A historic neighborhood on the Merchantville border
A homes.com neighborhood guide describes Collins Tract as a historic neighborhood of Pennsauken established in 1886, with a median year built of 1928. It shares the Centre Street area and some amenities with Merchantville. The guide mentions Collins Tract Park and describes quiet, tree-lined streets with oak and maple trees.
Streets that appear in Collins Tract property listings include Collins Avenue, Rogers Avenue, Githens Avenue, Harvey Avenue, Walnut Avenue and North Centre Street. A local school history also names Collins Tract: one of the two schools opened in 1927 served Delaware Gardens, Hillcrest and the west part of Collins Tract.
The boundary with Merchantville is not marked on most maps. Merchantville is a separate borough, so a Pennsauken Township address uses Pennsauken's permit office, and a Merchantville borough address uses the borough's. Confirm which one is on your mail before you ask about a permit.
Older homes: look first, assume nothing
Property guides describe Victorian-style houses, bungalows of roughly 1,300 to 1,500 square feet and larger colonials of 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. A house built in the 1920s may have had its plumbing changed several times since. Age is a reason to inspect, not a diagnosis.
| Where to look | What it can tell you | Next step if unsure |
|---|---|---|
| Where the water line enters the house | The material of the supply pipe near the meter | Ask a plumber to confirm before any repiping quote |
| Under sinks and at the water heater | Mixed old and new pipe at the connections | Replace only the failing section, then test the line |
| The sewer cleanout cap | Access for a cable or a camera | A sewer camera inspection shows the pipe condition |
| The basement floor drain | Where wastewater leaves the house | Clean it before it backs up, not after |
Mature trees are part of the appeal of these streets. As a general point, tree roots can enter joints in any older sewer lateral, wherever it is. A camera run is the way to know, and sewer line repair options range from a spot repair to relining depending on what the camera shows.
Utilities, permits and renovation
Many Collins Tract houses are being updated, and plumbing work during a remodel usually needs a permit. Pennsauken's township code requires a permit for construction work other than ordinary repairs, and the plumbing subcode official reviews plumbing work. Our plumbing installation page explains how the township process works, and a new tank or tankless unit is covered under water heater installation.
| Need | Office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Permit for a remodel or fixture change | Township Construction Code Department, 2400 Merchantville Avenue | (856) 665-1000, ext. 1401 |
| Plumbing subcode review | Same department, plumbing subcode | ext. 1406 |
| Water service | Merchantville Pennsauken Water Commission, for most addresses | (856) 663-0043 |
| Plumber license check | NJ State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers | njconsumeraffairs.gov/plu |
Planning a renovation or chasing a drain problem?
Give us your street and what you want done. We will say what is involved before any work starts.
How Collins Tract compares with nearby plumbing pages
Delair, Delaware Gardens and Hillcrest are also Pennsauken communities with their own pages. If your question is about the whole township, start on the Pennsauken plumbing home page or the service area overview.
Collins Tract homeowner questions
Property guides describe Collins Tract as a historic Pennsauken neighborhood that borders Merchantville. The line between the two is not marked on most maps, so the municipality in your mailing address decides which permit office and rules apply.
Not automatically. A house built in the 1920s may have had pipes replaced over time. Looking at the water line entry, under-sink connections and the sewer cleanout tells you more than the year the house was built.
Roots can enter joints and cracks in any older sewer lateral. This is a general plumbing fact, not a finding about Collins Tract. A camera inspection shows whether roots are present and where.
Usually yes if pipes are moved or fixtures are replaced. The township code exempts only ordinary repairs. The plumbing subcode office at ext. 1406 can say whether your project needs a permit.
The name on your water bill answers it. The Merchantville Pennsauken Water Commission serves most of the township and NJ American Water serves a few addresses.