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This section contains the answers to frequently asked questions about Pocopson Township procedures, services and third party contact information.

Obtain a building permit?

Pocopson Township requires building permits for most construction projects. Permits are required to ensure that construction activities meet the requirements of the ICC Building Codes required by law. To download permit applications, please visit Pocopson Forms and Permits.

A non-refundable fee of $25.00 must be included when a building permit application is submitted. An additional non-refundable fee of $25.00 will be charged for projects that require zoning review (includes fences, sheds, decks, pools, and additions). These fees are subtracted from the final permit fee that is due when the permit is picked up.

A building permit application must be signed by the landowner/applicant. If the applicant is NOT the landowner, a written statement indicating that the applicant will act as agent/representative is required. Your application must include two (2) copies of a plot plan showing your setbacks; a set of construction prints; and the estimated cost of your project.

The Township Building Inspector is in the office on Mondays and Thursdays only, and the Zoning Officer works for Pocopson on as as-needed basis. Please allow at least two weeks for processing of a permit application. If any construction begins before a permit is issued and paid for, the permit fees will be doubled.

Contact my legislators?

State:
State Representative Christina Sappey (158^th PA State House District)
State Senator: John Kane(9th PA State Senate District)

Federal:
U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (US 6^th Congressional District)

U.S. Senator Bob Casey
U.S. Senator John Fetterman

County:
The three-member Chester County Board of Commissioners constitutes the chief governing body of the county. The board, together with its executive staff, manages a large and diverse organization whose mission is to provide quality government services in an efficient, cost effective manner. Elected every four years, the commissioners are responsible for policy making, fiscal management, and the administration of county affairs for the Chester County population of 510,000.

District Justice:
Al Iacocca (15-3-04): phone: 610-444-6330 fax: 610-444-6429
916 West Cypress Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348

Find public transportation in Pocopson?

Bus service in Pocopson Township is very limited. The Southern Chester County Organization on Transportation (SCCOOT) bus route follows Route 52 through Pocopson, but Pocopson Home is the only identified stop. SEPTA provides bus service in West Chester, with connections to various destinations. The service runs Monday through Saturday.

An additional bus service available to Pocopson Township residents is Rover, a reservation based, countywide transportation service. The bus operates on weekdays and on a limited basis on weekends. The service focuses on senior citizens, medical assistance card holders, and persons with disabilities. Fares for those riders are partially subsidized. Service to the general public is full fare and based on availability. The service is currently operating approximately 65 shuttles daily throughout Chester County.

An additional transportation option for Pocopson residents is Rainbow Cab, which operates out of West Chester (610) 696-6060. Rainbow Cab participates in the Senior Shared Ride Program, in which seniors pay 15 percent of the regular fare. Advance registration in the program is required, as are reservations.

Useful transportation links

Chesco Bus
Ride Guide
Rover
SCCOOT
SEPTA Regional Rail Schedules
Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC)

Learn more about recycling?

Section 174-20 of the Township Code outlines residential recycling requirements in Pocopson. Residents must separate recyclable materials from other waste.

ITEMS ACCEPTED IN ONE CONTAINER
The following single-stream items are typically collected in one container at your curb:

Aluminum cans, foil, and pie plates
Corrugated cardboard and boxboard (cereal boxes, cracker boxes, soda and beer cardboard casing)
Glass bottles and jars, clear and colored
Metal cans. including empty aerosol cans
Mixed paper
Newspapers and magazines
Plastic #1-5 and #7 containers

ITEMS NOT ALLOWED

Caps/lids even if they are plastic and come from recyclables like water bottles, detergent, etc.
Ceramic cups / plates / flower pots
Crystal / drinking glasses
Light bulbs / mirrors / plate glass / window glass
Metallic wrapping paper
Oil cans / bottles
Ovenware
Paint cans

View more information here. View a 30-second educational commercial here.

Check with your trash hauler about other items that they may recycle. Please note, recyclables are commodities. Dirty or contaminated, they are worthless. Clean and properly prepared recyclables have value and may be turned into new products.

In addition to curbside recycling, area residents may drop off recyclables behind the Township Building at 740 Denton Hollow Road, where five large metal bins are emptied weekly by SECCRA. Plastic bags jam the sorting equipment at recycling facilities; so if you transport your recyclables in plastic trash bags, please empty the recyclables into the bins, take the used bags home, and either use them again (if they’re in good shape) or put them in the trash. If the bins are full, please return at another time. Do not leave recyclables outside the bins.

Maintain my septic system?

Most homes in Pocopson have on-site septic systems rather than public sewers. The Chester County Health Department’s Owners’ Manual for On-Lot Sewer Systems provides useful information.

Pocopson Township residents are required to have their system pumped out at least once every three years. Chester County maintains a list of licensed Liquid Waste Pumpers who will report your cleanout information in the County database.

Wastewater treatment plants at Riverside and the Preserve are owned by DELCORA. Please call:
610-636-4398 (for 24-hour emergency service)
610-876-5523, x122 (for billing questions)
610-876-5523, x264 (for operations questions)

Get permission to post a sign?

Reserve a park facility?

Reserve the Township Office conference room?

Contact police, fire, ambulance, and other emergency service providers?

Call 9-1-1 for emergencies

Police coverage for the Township is handled through the Pennsylvania State Police.
Avondale Barracks 2 Moxley Lane Avondale, PA 19311
For non-emergency information, please call 610-268-2022.

Fire Service: Pocopson Township is served by two fire companies. Please view the Pocopson Fire Service Area Map to determine which fire company serves you.

Longwood Fire Company 610-388-6880 1001 E. Baltimore Pike Kennett Square, PA 19348 Website

Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company 610-347-2179 36 Firehouse Drive Unionville, PA 19375: Website

Ambulance Service:
All of Pocopson Township is served by Longwood Fire Company’s ambulance service.

Poison Control 1-800-222-1222

Chester County Department of Emergency Services Website

Hospitals in Chester County include Brandywine Hospital; Chester County Hospital; Jennersville Regional Hospital; and Paoli Hospital.

Report a problem to the Township?

To report a problem with Township roads only (all roads except: Route 52, Route 926, Pocopson Road , Lenape-Unionville Road, Red Lion Road, Northbrook Road, and Route 842, which are are all State roads), please call 610-793-2387 or send an e-mail to report a problem to the township. For emergencies (road sign down, travel impeded by debris in the road, etc.) please call 484-947-9379.

To report an issue with a State road (please see list above), including potholes and other road problems, please contact the PennDOT maintenance hotline at: 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623) or use this link to access PennDOT’s concern form.

These contacts may be used to report missing highway signs, downed trees or other obstacles in the road, washouts, and other potential hazards.

Regarding Township Parks: Please leave a message for Public Works at 610-793-2151 or send an e-mail to that office.

View Pocopson’s Transportation Map

For dead deer removal:
Contact PennDOT at (484) 340-3200 for STATE roads only.
Contact the PA Game Commission at (610) 926-3136 or (610) 926-1966 for TOWNSHIP roads only.

For zoning issues and nuisance complaints, please call the Township Office at 610-793-2151 or send an e-mail.

Locate the trails in Pocopson Township?

Pocopson Township has an extensive trail system. There are trails within the Township parks, within and connecting residential neighborhoods, and within the Brandywine Valley Association (BVA) property. The trails are typically on public lands or provide for public use through an easement. Most of the trails are unpaved, with limited areas of paved trails around the Riverside neighborhood. Click here for the recent Pocopson Trails Map.

Get reflective address signs for my home?

In an emergency, just a few minutes could make the difference between life and death. Can your address be seen clearly and easily by emergency responders, especially at night? Many EMTs do not live in Pocopson and might not be familiar with your road or driveway. Protect yourself and install a reflective number address sign that can be seen clearly in day and at night. Longwood Fire Company sells reflective signs for $20.00 and up. Call 610-388-6880 for more information.

Dispose of hazardous or electronic waste?

Household hazardous waste (HHW) is labeled with words like “Caution,” “Corrosive,” “Combustible,” “Danger,” “Hazardous,” or “Toxic.” Examples are pool and septic tank chemicals; fuel additives, brake and transmission fluid, antifreeze; acides, caustics and solvents; joint compound/caulk; driveway sealer; oil based paints, paint thinner, stain, shellac, varnish; weed killer, pesticides, poisons; and rug, wood and metal cleaners.

Pocopson Township, along with other Chester County municipalities, sponsors six annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events. Chester County residents may drop off HHW items in the original, labeled containers. Drop-off sites will not accept explosives, tires, ammunition, or commercial or industrial waste.

The current schedule for the year can be found HERE.

Electronic waste is no longer being collected at the County/municipal regional events because an affordable e-waste collector has not been identified. Please visit the SECCRA website for information on electronics recycling. Staples recycles a variety of electronics at no charge, no matter where they were purchased; view details here. The Chester County Solid Waste Authority also provides electronics disposal to County residents.