Shed & Garage Permits in Kennett Square Borough
Chester County, Pennsylvania
Everything you need to know about getting a permit for a shed, garage, or other accessory structure in Kennett Square Borough.
Permits Required
Kennett Square BOROUGH is a separate government from Kennett Township (near-identical name) — use the Borough's Codes, Planning & Zoning office, not the Township's accessory-structure packet
A Zoning Permit is required for a new accessory building; anything over 120 sq ft needs a permit
A Building Permit is required for larger or foundation structures; separate Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical/HVAC, and Roof permits apply when those trades are involved
A Street Opening Permit is needed if work or staging happens in the public right-of-way
Setbacks & Size
Accessory buildings must sit in the rear yard
Height cap is roughly 15 ft — confirm before ordering a two-story building
Side and rear setbacks apply; confirm exact distances with the Borough
Oversized buildings may require a special exception or variance
Historic District (HARB)
If the lot is in the Borough's historic district AND the building is visible from a public street, you need a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the Historical Architectural Review Board BEFORE any zoning or building permit
$100 non-refundable fee; submit at least 11 calendar days before the monthly HARB meeting (held the 3rd Tuesday)
HARB recommends and Borough Council issues the COA; working without a required COA can mean a stop-work order and fines up to $600 per day
Always check the Historic District Map first
Stormwater
Any increase in impervious coverage up to 500 sq ft requires a Stormwater Management Waiver
More than 500 sq ft of new impervious coverage triggers a Simplified Stormwater packet instead
How to Apply
All permits are filed through the Borough's online portal (Traisr): https://portal.traisr.com/landing.aspx?OrganizationId=600
Codes, Planning & Zoning office: 600 S. Broad St, Suite 110, Kennett Square PA 19348 — open Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Phone: 610-444-6020
Fees & Payment
No money is due at submission — the Borough emails a payment request after its review
Pay by credit card (3% fee) or ACH (free)
Fees follow the Borough's 2026 Fee Schedule; HARB review adds $100 when required
Honestly? It's usually simpler than it looks
Before you hand this off to anyone, we'd encourage you to just call or stop by the Kennett Square Borough township office. The folks there handle shed and garage permits all the time — they'll give you the forms and walk you through filling them out. For a standard shed, most townships only need three things from you:
A certificate of insurance. Just ask and we'll email you a copy. It's easier to get than most people expect — see what one looks like.
A drawing / spec sheet of your building. We'll email you a copy of this too.
That's typically the whole list for a standard shed. Give it a shot yourself first — a lot of folks are pleasantly surprised at how quick it is. And if you get stuck or would just rather not deal with it, we're glad to help (see below).
We Deliver to Kennett Square Borough
White Pine Structures handles delivery and setup throughout Chester County. We can also help you navigate the permit process — many of our customers in Kennett Square Borough have gone through this before and we know what to expect.
Disclaimer
This information is provided as a helpful reference and may not reflect the most current regulations. Always verify requirements directly with Kennett Square Borough's code enforcement or zoning office before starting your project. White Pine Structures is not responsible for permit application outcomes. Information last verified: September 2026.