Accessory Structures in Franklin Township, PA (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Franklin Township, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania scales how many additional dwelling units a property may add to its lot size under Zoning Code § 27-1712: one unit on parcels up to 10 acres, and up to two, one in the house and one detached, on parcels of 10 acres or more.
Franklin Township ADU Lot-Size Rules
Some RestrictionsFranklin Township Code § 27-1712.1, .4, .5, .6
1. An additional dwelling unit as defined herein shall be permitted within a single-family dwelling or a detached accessory structure on the same property. ... ... 4. For properties 3.5 acres or less in size, one additional dwelling unit shall be permitted within a principal structure. 5. For properties greater than 3.5 acres in size, but less than 10 acres, one additional dwelling unit shall b...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania only allows an additional dwelling unit on a residential property where the owner actually resides, under Zoning Code § 27-1712.2; a property held only as a rental cannot add a second unit.
Franklin Township ADU Owner-Occupancy Rule
Significant RestrictionsFranklin Township Code § 27-1712.2
2. An additional dwelling unit shall be permitted only on a residential property where the owner of the property resides.
ADU Rental Restrictions
Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania bars any additional dwelling unit from being used as a short-term rental, restricting it to long-term occupation only under Zoning Code § 27-1712.7; the ADU program does not authorize an Airbnb-style unit.
Franklin Township ADU Short-Term Rental Ban
Heavy RestrictionsFranklin Township Code § 27-1712.7
7. An additional dwelling unit may only be used for long-term occupation and may not be used for a short-term rental use.
Shed & Carport Rules
Sheds and other accessory structures in Franklin Township's Agricultural-Residential District cannot sit in the front yard at all, and must clear 10 feet from the side line and 15 feet from the rear line under the § 27-404 area and bulk table, with a building permit required before erection.
Franklin Township Accessory Structure Setbacks
Some RestrictionsFranklin Township Code § 27-404
Provisions Residential Use Requirements Other Use Requirements Conventional Open Space Design Individual Sewer Community Sewer ... Accessory structure: Maximum allowable N/A 2 1 N/A Minimum setbacks (feet): Front yard Not permitted Not permitted Not permitted Side yard 10 5 5 10 Rear yard 15 5 5 15
Looking for Chester County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Franklin Township city rules.
Accessory Structures in Chester County →