Route 22 serving as the principal travel corridors. Residents, property owners, contractors and prospective builders all interact with the office for permits, inspections and information about local ordinances.

History

European settlement in the area dates to roughly 1735, and the township was formally organized in 1820. The name comes from the Lenni Lenape word Tulpehocken, commonly translated as Land of the Turtle, a name shared by the creek and the broader valley region.

A significant change in the township's boundaries occurred in 2016. On April 26 of that year, voters in both Upper Tulpehocken Township and the neighboring Strausstown Borough approved a merger of the two municipalities, with roughly 80 percent overall approval. The consolidation took effect on July 1, 2016, creating a single Second Class Township. Strausstown Village continues to function as the community center of the merged municipality, home to the fire company, the sewer system and much of the local commercial activity. The township also maintains a historical display case honoring longtime township historian Vera Breidigan.

Government and Administration

Upper Tulpehocken Township is governed by a three member Board of Supervisors. The current board consists of Robert Deisemann as Chairman, Sherry Fuhrmann as Vice Chairman and David Behm as Member. The board meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm, handling business that includes subdivision plan approvals, ordinance adoption and the annual setting of tax millage. The 2026 calendar includes a reorganization meeting on January 5 at 1:00 pm, a road workshop on January 20 and a budget meeting on October 27.

Day to day operations are carried out by a small staff and a group of contracted professionals:

• Susan Ehrets, Manager, Secretary and Treasurer
• Christy Flaherty, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
• Dwain Schlappich, Roadmaster
• Kraft Municipal Group of Shillington, providing Zoning Officer, Code Official and Township Engineer services
• Colin MacFarlane, Esquire, of Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys in Wyomissing, serving as solicitor
• Brian McFeaters, Sewage Enforcement Officer, with JB Environmental Services LLC as alternate
• James Maurer, Emergency Management Coordinator

The township also relies on elected auditors, a Planning Commission, a Zoning Hearing Board and several appeals boards. Official legal advertisements and public hearing notices are published in The Reading Eagle, the township's newspaper of record.

Permits and Code Enforcement

Permitting is one of the most common reasons residents contact the office. Zoning permits are required for any planned construction and for operating a business out of a home. Completed applications and fees are submitted directly to the township office, with payment made to Upper Tulpehocken Township.

Building permits are issued under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code and administered through Kraft Municipal Group. Permits apply to a wide range of projects, including new residential construction, agricultural buildings, sheds, decks, additions, pools, garages, pole buildings, carports, signs, electric service upgrades, roofing replacement and timbering. Several inspections take place over the course of a project, so property owners and contractors are encouraged to plan schedules accordingly.

Driveway permits are required both for new driveways and for resurfacing existing ones. Driveways that connect to a state road, specifically Route 183 or Old Route 22, additionally require a permit from PennDOT, which can be arranged by calling 610-871-4100.

The township operates a rental property registration and inspection program, with requirements codified online at ecode360.com/33480982. Owners of rental units must register their properties with the township. Notably, Upper Tulpehocken Township does not require real estate transfer inspections, a point that often comes up during property sales.

Sewage and Septic Services

On site sewage matters are handled by Sewage Enforcement Officer Brian McFeaters, who can be reached at 717-813-6492, with JB Environmental Services LLC available as the alternate SEO. The office coordinates perc and probe testing. After testing is approved, the property owner must submit an independent septic design. A sewage permit must be issued before any permit for new residential construction can be granted, making this an early step in the building process for undeveloped lots.

Roads and Public Works

There are 52.84 miles of roadway within the township, of which the local road crew maintains approximately 36.26 miles. The remaining mileage consists of state roads under the jurisdiction of PennDOT District 5-0. Crew responsibilities include snow plowing, tree trimming, mowing shoulders, cleaning culverts, replacing drainage piping and maintaining street signage. Property owners should be aware that mailboxes placed within the public right of way remain the owner's responsibility.

Emergency Management and Public Safety

Emergency management is coordinated by James Maurer, with Robert Deisemann and Dwain Schlappich serving as deputies, under the authority of Pennsylvania Public Law 1332 of 1978. The township maintains a confidential Special Needs Form for residents who may require assistance during an emergency because of medical conditions, transportation limitations, language barriers or hearing impairments. The form should be updated annually to keep records current.

Police protection is provided by the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop L, Hamburg Station, which can be reached at 610-562-6885. Fire protection and emergency response are provided locally by the Strausstown Volunteer Fire Company.

Planning, Boards and Public Records

The Planning Commission reviews subdivision and land development plans and recommends changes to the zoning ordinance and SALDO to the Board of Supervisors. It meets on the first Tuesday of the month, but only when business requires a session. The Zoning Hearing Board hears appeals, variance requests and conditional use applications, with notices advertised in The Reading Eagle.

Elected auditors review township income and expenses during several meetings early in the calendar year and then file the Annual Financial Audit Report with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Residents seeking public documents may file a Right to Know request with the township's designated RTK Officer, consistent with Pennsylvania's Sunshine Law and open records requirements.

Additional Services

The township operates a recycling center for resident use and provides information on tax collection, including millage rates set annually by the Board of Supervisors. The Strausstown Sewer system serves properties in the village area. Additional details on meeting schedules, ordinances, forms and permit applications are available at the township website, uppertulpehockentownship.com, or by contacting the office directly at 610-488-7170.