BURN DAYS IN DERRY BOROUGH
Derry Borough Council amended their burn days Ordinance to simplify the days you are allowed to burn. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the days which you are allowed to burn yard waste including only trees, branches, logs, and stumps from dawn to dusk. It is unlawful to burn garbage of any kind including but not limited to rubber, plastics, and metals….as they are toxic. Derry Borough Police and Fire Department appreciate your support of our Ordinance. Thank you.
Gas Well Usage Reports
Derry Business Park – Sites Available
Residential Zoning Information
Derry Borough is regulated by zoning ordinances and other ordinances that set forth standards, procedures and requirements for building, reconstruction, and use of all buildings within the Borough. Derry Borough also is regulated by the Uniform Construction Code. At times for new construction you will need two permits, both Zoning and Building Permits. Our Borough codes govern the use of all land and buildings. Currently a third party provider (Building Inspection Underwriters) enforce building codes, review all applications, and perform inspections, while reviewing our borough violations. Listed are some common zoning and building code rules:
- All residents are required by Ordinance to have their street numbers posted and visible from the street for emergency personnel to be able to identify your residence. (Ord. 683)
- Residents are to have rain water separated from the sanitary sewer by utilizing down spouts. (Ord. 758)
- Home owners are responsible for the care and maintenance of trees and shrubs which are located on their property and those which abut their property. It is important to keep trees or shrubs maintained that can affect the line of sight for vehicular traffic.
- Parking or storing of commercial vehicles, including tractor trailers, construction trucks, is prohibited on residential streets. (Ord. 725)
- Swimming pools, above or in-ground must be issued a building and zoning permit. (Ord. 725)
- Accessory structures such as storage sheds, pools, garages and fences require a building and zoning permit. Maintenance items such as new roof shingles new windows, replacing anything existing does not require a zoning permit. Permits are required for all new construction and any changes structurally to your current residence. (Ord. 725)
- Weeds and grass must not exceed a height of eight inches. Yards must not be cluttered or
littered with rubble, trash, appliances, unused furniture, building materials, etc. (Ord. 729) - Care should be taken to avoid driving over curbs, planting strips and sidewalks, causing damage to the right-of-way with a vehicle. All sidewalk maintenance is the property owner’s responsibility.(Ord. 305)
- Property owner shall not discharge grass clippings onto a street or alley. Grass clippings may clog storm sewer lines. (Ord. 758)
- Sidewalk clearing is required within 24hrs of snowfall for pedestrian travel throughout the Borough (Ord. 459)
Please see our Zoning Page for more information.
Emergency Planning Citizens Guide
Derry Community Park Project Drawings
Reimagining Our Westmoreland
Westmoreland County is in the process of establishing a new long term vision and community plan for our area by engaging citizens, businesses, and civic leaders to partner together to create a prosperous and viable county. Please take the time to review their site and get involved.
http://www.hlplanning.com/portals/westmoreland/
Flood Plain Management and Insurance Requirements
The flood plain map of Derry Borough can be viewed by the following link: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/
Derry Borough Floodplain Management Ordinance 736
How to Request a Map Amendment
Appeal Information
“The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently re-mapped most of the country using 100-year flood projections, resulting in many homes being designated in flood zones which were never there before, despite many of these homes never or rarely having experienced flooding,” Commissioner Miller said. “If the mortgage on a home is backed by the federal government, which many are, then the homeowner must buy flood insurance.”
To appeal a home’s placement in what is officially called a Special Flood Hazard Area, the homeowner must show the lowest adjacent grade, or the lowest ground touching the structure, is at or above what is called the Base Flood Elevation. The Base Flood Elevation is the computed elevation to which flood water is anticipated to rise during the base flood used in determining the land is in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
Commissioner Miller noted that it is the homeowner’s responsibility to provide this information in a letter to FEMA. For this type of appeal, called a Letter of Map Amendment, there is no charge to the consumer.
Homeowners can get more information on how to appeal a flood zone designation, get a flood map, and find answers to other questions, by going to https://www.fema.gov/information-homeowners. Homeowners can also call 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) to get information on appealing a flood zone designation.
As part of Governor Wolf’s continuing consumer education and protection initiative, the Insurance Department earlier this year created a one-stop shop webpage on flood insurance. Consumers can access this webpage by going to www.insurance.pa.gov, then clicking on the “Flood” icon under Top Pages. This flood insurance webpage includes information on private insurance options for homeowners, as well as information on the federal government run National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). HARRISBURG, Pa., April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire
