Chester County · PA · Estates & Conservation Properties division
Forestry mulching and land clearing in London Grove, PA
In London Grove, the riparian forest buffer is a 75-foot setback: a 15-foot no-disturbance woodland zone plus a 60-foot managed forest zone.
Yes. Huntly Land Co. works in London Grove, PA. In London Grove, the riparian forest buffer is a 75-foot setback: a 15-foot no-disturbance woodland zone plus a 60-foot managed forest zone, and earthmoving over 3,500 square feet needs an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the Board of Supervisors. Every job starts with a private site walk.
What the London Grove code says
London Grove covers about 17.1 square miles of land (US Census), roughly 12 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.
75-foot riparian forest buffer
Section 27-1412 of the Chapter 27 Zoning, Part 14 Ground Water Protection (Gwp) District reads: “The riparian forest buffer consists of a setback of 75 feet from bodies of water and intermittent streams and springs, to always consist of two zones: (1) A fifteen-foot woodland zone of no disturbance (except for restoration); and (2) A sixty-foot zone of managed or created forest.”
- 2.
Earthmoving over 3,500 square feet
Section 22-610 of the Chapter 22 Subdivision and Land Development, Part 6 Development Design Standards and Required Improvements reads: “It shall be unlawful for any person, landowner, developer, business, or corporation to undertake any earthmoving activities in excess of 3,500 square feet without developing and implementing measures specified in a required erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the board of supervisors and without a grading permit issued by the building inspector.”
- 3.
Prohibitive slopes
Section 27-1604 of the Chapter 27 Zoning, Part 16 Steep Slope District reads: “Within any lot, the maximum extent of areas classified as prohibitive slopes that may be permanently disturbed for the installation of site improvements shall be limited to 20% of the prohibitive slope area, or 10% of the lot area, whichever is the lesser, subject to the approval of the zoning officer on the recommendation of the township engineer.”
Source: London Grove Township Code, Chapter 27 Zoning, Part 16 Steep Slope District, Section 27-1604
- 4.
Arborist permit for street trees
Section 17-211 of the Chapter 17 Tree Regulations, Part 2 Tree Regulations reads: “214, 1/6/2020 ] It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business or occupation of pruning, treating or removing street trees or park trees within the township without first applying for and procuring an annual arborist permit.”
Source: London Grove Township Code, Chapter 17 Tree Regulations, Part 2 Tree Regulations, Section 17-211
Offices for a London Grove site
| Question | Office |
|---|---|
| Sediment and stormwater / erosion review | Chester County Conservation District (Chapter 102 erosion and sediment control, NPDES) |
| Township or borough office | London Grove Township office |
| State erosion and sediment rules | 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 (DEP) |
London Grove questions, answered
Is there a stream buffer rule in London Grove?
The riparian forest buffer is a 75-foot setback: a 15-foot no-disturbance woodland zone plus a 60-foot managed forest zone (Section 27-1412).
Does London Grove require a grading permit?
Earthmoving over 3,500 square feet needs an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the Board of Supervisors (Section 22-610).
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 London Grove, 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 London Grove, 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 London Grove 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 London Grove 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 London Grove Township, Chester County, PA?
In London Grove Township, Chester County, PA, the Codes Department lists erosion and sedimentation control and permitting, and the site has a Storm Water Management page. Call 610-345-0100 first. As general guidance, Chapter 102 calls for a written erosion and sediment control plan at 5,000 square feet of earth disturbance and an NPDES permit at 1 acre or more. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Can I burn brush piles in London Grove Township, Chester County, PA?
Burning rules in Pennsylvania are set by the municipality, and Huntly did not verify a local open-burning rule for London Grove Township. Call the township before you light anything. Huntly's forestry mulching grinds brush where it stands and needs no burn permit. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
What invasive plants take over land around London Grove Township, PA?
Typical for Chester County: multiflora rose, autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet and Japanese stiltgrass. They crowd out pasture, fence lines and woodland edges around London Grove Township, PA. Huntly clears thickets with a Cat 285XE forestry package on low-ground-pressure tracks, then treats regrowth as a separate line item if you want it. Herbicide, if used, goes through a licensed applicator and is quoted as a separate visible line.
Is there cost-share money for clearing invasives in London Grove Township, PA?
Possibly. As general guidance, landowners in London Grove Township, PA can ask the USDA service center for Chester County about EQIP funding. NRCS sets the Pennsylvania rate per scenario and year and decides eligibility and approval; ask the district conservationist for the current figure. The Chester County Conservation District also helps landowners plan conservation practices. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Does Huntly serve London Grove Township, PA, and what does a site walk cost?
Yes. Huntly works London Grove Township, PA from its Chadds Ford base. The site walk is free, and every job is priced in writing after the walk at a fixed price. Longer hauls carry a mobilization line on the estimate. Call (484) 486-7272, Monday to Saturday 8 to 4, or email hello@huntlyland.com. Pennsylvania contractors must be registered as home improvement contractors with the Attorney General.
Who do I call for storm cleanup in London Grove Township, PA?
Call Huntly's 24/7 storm line at (484) 486-7272 for downed trees blocking a lane, field or driveway in London Grove Township, PA. Huntly's grapple clears and stacks the debris. If a tree is on a house or touching power lines, call a tree service or the utility first, then Huntly for the cleanup.
Who handles fire safety questions about brush in London Grove Township, PA?
London Grove Township's site lists a Fire Marshal page under Quick Links, next to its Codes Department. The pages Huntly reviewed did not state an open-burning rule, so call the township at 610-345-0100 before lighting any brush pile. Huntly's mulch-in-place method needs no burn permit. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Where these facts come from
Sources: London Grove Township Code, Chapter 27 Zoning, Part 14 Ground Water Protection (Gwp) District, Section 27-1412 · London Grove Township Code, Chapter 22 Subdivision and Land Development, Part 6 Development Design Standards and Required Improvements, Section 22-610 · London Grove Township Code, Chapter 27 Zoning, Part 16 Steep Slope District, Section 27-1604 · London Grove Township Code, Chapter 17 Tree Regulations, Part 2 Tree Regulations, Section 17-211 · 25 Pa. Code § 102.4, erosion and sediment control requirements
Last checked: October 2026.
Permits and rules
Clearing in London Grove 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.