Chester County · PA · Estates & Conservation Properties division
Forestry mulching and land clearing in Londonderry, PA
In Londonderry, earthmoving that disturbs over 2,500 square feet falls under the township erosion and sediment control chapter.
Yes. Huntly Land Co. works in Londonderry, PA. In Londonderry, earthmoving that disturbs over 2,500 square feet falls under the township erosion and sediment control chapter, and logging and woodcutting are strictly prohibited on very steep slopes exceeding 25 percent. Every job starts with a private site walk.
What the Londonderry code says
Londonderry covers about 11.3 square miles of land (US Census), roughly 15 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.
Earth disturbance over 2,500 square feet
Section 38-2 of the Chapter 38 Erosion and Sediment Control reads: “It shall be unlawful for any person, landowner, business or corporation to undertake the construction of any building, structure, utility line, storm sewer line or vehicular accessway or to undertake any earthmoving activities or earth disturbances which disturb over 2,500 square feet of surface area without developing, implementing and maintaining erosion and sediment pollution control measures and facilities that effectively minimize accelerated erosion and prevent sediment pollution to waters of this commonwealth.”
Source: Londonderry Township Code, Chapter 38 Erosion and Sediment Control, Section 38-2
- 2.
No logging on very steep slopes
Section 38-6 of the Chapter 38 Erosion and Sediment Control reads: “On very steep slopes exceeding 25%, logging and woodcutting shall be strictly prohibited.”
Source: Londonderry Township Code, Chapter 38 Erosion and Sediment Control, Section 38-6
- 3.
Written forestry plan
Section 170-130.5 of the Chapter 170 Zoning, Article XVIII General Regulations reads: “It shall be the responsibility of each landowner on whose land a logging operation is to be carried out to develop or have developed a written forestry/logging plan, in form and content as specified by this section, and to submit such plan to the Zoning Officer as part of the application for a zoning permit.”
Source: Londonderry Township Code, Chapter 170 Zoning, Article XVIII General Regulations, Section 170-130.5
- 4.
Compensatory trees by diameter
Section 130-61 of the Chapter 130 Subdivision and Land Development, Article VI Design Standards reads: “Compensatory trees shall be provided in the following ratios, based on the sum total of the diameter inches of trees being removed: (a) For deciduous trees of six inches up to 12 inches DBH, one inch of new tree caliper shall be provided for every six inches of existing tree diameter cut or removed.”
- 5.
35-foot riparian buffer easement
Section 125-309 of the Chapter 125 Stormwater Management, Article III Stormwater Management Standards reads: “Code Chapter 102, the riparian buffer easement shall be measured to be the greater of the limit of the 100-year floodplain or a minimum of 35 feet from the top of the stream bank (on each side).”
Offices for a Londonderry site
| Question | Office |
|---|---|
| Sediment and stormwater / erosion review | Chester County Conservation District (Chapter 102 erosion and sediment control, NPDES) |
| Township or borough office | Londonderry Township office |
| State erosion and sediment rules | 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 (DEP) |
Londonderry questions, answered
Does Londonderry require a grading permit?
Earthmoving that disturbs over 2,500 square feet falls under the township erosion and sediment control chapter (Section 38-2).
Can steep slopes be cleared or graded in Londonderry?
Logging and woodcutting are strictly prohibited on very steep slopes exceeding 25 percent (Section 38-6).
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 Londonderry, 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 Londonderry, 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 Londonderry 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 Londonderry 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 Londonderry Township, Chester County, PA?
In Londonderry Township, PA, clearing that disturbs ground falls under Pennsylvania Chapter 102. As general guidance, a written erosion and sediment control plan is needed at 5,000 square feet of earth disturbance and an NPDES permit at 1 acre or more. The Chester County Conservation District lists that program among its responsibilities, and the township can add local rules. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Can I burn brush piles in Londonderry Township, Chester County, PA?
Burning rules in Pennsylvania are set by the municipality, and Huntly did not verify a local open-burning rule for Londonderry 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 Londonderry 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 Londonderry 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 Londonderry Township, PA?
Possibly. As general guidance, landowners in Londonderry 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 Londonderry Township, PA, and what does a site walk cost?
Yes. Huntly works Londonderry 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 Londonderry Township, PA?
Call Huntly's 24/7 storm line at (484) 486-7272 for downed trees blocking a lane, field or driveway in Londonderry 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.
Where these facts come from
Sources: Londonderry Township Code, Chapter 38 Erosion and Sediment Control, Section 38-2 · Londonderry Township Code, Chapter 170 Zoning, Article XVIII General Regulations, Section 170-130.5 · Londonderry Township Code, Chapter 130 Subdivision and Land Development, Article VI Design Standards, Section 130-61 · Londonderry Township Code, Chapter 125 Stormwater Management, Article III Stormwater Management Standards, Section 125-309 · 25 Pa. Code § 102.4, erosion and sediment control requirements
Last checked: October 2026.
Permits and rules
Clearing in Londonderry 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.