FAQs
Who needs a moving permit?
Any person, business or other entity that moves into, out of or within the Township. The permit is available on our Forms & Documents section or may be obtained at the Township Building. There is no cost associated with this permit.
How do I contact the Tax Collector?
Property
Carol Betz
PO Box A
Orefield, Pa 18069
610-395-9142
Wages
H.A. Berkheimer, Inc
50 North 7th Street
Bangor. PA 18013
610-599-3139
What are current Real Estate Tax Rates for Lowhill Township property owners?
Real Estate Taxes
County – 3.78 mills
Township - 1.0 mills
Fire - .56 mills
School District – 18.339 mills (rate as of 1/1/2022)
Township Earned Income Tax
.5%, School Earned Income Tax
.5% Lowhill Township
Township Local Services Tax
$10.00 Annually
State Income Tax
3.07%
Real Estate Transfer Tax
2% on the purchase price is comprised of the following distribution
State – 1%
Northwestern Lehigh School District - .5% and Lowhill Township .5%
Rates in other Municipalities may differ.
How do I get a copy of an ordinance?
Copies are available for examination or purchase at the Administration office.
Does Lowhill Township contract for Trash & Recycling?
Lowhill Township does not have contract with a municipal waste provider. You may choose whomever you would like for trash and recycling pick up.
How do I contact the Road Master?
Joe Kalusky
Maintenance Building Located at:
7000 Herber Road
New Tripoli, PA 18066
610-298-2607
I want to put up a fence, or plant a tree in the front of my property, what do I need to do?
To make sure you are in compliance with the Township's Road Setback requirements regarding fencing, planting of trees or shrubs, etc.
Please contact the administration building and make certain that what you hope to do will not encroach into the Township "right of way".
Contact Joe Kalusky, Road Master at 610-298-2607 and BEFORE YOU DIG. Call 1-800-242-1776.
This is a requirement before anyone digs, so that if power lines, gas lines, etc. are present, someone from the State will come out and locate them.
How do I know if the Township is currently under a Burn Ban?
A burn ban automatically goes into effect whenever the Township is under a red flag warning or enhanced fire danger warning from the National Weather Service. Or during extreme drought conditions. If you are unsure, please contact the Township or visit our home page for important notifications.
Signs will be posted outside the Lowhill Township Municipal building (7000 Herber Road). Lehigh County dispatchers will notify you when you call in a controlled burn to 610-437-5252.
Where do I obtain voter information?
Voter registration forms, as well as information about related issues such as write in voting absentee voting and accessibility issues is available from the Lehigh County Voter Registration office located at:
Lehigh County Voter Registration
17 S. 7th Street
Allentown, Pa 18101
610-782-3194
electionboard@lehighcounty.org
If you are not a registered voter in Lowhill Township, you must register with the county to be eligible to vote. You can find general information on the Lehigh County website.
www.lehighcounty.org
Voter registration forms may also be picked up at the Lowhill Township Municipal Building during normal business hours.
Lowhill Township is comprised of a single voting district and single polling place located at:
Lowhill Township Municipal Building
7000 Herber Road
New Tripoli, Pa 18066
Polling Place Is open from 7 am to 8 pm
If I file a complaint with the Township, will it remain confidential?
Yes and No. When a complaint is filed with the Township by an individual against another property owner, the Township strongly encourages that this person (the complainant) provide his or her name and residence information with the description of the perceived code violation. This information is not public information and remains private throughout any investigation.
Under Section 708 of the PA Right to Know Law (Act 3 of 2008), if a requestor is seeking the name or copies of the complaint submitted to the Township or other correspondence between the complainant and the Township, this information is exempt from access and will not be provided. This type of information is exempt from public access under the Right to Know Law and the complainant's name and address will always remains confidential in this situation.
Depending on the nature of the code violation and case and/or whether a particular matter would go before the District Magistrate, the complainant should be made aware of the fact that they may be called to testify as a victim and describe the problem or issues identified in the complaint. Although these situations are very rare, in this situation the complainants identity is no longer confidential. Again, these cases are not common.
Do I need a permit to re-pave my driveway?
If you are paving the existing driveway with no intentions of expanding the driveway impervious area, you do not need a permit. However, if you are paving your driveway and expanding the area of the driveway for additional parking area or a basketball court, then you do need a permit from the Planning and Zoning Department. If you are doing construction as part of the driveway and opening the street in the public right-of-way, a road opening permit is required.
The resident at the end of my street has greenery that keeps me from safely seeing to exit my street. Can something be done?
Yes. A notice can be left with property owners to remind them that they must trim their foliage for safe sight distance at the intersection. If they do not respond in a reasonable amount of time, then we will cut what is necessary to make it safe. This is not always to the liking of the property owners, so it is best if they do it themselves.
Is the township responsible for trees in rights of way?
No. Trees are owned by the property owner, not the township. During a storm, the township will respond to clear a tree from a roadway; however, the final tree removal and cleanup is the responsibility of the property owner.
Can I get the township to fix a pothole on my street?
Yes. You can report the location of a pothole by calling the Public Works Department . A public works representative will temporarily fill the hole with cold patch to make the road safe. We will return at a later date to complete the repair properly with hot asphalt mix.
My mailbox was pushed down by a snow plow. Will you replace it?
The township will reimburse you for up to $35 with a receipt if:
- The mailbox was physically hit with the plow, not the snow coming off of the plow
- The post was installed properly
- The post was otherwise in good condition
If the post was installed incorrectly, rusted, rotted, or thinned by a weed-whacker, we are not responsible for the mailbox.
Residential Mailbox Standards
Are there specifications for installing mailboxes?
The front of the mailbox door should be installed 6-8 inches back from the face of the curb at a height of 41-45 inches.
United States Postal Service Mailbox Standards.
Why do you plow in my driveway after I have shoveled it out?
It is the township's policy to open all roads wide enough for emergency vehicles first. After that is complete, we then start to clear back as close to the curb as possible so that the mail carrier can get to your mailbox. We continue this operation until the snow has stopped falling, and we are able to push the snow back to the curb.
During large snowfalls, this is not always possible. Some shoveling by the resident may be necessary at the mailbox. As a tip, do not shovel the last 4-5 feet of your driveway until the plows are done.
The township has cut the trees in front of my property, and they do not look good. Will you come fix this?
The township trims trees that hang over the roadway when we get complaints from trucks and buses that use the roadway. These trees and bushes hit their vehicles and break their mirrors. This trimming is for the safety of the motoring public, and we cut only what is necessary to make it safe. We will not return to re-cut. It is the property owner’s job to maintain the trees on their property. Trees should be 12-14 feet above the road and should be cut back behind the curb line.
Can cars be parked on the street during a snow storm?
Cars cannot be parked on the street during a snow storm. If you do not have room for all of your vehicles in your driveway, please make arrangements with a neighbor to use their driveway during snow and ice removal events.
It is costly for the township to return to areas where cars were parked during a snow storm. It is also hard on the township's equipment to remove snow that has refrozen under a car. Finally, cars parked in the street can easily be damaged by plows.
Administration
