Bolthole Index

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania

Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania requires a building permit before covered construction begins, and the Township Building and Planning Department processes building and zoning applications.12 Bensalem has its own zoning districts; Bucks County Health Department issues septic permits inside the township.34 Recreational vehicles are prohibited in identified floodplain areas unless a variance is obtained under the township’s floodplain rules.5

At a glance

Building permits
Required for covered construction; Township Building and Planning processes applications12
Zoning
Township zoning districts govern land use3
Septic permits
Bucks County Health Department4
RV living
Prohibited in identified floodplain areas unless a qualifying variance is obtained5
Lot size
R-55 detached dwellings: minimum 5,000 square feet; other districts differ67
Occupancy
Certificate of occupancy required before using a covered building8

Who to call

Building permits

Bensalem Township Building and Planning Department

Building and zoning applications, plan reviews and inspections; ask for the Zoning Officer for parcel-use and floodplain questions.

215-633-3644

2400 Byberry Road | Bensalem, PA 19020

Septic permits

Bucks County Department of Health — Sewage Program

On-site sewage system permits, including new and repaired septic systems, holding tanks and qualifying alternate systems.

215-345-3318

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Bensalem Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Bensalem Township, PA?

A new home in Bensalem Township needs a building permit before covered construction starts, and the Township processes the application locally.12 Pennsylvania’s residential UCC rules exempt specified limited work and ordinary repairs, but an exemption applies only when the work does not violate another law or ordinance.9 Ask Building and Planning to identify the building and zoning approvals for your exact project.10

Bensalem’s Department provides structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical plan reviews and inspections, including manufactured-home setups.11 A covered building cannot be used before a certificate of occupancy is issued.8

Who handles building permits and zoning in Bensalem Township?

Bensalem Township’s Building and Planning Department receives building and zoning applications and collects the associated fees; application forms are available through the Township website.2 Call the department at 215-633-3644 for building permits, inspections or zoning questions.10 Ask the department for the current project-specific application and fee requirements rather than assuming a state application is the local application.2

Bucks County Health Department separately handles septic permits inside Bensalem; a Township building application does not replace that county sewage approval.42 For land outside Bensalem, use the Bucks County guide to understand the county health role and the need to identify the applicable municipality’s zoning.1213

Does Bensalem Township have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Bensalem Township has its own zoning ordinance, with district-specific residential and other land-use rules.37 Ask the Township Zoning Officer to confirm the parcel’s district before choosing a house design.10

For single-family detached dwellings in the R-55 Riverfront Revitalization District, the minimum lot area is 5,000 square feet and minimum lot width is 40 feet.6 Those dwellings require a 25-foot front yard, 10-foot side yard and 25-foot rear yard, with a maximum height of 35 feet.1415 Those standards apply to that dwelling type in that district, rather than establishing a township-wide lot minimum.6 Other Bensalem districts have their own provisions.7

How do septic permits work inside Bensalem Township?

Bucks County Health Department issues septic permits inside Bensalem Township for new and repaired systems, holding tanks, spray irrigation and qualifying alternate or experimental systems.4 Contact the Sewage Program at 215-345-3318 before committing to an on-lot sewage design.16

An on-lot sewage system cannot be constructed, maintained or used where an approved public sewer is accessible, so sewer availability comes before choosing septic.17 A structure served by a county-permitted on-lot system cannot be occupied until the system has written Approval to Cover and a final inspection by the county Sewage Enforcement Officer.18 A composting toilet for a new residence still requires approved treatment of washwater or excess liquid under Pennsylvania’s sanitation rules.19

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Bensalem Township?

Bensalem Township prohibits recreational vehicles within identified floodplain areas unless a variance is obtained under the floodplain ordinance.5 Under the cited variance provisions, RVs in the specified flood zones must remain fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, and be removed when a flood warning is issued.5 That exception does not establish permission for permanent RV residence elsewhere in Bensalem.5

We could not confirm a general private-land RV residence rule outside the floodplain, temporary camping permission, or a specific tiny-home occupancy rule; ask Bensalem’s Zoning Officer about the proposed use and parcel district.10 A covered residential building still needs a certificate of occupancy before use.8

What are the steps for building a home in Bensalem Township?

Start with Bensalem Building and Planning: confirm the zoning district and ask which building and zoning applications match the proposed home.72 Next, establish the sewage route with Bucks County Health: accessible approved public sewer prevents use of an on-lot system, while septic systems fall under county permitting.174 Obtain the required building permit before covered construction begins.1

During construction, notify the code official when residential work is ready for inspection and keep the work accessible.20 Before moving in, obtain the building certificate of occupancy and, for a county-permitted septic system, the county’s written Approval to Cover and final sewage inspection.818

What should you check before buying land in Bensalem Township?

Ask Bensalem Building and Planning about the parcel’s zoning district and floodplain status before settling on an RV, manufactured home or conventional house plan.7511 Floodplain construction requires documentation prepared and sealed by a registered design professional under the applicable building-code provisions.21 A driveway accessing a PennDOT-jurisdiction highway needs a highway occupancy permit before state-highway access is permitted.22

We could not confirm Bensalem-specific private-well approval requirements or a public-water connection threshold; ask Bucks County Health about well approvals and Township Building and Planning about the proposed utility connections.1610 Pennsylvania’s agricultural-building exemption excludes habitable space, so a qualifying farm storage structure is not an exempt house.23

Watch-outs

  • Bensalem has township zoning even though Bucks County does not administer county-wide zoning.324
  • Do not plan on septic where an approved public sewer is accessible.17
  • Pennsylvania’s lack of statewide licensing for most construction contractors does not waive Bensalem’s building permit or inspection requirements.25111

Sources

  1. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Building and Planning (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Building and Planning (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sewage Program (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sec. 104-47. Special requirements for recreational vehicles (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 232-274. Area and yard regulations for residential uses (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Building and Planning (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Bensalem Township Building and Planning Department (bensalempa.gov)
  11. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Overview | Bucks County Planning Commission, quoted and re-checked
  13. Bucks County Department of Health Rules and Regulations Governing Individual and Community On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  14. Sec. 232-274. Area and yard regulations for residential uses (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Sec. 232-274. Area and yard regulations for residential uses (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Bucks County Department of Health — Sewage Program (buckscounty.gov)
  17. Bucks County Department of Health Rules and Regulations Governing Individual and Community On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  18. Bucks County Department of Health Rules and Regulations Governing Individual and Community On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  19. 25 Pa. Code § 73.65. Recycling toilet, incinerating toilet or composting toilet (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Bensalem Township), quoted and re-checked
  22. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Pennsylvania Construction Code Act — Chapter 1 (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Bucks County Ordinances & Resolutions (2026 county census)
  25. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Bensalem Township

Bensalem Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction or building work inside Bensalem Township.

    • Emergency repairs or equipment replacements may proceed without a permit if an application is submitted to the building code official within three business days.
    “The UCC requires property owners to obtain a construction or building permit before starting any work.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Residential, commercial, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, pool, manufactured-housing and other covered work inside Bensalem Township.

    • Inspection requirements vary by project type; manufactured and industrialized housing require inspections for site preparation, foundations, repairs and changes in occupancy.
    “Plan reviews, permits, and inspections for structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical as well as miscellaneous items (signs, fences, mobile home or manufactured home setups) are provided through the Department.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of a building or facility inside Bensalem Township.

    • For buildings containing dwelling units, the Township code also conditions issuance on required smoke detectors and compliance with the Township building code.
    “A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside Bensalem Township; the Township administers its own zoning ordinance.

    • The Township website states that land is divided into zoning districts and identifies a Township Zoning Hearing Board administering the zoning ordinance.
    “Growth and development in Bensalem Township is controlled primarily through land use controls contained in our Code of the Township of Bensalem. Land within the Township is divided into Zoning Districts which provides for various types of residential development in addition to regulating commercial, office, retail, corporate, planned institutional, and public land use development.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and district-specific dimensional standards inside Bensalem Township.

    • The Township website identifies zoning districts; the code contains district-specific provisions including R-A, R-AA, R-55, R-66 and M-H.
    “Land within the Township is divided into Zoning Districts which provides for various types of residential development in addition to regulating commercial, office, retail, corporate, planned institutional, and public land use development.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-55 Riverfront Revitalization District.

    • Condominium ownership uses equivalent lot-area and setback standards rather than literal minimum lots and yards.

    minimum lot area: >= 5000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 40 feet

    “Single-family detached dwellings: a. Minimum lot area, 5,000 square feet. b. Minimum lot width, 40 feet. c. Minimum front yard, 25 feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-55 Riverfront Revitalization District.

    • Condominium ownership uses equivalent lot-area and setback standards.

    front yard: >= 25 feet · side yard: >= 10 feet · rear yard: >= 25 feet

    “Minimum front yard, 25 feet. d. Minimum side yard, ten feet. e. Minimum rear yard, 25 feet. f. Maximum height, 35 feet.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings other than farm buildings in the R-A Rural District.

    • The 35-foot limit may be exceeded by one foot for each foot by which both side-yard width and front-yard depth exceed minimums, up to 50 feet.

    base maximum building height: <= 35 feet (May increase to maximum 50 feet under the stated yard-increase formula.) · absolute maximum building height: <= 50 feet (Under the stated yard-increase formula.)

    “No building other than a farm building shall exceed 35 feet in height, provided that such height limit may be exceeded by one foot for each foot by which both the width of each side yard and the depth of the front yard is increased beyond minimum side yard requirements up to a maximum height of 50 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family detached dwellings in the R-55 Riverfront Revitalization District.
      “Single-family detached dwellings: a. Minimum lot area, 5,000 square feet. b. Minimum lot width, 40 feet. c. Minimum front yard, 25 feet. d. Minimum side yard, ten feet. e. Minimum rear yard, 25 feet. f. Maximum height, 35 feet.”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Recreational vehicles within any identified floodplain area in Bensalem Township.

    • The cited section provides an exception if a variance is obtained; for Zones A, A1-30, AH and AE it then requires the RV to be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, fully licensed and ready for highway use, and removed when a flood warning is issued.

    maximum consecutive days after variance: < 180 days (Only under the stated floodplain variance conditions.)

    “Within any identified floodplain area recreational vehicles shall be prohibited. If a variance is obtained in accordance with the criteria in Article VII, then the following provisions apply: (1) Recreational vehicles in Zones A, A1-30, AH and AE must either: a. Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days, b. Be fully licensed and ready for highway use, and c. Be removed from the floodplain when a flood warning is issued.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    On-site sewage facilities inside Bensalem Township; the Bucks County Health Department is the actual permitting authority.

    • The County program operates under Pennsylvania Code Title 25, Chapter 73 and the PA DEP On-Lot Alternate Technology Listing.
    “The Bucks County Health Department permits on-site sewage facilities consisting of new/repaired septic systems, spray irrigation systems, holding tanks, alternate and experimental systems which qualify under PA Code, Title 25, Chapter 73 and the PA DEP On-Lot Alternate Technology Listing.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction in a floodplain inside Bensalem Township.

    • Floodplain construction requires documentation under Section 1612.5 of the 2018 International Building Code, prepared and sealed by a registered design professional; Township floodplain and zoning approvals may also apply.
    “When construction will occur in a flood plain, documentation required in Section 1612.5 of the 2018 International Building Code shall be prepared and sealed by a registered design professional.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building and zoning permit applications inside Bensalem Township.

    • The Township receives and processes applications; forms are available through the Township website; project-specific plan, inspection and fee requirements apply.
    “The Department is responsible for receiving and processing permit applications and collecting fees related to all building and zoning within the Township. For your convenience forms and applications are available by clicking here.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bensalem Township or Bucks County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from UCC requirements inside Bensalem Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Bensalem Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bensalem Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Bensalem Township.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Bensalem Township.
6 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Bensalem Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bucks County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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