Frequently Asked Questions

Northampton County Court House
669 Washington Street
Easton, PA 18042

Phone: 610-559-3000

Board of Supervisors:

• First Thursday of each month beginning at 7 pm at Municipal Building - Workshop
• Third Thursday of each month beginning at 7 pm at Municipal Building - Regular Meeting
• Exceptions: First Thursday in January and other possible holiday conflicts.
• Work sessions may precede or follow any regularly scheduled BOS Meeting.

Planning Commission:

• Second Thursday of each month at 7 pm at Municipal Building - Regular meeting
• Fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at Municipal Building - Workshop

Zoning Hearing Board:

• Second and Third Monday as required at Municipal Building

Fire Department:

• Monday of each week at 7 pm at Fire Department

All dogs 3 months and over are required to be licensed annually.

Dog License Applications are available at the Municipal Building, 1606 Sullivan Trail.

The Application should be completed and mailed to the County Treasurer's Office located at 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042 or call the County Treasurers Office at 610-559-3102.

Please note: If you are applying for a license that requires the dog owner to be a senior citizen, (Age 65 and older) or a person with a disability, you must provide proof of age or disability to the County Treasurer or Agent.

Pavilion rentals may be scheduled by contacting the Community Center at 610-250-2260.  

Applications for Block Party Requests (PDF) are now available. Please fill out the necessary information requested and return the form to the Municipal Office to obtain approval.

When a resident is filing a complaint regarding Township roads, pot holes, plowing, etc, a formal Complaint Form (PDF) is required to be filled out and returned to the Department of Public Works. 

A permit is not required when holding a garage/ yard sale however, it is required notification. Any resident wanting to hold a garage / yard sale must contact the township office with the following information before the sale.

• Name and telephone number
• Location of sale
• Date of sale
• Time sale will be held (from and to)
• Please contact the township office with this information by calling 610-252-0785

Due to heavy traffic concerns, this information is then forwarded to the Forks Township Police Department.

On January 3, 2005, the Forks Township Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 290, which established the Emergency and Municipal Services Tax. The tax is $52 per calendar year for all non-exempt persons working in the township.

Any worker whose total income from all sources is less than $12,000 per calendar year is exempt from the tax. The worker must send the township a written claim for the exemption each year, with supporting documentation.

The Emergency and Municipal Services Tax replaced the Occupation Privilege Tax. The purpose of the Emergency and Municipal Services Tax is to collect a tax from all persons who work in the township and utilize the township's municipal services, including those persons who do not live in the Township.

As a property owner in Forks Township, you will receive three real estate tax bills per year. They are:

• Forks Township Real Estate Taxes
• Northampton County Real Estate Taxes
• Easton Area School District Real Estate Taxes

The current millage rates are as follows:

• Forks Township 7.5 mils
• Northampton County 10.8 mils
• Easton Area Schools 66.68 mils

Northampton County Tax Bills

Tax bills are sent out from and paid to Northampton County.

Forks Township Real Estate Tax Bills - (Property)

Tax bills are sent out in early February. If a mortgage company pays your taxes, it is the property owner's responsibility to send the tax bill to their mortgage company. The tax bill is discounted by 2% if paid by April 1st. If the tax bill is not paid in discount, the base rate applies until May 31st.

After May 31st all unpaid tax bills have a 10% penalty added. Each year, township real estate taxes that are unpaid as of December 31st are turned over to Tax Claim office at Northampton County.

Forks Township Real Estate Tax Bills - (School)

Tax bills are sent out in early July. The school tax year is a fiscal year running from July 1st through June 30 the following year. If a mortgage company pays your taxes, it is the property owner's responsibility to send the tax bill to their mortgage company. This tax bill is discounted by 2% if paid by September 1st. If the tax bill is not paid in discount, the base rate applies until November 1st. After November 1st, a 10% penalty will be added to all unpaid tax bills. The school district also offers an installment plan for paying real estate taxes. The base rate is divided into four equal payments and the first installment payment must be made by August 15th. Thereafter, an installment payment is due On October 15th, December 15th, and February 15th. If an installment payment is late in being paid, a 10% penalty will be added to the payment. Each year, school real estate taxes that are unpaid as of April 15th are turned over to the Tax Claim office at Northampton County.

Interim Real Estate Bills

An interim tax bill (supplemental bill) is an addition to the tax duplicate due to an improvement to your parcel. The county assessment office sends changes to local taxing districts. An interim bill is produced at the local tax rate and is reduced proportionately to the number of months remaining in the tax year. Interim taxes will have a different discount, face and penalty period than the original duplicate.

Tax Certifications are $ 20 each, checks should be made payable to "Anne Bennett-Morse". You can also contact Anne Bennett-Morse by calling 610-250-2254 on Tuesdays between the hours of 8 am and noon and on Thursdays from noon to 4 pm

By-Pass Meters

Any outside water used can be deducted from your sewer bills with a by-pass meter.  Forks Township does not sell or provide by-pass meters.

Installation and Inspection of By-Pass Meters:

1. By-pass meters can only be installed after obtaining a Building Permit from the Forks Township Building Code Department. To obtain a Building Permit, the owner must provide the following documentation: a completed building permit application form, a line diagram showing the proposed location of the by-pass meter on the plumbing system, and installation specifications for the by-pass meter.
2. The Building Permit fee is $136.50, which includes permit and inspection.
3. The owner is responsible for either installing the meter themselves or having a licensed plumber install it for them.
4. After installation of the by-pass meter, the owner must schedule an inspection from the Building Code Department at www.sfmconsultingllc.org for approval of proper installation.

For questions on the installation and inspection of a by-pass meter, please contact the Zoning Department at 610-250-2264.

Submitting By-Pass Meter Readings:

1. Deductions must be made in the same quarter that the water (outside) was used.
2. By-pass meter customers are required to complete and return their by-pass meter reading on the bottom portion of their quarterly utility bill to obtain credit.  Credits will be applied to the following quarterly utility bill.
3. If a resident pays their utility bill through our online payment portal, by-pass meter readings will still need to be provided to our office via mail, in person or over the phone.

For questions on utility bills or to submit a by-pass meter reading, please contact the Utility Department at 610-252-0785 ext. 100.

Important Note: If a customer does not submit a meter reading each quarter from their by-pass meter, they will forfeit any credit obtained for that quarter.