Bolthole Index

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania

Marcus Hook Borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance, adopted in 20051, and it has adopted the state Uniform Construction Code as its building code2. The borough requires a permit before any construction or development inside its limits3. Septic permits and well permits for Delaware County come from the county health department, not the borough4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for construction inside the borough; the Uniform Construction Code is adopted32
Zoning
Borough zoning ordinance, adopted 2005, with residential, mixed-use, commercial, business campus, transit and industrial districts15
Public sewer
Properties on a street with a public sewer must connect when the borough orders it6
Septic (on-lot)
Delaware County Health Department issues on-lot sewage permits county-wide4
Subdivision
Delaware County's 2016 subdivision and land development ordinance applies7
Floodplain
Floodplain Administrator reviews each development permit8
Permit fees
Set by Borough Council resolution9
Driveway on a state road
PennDOT highway occupancy permit required first10

Who to call

Building permits

Marcus Hook Borough Code Enforcement

Building permits, electric, plumbing and mechanical permits, and use and occupancy applications inside the borough

[email protected]

Zoning

Marcus Hook Borough Municipal Building

Borough permit and application forms, including zoning, floodplain development and use and occupancy applications

610-485-1341

[email protected]

1111 Market Street, Marcus Hook, PA 19061

Septic permits

Delaware County Health Department, Environmental Health

Permits, inspections and enforcement for on-lot sewage systems, and permits for wells, county-wide

(484) 276-2100

[email protected]

1400 N Providence Road Suite 212, Media, PA 19063

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Marcus Hook means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Marcus Hook have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Marcus Hook Borough adopted its current zoning ordinance on October 3, 20051. The ordinance has four residential districts, three mixed-use districts, one commercial district, two business campus districts, one transit-oriented development district and two industrial districts, each with its own density and intensity of use5. Which district a lot sits in decides what you can build on it, so look up the parcel before you buy.

We could not confirm the borough's rules on RVs, temporary camping, tiny homes, manufactured homes, accessory dwellings, minimum lot size, setbacks or height. Those live in the district tables of the zoning ordinance, and the answer differs by district. Ask the borough office at11 and name the parcel address.

Delaware County publishes an interactive zoning map for all of its municipalities, but the county itself says municipal officials hold the most current zoning information12.

Do you need a building permit in Marcus Hook, and who issues it?

Yes. Marcus Hook Borough adopted Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code2, and the borough's flood ordinance states that a permit is required before any construction or development within the borough3. Pennsylvania's code covers constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving or demolishing a residential building, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work13.

The borough's own Code Enforcement office handles building permit applications, and the borough says building permits take 7–10 days to process after a complete application14. Delaware County does not issue building permits and sends callers to the municipality's code-enforcement officials11.

Permit fees are set by resolution of Borough Council, so ask the borough for the current fee schedule9. Examples of work the state code exempts include fences no more than 6 feet high13.

How do septic permits and sewer connections work inside Marcus Hook?

Marcus Hook is a built-up borough with public sewer. Every property that adjoins a street or alley with a public sewer must connect when the borough orders it6. The owner notifies Borough Council, pays the connection charge of $100 per single unit for a lateral at the curb or property line plus a $10 sewer inspection fee, and gives the Borough Secretary at least 24 hours' notice before connecting6. If an owner does not connect within 45 days of the borough's notice, the borough may make the connection and bill the cost6.

We could not confirm whether any lot inside the borough may use an on-lot septic system. Where one is allowed, the Delaware County Health Department processes and issues permits for on-lot sewage systems and well construction4, and Pennsylvania requires a permit from the local agency before a building served by an onlot system is built or used15. Call the health department at16 before you rely on septic.

Building a home in Marcus Hook: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and that your use is allowed there with the borough office11.
  2. Check the floodplain. The borough's Floodplain Administrator must find the work compliant with applicable codes and ordinances before a development permit issues3.
  3. If you are dividing a lot, the Delaware County Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance of 2016 is the ordinance the borough recognizes7.
  4. Apply to Borough Code Enforcement for the building permit14.
  5. Start flood-permitted work within 180 days of issuance and finish within 12 months unless the Floodplain Administrator extends it in writing8.
  6. Expect inspections. A construction code official inspects work under a state-issued permit17, and the borough's floodplain official inspects as often as needed18.
  7. Get a certificate of occupancy before anyone lives in a new residential building19.

What stays with Delaware County, and what should you check before buying in Marcus Hook?

Septic and well permits stay with the Delaware County Health Department4. Subdivision plans also get county review under the county ordinance the borough recognizes7. For land outside borough limits, see the Delaware County page.

Before you buy, check the district and the floodplain on the parcel. If the driveway meets a state-maintained road, the building permit must carry notice that a PennDOT highway occupancy permit is required before driveway access10. Costs are county-level: Delaware County's effective property tax rate is about 2%20 and the median property tax bill is about $6001 a year21. Delaware County's typical home value is $37357522.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Marcus Hook's rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, minimum lot size or setbacks; the borough zoning ordinance sets them by district, so ask the borough office before you buy5.
  • We could not confirm whether the borough requires a certificate of occupancy of its own beyond the state rule that a residential building cannot be occupied without one19; the borough's permit page lists a use and occupancy application11.
  • We could not confirm an owner-builder or well-permit rule specific to the borough; ask Borough Code Enforcement and the Delaware County Health Department16.
  • Delaware County's rules for unincorporated land do not apply here; inside the borough, Marcus Hook sets zoning and issues building permits1.

Sources

  1. Chapter 196: Zoning - Borough of Marcus Hook, PA (Borough of Marcus Hook), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 84: Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Marcus Hook, PA (Borough of Marcus Hook), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 99: Flood Damage Prevention - Borough of Marcus Hook, PA (Borough of Marcus Hook), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sewage and Water, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 196: Zoning - Borough of Marcus Hook, PA (Borough of Marcus Hook), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 167: Sewers - Borough of Marcus Hook, PA (Borough of Marcus Hook), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 178: Subdivision and Land Development - Borough of Marcus Hook, PA (Borough of Marcus Hook), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 99: Flood Damage Prevention - Borough of Marcus Hook, PA (Borough of Marcus Hook), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 84: Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Marcus Hook, PA (Borough of Marcus Hook), quoted and re-checked
  10. Uniform Construction Code Chapter 403, quoted and re-checked
  11. Marcus Hook Borough Municipal Building (marcushookboro.org)
  12. delcopa.gov, quoted and re-checked
  13. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  14. Marcus Hook Borough Code Enforcement (marcushookboro.org)
  15. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Delaware County Health Department, Environmental Health (delcopa.gov)
  17. Uniform Construction Code Chapter 403, quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 99: Flood Damage Prevention - Borough of Marcus Hook, PA (Borough of Marcus Hook), quoted and re-checked
  19. Uniform Construction Code Chapter 403, quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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 Borough of Marcus Hook

Borough of Marcus Hook’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction or development inside Marcus Hook borough.

    • The cited requirement is in the Borough flood-damage-prevention ordinance.
    • Floodplain Administrator must determine conformance with applicable codes and ordinances before issuing the permit.
    “A permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Borough of Marcus Hook.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building-code compliance inside Marcus Hook borough.

    • The incorporated Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough of Marcus Hook.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Construction performed under the Borough flood-development permitting program inside Marcus Hook borough.

    • Inspection occurs during the construction period and is performed by the Floodplain Administrator or another authorized official.
    • The official makes as many inspections during and upon completion as necessary.
    “During the construction period, the Floodplain Administrator or other authorized official shall inspect the premises to determine that the work is progressing in compliance with the information provided on the permit application and with all applicable municipal laws and ordinances. He/she shall make as many inspections during and upon completion of the work as are necessary.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Marcus Hook borough limits.

    • Chapter 196 states that amendments are noted where applicable.
    “On October 3, 2005 Borough Council adopted the current Marcus Hook Zoning Ordinance.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Marcus Hook borough.

    • The full zoning map and boundary controls are in Chapter 196.
    “The 2005 Marcus Hook Borough Zoning Code contains four separate residential districts, three mixed-use districts, one commercial district, two business campus districts, one transit-oriented development district, and two industrial districts; each with its own prescribed level of density and intensity of use.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Properties inside Marcus Hook borough adjoining or abutting a street or alley where a public sewer is or will be located.

    • Connection must occur in the manner and time ordered by the Borough.
    • The owner must notify Borough Council, pay the connection and inspection fees, obtain any required street-excavation permit, and give the Borough Secretary at least 24 hours' notice before connection.
    • If the owner fails to connect after 45 days' Borough notice, the Borough may make the connection and collect the cost.

    notice before connection work: >= 24 hours · failure-to-connect notice period: >= 45 days · connection charge per single unit: 100 USD (Connection to a lateral at the curbline or property line.) · sewer inspection fee per connection: 10 USD

    “Every property in the Borough of Marcus Hook adjoining or abutting upon any street or alley in which a public sewer is now or shall hereafter be located shall be connected with such sewer in such manner and within such time as the Borough may order, for the purpose of the discharge of all fecal matter, human excrement, kitchen and laundry waste and other sewage from such premises.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction or development inside Marcus Hook borough, including identified floodplain areas.

    • No permit issues until the Floodplain Administrator determines compliance with applicable codes and ordinances.
    • The Administrator must review whether necessary state and federal permits have been obtained.
    • Work must begin within 180 days and be completed within 12 months, unless the Administrator grants a written extension.

    start-work deadline after permit issuance: <= 180 days (Written extension provisions apply.) · completion deadline after permit issuance: <= 12 months (Written extension provisions apply.)

    “Work on the proposed construction or development shall begin within 180 days after the date of issuance of the development permit. Work shall also be completed within 12 months after the date of issuance of the permit or the permit shall expire unless a time extension is granted, in writing, by the Floodplain Administrator.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Uniform Construction Code administration and enforcement inside Marcus Hook borough.

    • Fees are established from time to time by Borough Council resolution.
    “Fees assessable by the Borough for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the Code shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Flood-development permit applications inside Marcus Hook borough.

    • Application is written and uses Borough-supplied forms.
    • Floodplain applications require the listed site, owner, contractor, work, cost, and site-plan information.
    • Applications require a Borough fee based on estimated construction cost as determined by the Floodplain Administrator.
    “Application for such a permit shall be made, in writing, to the Floodplain Administrator on forms supplied by the Borough of Marcus Hook. Such application shall contain the following:”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Marcus Hook

Borough of Marcus Hook does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development within Marcus Hook borough's incorporated boundaries.

    • The applicable ordinance is the Delaware County Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance of 2016, as thereafter amended.
    • The Borough adopts the county fee schedule by reference for subdivision and land-development reviews.
    “The Borough Council of the Borough of Marcus Hook recognizes the Delaware County Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance of 2016, and thereafter amended, has legal jurisdiction and is being enforced within the incorporated boundaries of Marcus Hook, Delaware County.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Marcus Hook or Delaware County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Marcus Hook borough.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Marcus Hook borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential zoning districts inside Marcus Hook borough.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential zoning districts inside Marcus Hook borough.
  • Setbacks — Residential zoning districts inside Marcus Hook borough.
15 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Borough of Marcus Hook publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Delaware County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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