Shed & Garage Permits in Valley Township
Chester County, Pennsylvania
Everything you need to know about getting a permit for a shed, garage, or other accessory structure in Valley Township.
Who This Covers
Valley Township, Chester County PA. Most of it has a Coatesville 19320 mailing address, but so do the City of Coatesville, Caln, West Caln and East Fallowfield - check the parcel, not the zip.
Office: Code Enforcement Department, 1145 W. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, PA 19320. Phone (610) 384-5751 ext. 402 (older forms say ext. 401), fax (610) 384-2746. Mon-Fri 8 am - 4 pm.
Email: [email protected]. Zoning Officer: Dave Porter, [email protected].
Which Permit You Need
Sheds: Zoning Permit Application ($50 application fee + $85 zoning permit fee). The form includes a box where you draw the shed and its distance to every property line.
Garages: Building Permit Application with 2 sets of plans and specs. Residential application fee is $50 (non-refundable); the permit fee itself is filled in by the office based on the job.
The owner can sign and file the application. There is a contractor section on the form too.
Setbacks and Height
Accessory buildings may NOT go in the front yard.
Max height for any accessory building: 15 ft.
R-2 zone: 8 ft from each side property line and 8 ft from the rear line.
R-1 zone: 10 ft from each side line and 10 ft from the rear line.
Conservation (C) zone: 20 ft from each side line and 20 ft from the rear line.
Nothing may be built inside a right-of-way or easement.
Corner lots count as having two front yards.
How to Apply
Download the application from the Code Enforcement page, fill it out, and turn it in at the township office with the fee.
Include a plot plan showing the building size and the distance to every property line and to any other buildings.
The township has 15 business days to respond, deny or issue a building permit.
After a permit is issued, the Chester County Assessment Office is notified and an assessor may stop by to measure the new building.
Good to Know
Keep it under 15 ft tall. A tall two-story or steep-roof building can go over the height limit.
If the building will sit on a separate lot you also own (not the lot with the house), ask the township first whether the lots need to be combined.
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 Valley Township 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 Valley Township
White Pine Structures handles delivery and setup throughout Chester County. We can also help you navigate the permit process — many of our customers in Valley Township 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 Valley Township'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.