Chester County · PA · Estates & Conservation Properties division
Forestry mulching and land clearing in East Goshen, PA
In East Goshen, up to 50 percent of the trees on a wooded lot may be removed, with trees past the 20 percent allowance replaced inch for inch.
Yes. Huntly Land Co. works in East Goshen, PA. In East Goshen, up to 50 percent of the trees on a wooded lot may be removed, with trees past the 20 percent allowance replaced inch for inch, and a stream crossing a site needs a riparian buffer of at least 50 feet on each side of the top of bank. Every job starts with a private site walk.
What the East Goshen code says
East Goshen covers about 10.1 square miles of land (US Census), roughly 9 miles from our Chadds Ford base. These are the town rules that most often shape a clearing, mulching or grading scope here, quoted from the code itself.
- 1.
Up to half of a wooded lot
Section 205-61 of the Chapter 205 Subdivision and Land Development, Article IX Development and Design Standards reads: “A maximum of 50% of the trees on a wooded lot may be removed if all of the following requirements are met: (1) The trees removed that are in excess of the 20% permitted pursuant to § 205-61C shall be replaced on an inch-for-inch basis.”
- 2.
50-foot stream buffer
Section 195-15 of the Chapter 195 Stormwater Management, Article III Stormwater Management Standards reads: “If a perennial or intermittent stream passes through the site, the applicant shall create a riparian buffer extending a minimum of 50 feet to either side of the top of the bank of the channel.”
- 3.
Earthmoving on slopes over 15 percent
Section 240-25 of the Chapter 240 Zoning, Article V Supplemental Regulations reads: “The following requirements shall apply when earthmoving occurs on slopes over 15%: (a) Stripping of vegetation, regrading or other earthmoving shall be done in such a way that will minimize erosion.”
Source: East Goshen Township Code, Chapter 240 Zoning, Article V Supplemental Regulations, Section 240-25
- 4.
Three-inch replacement trees
Section 205-61 of the Chapter 205 Subdivision and Land Development, Article IX Development and Design Standards reads: “All replacement trees shall be a minimum three-inch caliper, unless specifically approved by the Board of Supervisors.”
- 5.
No fill in the floodplain
Section 240-26 of the Chapter 240 Zoning, Article V Supplemental Regulations reads: “Within any identified floodplain area, the use of fill shall be prohibited.”
Source: East Goshen Township Code, Chapter 240 Zoning, Article V Supplemental Regulations, Section 240-26
Offices for a East Goshen site
| Question | Office |
|---|---|
| Sediment and stormwater / erosion review | Chester County Conservation District (Chapter 102 erosion and sediment control, NPDES) |
| Township or borough office | East Goshen Township office |
| State erosion and sediment rules | 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 (DEP) |
East Goshen questions, answered
Does East Goshen regulate timber harvesting or tree removal?
Up to 50 percent of the trees on a wooded lot may be removed, with trees past the 20 percent allowance replaced inch for inch (Section 205-61).
Is there a stream buffer rule in East Goshen?
A stream crossing a site needs a riparian buffer of at least 50 feet on each side of the top of bank (Section 195-15).
Nearby pages
Cost, permits and the ground
Code summaries are general guidance, not legal advice; Huntly confirms the rules that apply to each parcel before work.
What shapes the cost of land clearing in East Goshen, PA?
Density and stem size, ground and terrain, access and staging, finish standard, resource plan, stewardship and schedule. Haul-off of non-organic debris, stump grinding below grade, permits and licensed applications are quoted as separate visible lines. Every job is priced in writing after a private site walk, and the walk carries no charge inside the service region.
Do I need a permit for land clearing in East Goshen, PA?
Often. Pennsylvania requires a written erosion and sediment control plan for earth disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more (25 Pa. Code § 102.4), and the Chester County Conservation District reviews plans and NPDES coverage for larger disturbances. The East Goshen rules on this page come on top of that. Whether a mulching-only scope counts as earth disturbance is a question for the township and the district, and we confirm it for each parcel before work.
Is forestry mulching better than bulldozing?
For most brush and small-tree work, yes. Mulching leaves roots in the ground and a chip layer on the surface, so slopes stay put, stream-adjacent ground stays stable, and there are no burn piles or haul-off loads. A buildable surface, root-ball removal, grading or drainage work may call for a broader clearing or excavation plan.
More about East Goshen Township, Chester County, PA
Regulatory notes are general guidance; Huntly confirms the rules that apply to each site before work.
Who approves land clearing or earth disturbance in East Goshen Township?
The Chester County Conservation District reviews erosion and sediment plans under delegated authority. Its FAQ says disturbance over 5,000 square feet needs a written plan, and one acre or more needs a plan the District reviews, plus an NPDES permit. East Goshen Township has a Permits & Inspections office. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Can I burn brush piles in East Goshen Township?
Only in narrow cases. East Goshen Township's Chapter 106 bars burning leaves and construction waste. Open fires are allowed only on lots of five acres or more, 50 feet from structures and property lines, with a 911 call and notice to the Chester County Fire Board at least four hours ahead. Huntly's mulch-in-place method needs no burn permit. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
What grows wild and takes over land around East Goshen Township?
Typical for Chester County: multiflora rose, autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet and Japanese stiltgrass. They fill fence lines, old pastures and woodland edges fast. Huntly's forestry mulcher clears the thickets, and the stumps and regrowth plan is quoted in writing after the site walk.
Is there cost-share money for clearing invasives in East Goshen Township?
There can be. USDA NRCS EQIP, run through the Chester County USDA service center, cost-shares brush management by mechanical means for large shrubs (practice 314); the per-acre rate is set each year in the Pennsylvania payment schedule, so ask the district conservationist for the current figure. The Chester County Conservation District may also run programs. Eligibility and enrollment are set by those agencies, and Huntly does not file the application for you. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Does Huntly serve East Goshen Township, and what does a site walk cost?
Yes. East Goshen Township sits inside Huntly's Brandywine Valley service region, based in Chadds Ford. The site walk is free. After the walk, every job gets a fixed price in writing, with mobilization shown on the estimate if the haul is long. Call (484) 486-7272 or email hello@huntlyland.com. Hours are Mon to Sat 8 to 4.
Do I need a permit or special timing to cut trees in East Goshen Township?
As general guidance for Pennsylvania, tree cutting is commonly timed Oct 1 to Mar 31 to avoid roosting bats. Pennsylvania Chapter 102 sets a written erosion plan at 5,000 square feet of disturbance and an NPDES permit at one acre. Mulching often disturbs less soil than grading does. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Is there a conservation board in East Goshen Township, PA?
Yes. East Goshen Township has a Conservancy Board that advises the supervisors, planning commission and park and recreation commission on conservation and natural resources, and its page links articles on riparian buffers and vegetation management. Call before cutting along a stream. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Who do I call in East Goshen Township after a storm knocks down trees?
Call Huntly's 24/7 storm line at (484) 486-7272 for downed trees blocking lanes, fields and fence lines. We clear with a grapple and low-ground-pressure tracks. If a tree is on a house or on power lines, call a tree service or the utility first; we handle the cleanup after.
Official site: eastgoshen.org
Sources: chesco.org (ErosionStormwater) · chesco.org (Faq) · eastgoshen.org · ecode360.com (7249817) · eastgoshen.org (conservancy board) · dep.pa.gov (default) · nrcs-prod.azureedge.us (PA Bulletin 440 26 06 PA Published Cost List and Payment caps for FY 26) · attorneygeneral.gov (home improvement contractor registration)
Where these facts come from
Sources: East Goshen Township Code, Chapter 205 Subdivision and Land Development, Article IX Development and Design Standards, Section 205-61 · East Goshen Township Code, Chapter 195 Stormwater Management, Article III Stormwater Management Standards, Section 195-15 · East Goshen Township Code, Chapter 240 Zoning, Article V Supplemental Regulations, Section 240-25 · 25 Pa. Code § 102.4, erosion and sediment control requirements
Last checked: October 2026.
Permits and rules
Clearing in East Goshen can need a sediment and stormwater plan or a local approval. Start here:
Send us the details.
hello@huntlyland.comSend the town, rough acreage and two or three photographs. We reply by email with site-walk times, and a written scope follows the walk.
Office hours Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On call 24/7 for storm and emergency cleanup. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.