ANIMALS & ANIMAL CONTROL
ACT 1982-225 of the Commonwealth of PA is applied in Alsace Township and requires all dog owners to keep their dogs from running at large. If you have problems with animals, please call Safety Net Sanctuary at 610-944- 8099, as the Township has a contract with them. The Humane Society can be reached at 610-921-2348.
Pennsylvania State Dog Warden for Berks County, Lisa Cronk, can also assist you with your animal control problems. Ms. Cronk can be contacted at 610-909-1173. Megan Horst is the State Dog Warden Supervisor and can be reached at 717-418-0284.
BURNING
Please contact the Township Office prior to any burning on your property. Burning is only allowed in the Township in accordance with Alsace Township Ordinance 2007-7.
COMPLAINTS
The Township policy requires complaints to be in writing and signed by the person submitting the complaint. If you call the office because of a problem, such as ice, snow, fallen trees, etc., please give your name and the location of the problem. This policy is necessary to avoid Township involvement in disputes between neighbors; it also creates information should there be further questions. Click for the Complaint Form
FAX, COPY and NOTARY SERVICE
The Township copy machine and FAX machine are available to the residents for a nominal fee. The FAX number is 610-921-0977. The Township Secretary – Treasurer is a Notary Public and residents are welcome to have paperwork notarized at no charge.
HOUSE NUMBERS
Make sure your house number is visible. This is especially important for emergency fire or ambulance vehicles to find your home.
A house number on your house, mail box, or the reflective metal sign might one day help an emergency crew find your home and save a life!
LEAVES
Leaves are picked up in the Fall from around drainage ditches and rights-of-ways in order to prohibit blockage of drainage pipes, which causes flooding.
Please help by doing your part by not piling leaves in front of storm drainage pipes and remove litter during the other seasons of the year. The Township will no longer be collecting leaves from the front of individual properties.
PERMITS
Before you start a project, Zoning, Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical and other permits are required by the Township for various activities, including but not limited to the following: new residences, commercial construction, agricultural buildings, accessory buildings, swimming pools – above and in ground, storage sheds, fences, signs, wells, driveways – both new and repaving – demolition of buildings, decks/patios, mobile homes, alterations/renovations/modifications, additions, and home occupations.
Call Technicon Enterprises at 610-286-1622 for current fee amounts and permit requirements for Zoning, Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Permits. Downloads of all permit applications are available in the Permits and Inspections portion of this webpage.
During and at the conclusion of work conducted, you are required to have final inspections conducted by the appropriate inspector. Call Technicon Enterprises at 610-286-1622 for inspections related to public sewer plumbing permits.
When in doubt, do NOT start any type of construction project without consulting either Technicon Enterprises, according to the type of permit required.
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
Keep your community clean, be proud! Please help Alsace Township by tidying the area around your home, business, or rental property.
The Township has a Property Maintenance Code that prohibits the outdoor storage of unlicensed vehicles, junk, rubbish and requires that, weeds or grass should not exceed ten inches (10”) in height. The Township has an Property Code Enforcement Official who cites property in violation of the Township Property Maintenance Code related to property management, however, a written and signed complaint must be submitted prior to the Property Code Enforcement Official inspecting the property in violation. Click here for the Complaint_Form
ON-LOT SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
On- lot Sewage Disposal Systems are required to be pumped every three years, the “Record of Pumping Form” can be downloaded and printed from here. Record of Pumping Form
ROADS
Attention Alsace Township Residents: A friendly reminder that pressure washers should not be used on black topped roadways. The pressure from a pressure washer can lift asphalt and damage the roads. We greatly appreciate our residents taking pride in maintaining their properties and the roadways in front of their homes. Rather than using a pressure washer we recommend using a regular garden hose to avoid damaging the blacktop. Thank you.
The Township Public Works Department is responsible for all Township roads in the Township. They are not responsible for State roads or private roads/lanes. In the summer months the grass and weeds along the township roads are cut two times.
SIGNS
The Township has a section in the Zoning Ordinance that regulates the height, number, size, and type of signs that can be placed in the Township. Contact Technicon Enterprises Inc at 610-286-1622 for information about signage regulations in Alsace Township.
TOWNSHIP TAX STRUCTURE
- Township Real Estate Tax – 1.5 mill
- Earned Income and Real Estate Transfer Tax – ½ of 1%
- Per Capita Tax – $15.00 ($5.00 is for Alsace Township, $10 is for Oley Valley School District)
The Township and County taxes are included in one bill which is mailed in February and the School District Tax bills and Per Capita Taxes are mailed in June of each year. Per Capita Taxes are applicable to all residents who are 18 years of age or older. Tax Collector sitting hours are printed on your tax bills and are posted at the Township office. The Tax Collector will only receive payments in person on those days unless prior arrangements have been made directly with the Tax Collector. You can contact the Township Tax Collector, Ruth Ann Moyer at 610-685-2838.
VOTING
There are two (2) polling locations in Alsace Township, they are as follows:
Alsace Township Municipal Building at 65 Woodside Ave., Temple, PA 19560
Zion Spies Lutheran Church, 310 Spies Church Road, Reading, PA 19606
For questions about voting contact the Berks County Office of Elections Services at 610-478-6490. Following is the Berks County website: (www.co.berks.pa.us).
NOTE: Berks County needs registered voters to work the polls for the primaries and general elections. Workers will receive a stipend for their service along with payment for attending training. If you are interested in this opportunity, or if you have any questions, please contact The Berks County Office of Elections Services at 610-478-6490.
SENIOR LIVING HELP
- Senior Living Help is an organization that provides senior living assistance to the elderly. Senior Living Help assists Pennsylvania senior citizens, their family members and caregivers in finding appropriate senior living and care facilities. Many elderly adults are no longer able to be cared for at home, so finding a senior living facility with caring and loving staff becomes necessary. https://www.seniorlivinghelp.org/assisted-living/pennsylvania/
RIGHT TO KNOW REQUESTS
https://www.openrecords.pa.gov/Documents/RTKL/RTKRequestForm.pdf