Accessory Structures in Lower Merion, PA (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Lower Merion Township permits a restricted accessory dwelling unit in LDR, MDR, IC, and IH Zoning Districts by converting a single-family dwelling or existing institutional building into two units with separate cooking facilities, per Township Code § 155-10.2.C. One unit is capped at two people with at least one resident 62 or older, and an accessory-structure ADU must meet the principal building's own setbacks.
Lower Merion Restricted Accessory Dwelling Unit Rule
Significant RestrictionsLower Merion Township Code § 155-10.2.C(2), (6)
Restricted accessory dwelling units. In LDR, MDR, IC, and IH Zoning Districts, a single-family dwelling or an existing institutional building may be converted into two dwelling units, each with its own cooking facilities, provided that the following criteria are met: ... (2) One of the dwelling units shall contain no more than two persons, one of whom shall be 62 years of age or older. ... (6) ...
ADU Owner Occupancy
When a Lower Merion Township restricted accessory dwelling unit is not owner-occupied, § 155-10.2.C(10) requires its use be sponsored by a nonprofit organization dedicated to elderly housing with a Pennsylvania-based agent. The zoning permit authorizing the unit expires six months after elderly occupancy ends, and the owner must also secure and renew an annual permit from the Township.
Lower Merion ADU Owner-Occupancy and Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsLower Merion Township Code § 155-10.2.C(7), (8), (10)
(7) The zoning permit granted for this use shall expire six months after the building ceases being occupied by elderly persons as herein provided, and the dwelling shall revert back to a use permitted in the district in which it is located. (8) The owner shall apply for and receive an annual permit from the Township. ... (10) If the facility is not owner-occupied, its use shall be sponsored by ...
Shed & Carport Rules
Lower Merion Township limits every accessory building and structure, sheds included, to two stories or 20 feet if it sits inside the principal building's footprint envelope, dropping to one story or 15 feet if it stands out in the reduced side or rear yard. Section 155-3.4F of the zoning code also requires the shed to sit behind the principal building and match its design, with a narrower setback allowed on shallow lots.
Lower Merion Accessory Structure Height Rules
Some RestrictionsLower Merion Township Code § 155-3.4F
F. Accessory buildings and structures shall be erected to the rear of the principal building and may project into the reduced side or rear yard setback as established in the form tables of the underlying district, subject to compliance with the following: (1) Accessory buildings in the principal building envelope shall be limited to two stories or 20 feet in height. (2) Accessory buildings buil...
Garage Conversions
Lower Merion Township's zoning code lets a converted garage revert back into a garage as of right, but freezes it at the existing footprint. The Building and Planning Department enforces this under the Parking Location standards of the Zoning Code, § 155-8.4.D(3).
Lower Merion Garage Conversion Footprint Rule
Some RestrictionsLower Merion Township Code § 155-8.4.D(3)
Garage location, if provided, shall be the following: ... Building area previously used as a private garage with existing driveway access may be converted back to a garage. No change is permitted to the existing footprint.
Looking for Montgomery County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lower Merion city rules.
Accessory Structures in Montgomery County →