Bolthole Index

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania

Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania requires a building permit before regulated construction begins, and the township's Licenses & Inspections office issues it12. Upper Darby sets its own zoning under a township zoning chapter3, while Delaware County does not issue building permits or run zoning45. On-lot septic permits in Delaware County come from the county Health Department6.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before regulated work; issued by the township1
Zoning
Township zoning chapter applies inside Upper Darby3
Owner-builder
Homeowner permit only for your own primary residence, with you doing the work7
R-1 lot and setbacks
6,500 sq ft minimum lot; 25 ft front, 20 ft rear; 30% coverage; 35 ft height891011
Septic
County Health Department permits on-lot systems; applicability inside the township to be confirmed with them612

Who to call

Building permits

Upper Darby Township Licenses & Inspections

Building permits, trade permits and inspections inside Upper Darby Township

610-734-7613

100 Garrett Road Room 109, Upper Darby, PA 19082

Septic permits

Delaware County Health Department, Environmental Health

Permits, inspections and enforcement for on-lot sewage systems, and permits for private wells, in Delaware County

(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 Upper Darby 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 Upper Darby Township, PA?

Yes. Upper Darby Township requires building permits before regulated construction work begins, under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code113. Work may not begin until the permit is issued2.

The township adds its own local rules: a permit is required for residential utility structures of 120 square feet or more2. Exemptions exist but are narrow, and the township decides whether a permit is required1. Inspections follow at set stages of construction14.

A permit for the building does not replace other approvals. Upper Darby's permit page says zoning approval may still be required and floodplain regulations may still apply2.

Who issues building permits in Upper Darby Township, and how do you reach them?

Upper Darby Township's Licenses & Inspections office issues building permits inside the township2. Reach it at 610-734-7613, or in person at 100 Garrett Road, Room 109, Upper Darby, PA 190822.

Delaware County is not the place to go. The county does not issue building permits; building permits are administered by each municipality's code enforcement office4. The township has also adopted the state construction code as its municipal building code15.

Does Upper Darby Township have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Upper Darby Township has its own zoning chapter, adopted by the Township Council3. Delaware County does not zone; zoning is enforced by the municipalities5.

Rules differ by district. For single-family detached homes in the R-1 Residential District, the minimum lot is 6,500 square feet8. The minimum front yard is 25 feet and the minimum rear yard is 20 feet; side yards total at least 25 feet with 10 feet minimum on each side9. Maximum building coverage is 30 percent10, and maximum height is 35 feet11.

We could not confirm a minimum dwelling size, or township rules on RV occupancy, camping or tiny homes. Ask Licenses & Inspections2 before you rely on any of them.

How do septic permits work in Upper Darby Township?

In Delaware County, the County Health Department handles inspections, permit issuance and enforcement for on-lot sewage systems under Pennsylvania Act 537616. A permit is required for new systems, repairs and modifications, with a narrow exception for repairs that need no digging equipment12.

We could not find an official township source saying how on-lot septic or private wells are handled inside Upper Darby specifically, or whether a public sewer connection is required for new homes. Call the Health Department at (484) 276-210016 and Upper Darby Licenses & Inspections before you assume either way.

Can an owner build their own home in Upper Darby Township?

Only in limited cases. A property owner may apply for a building permit only for their primary residence and only if they are personally performing the work7. The homeowner path does not apply to rental, investment or non-owner-occupied property7.

An owner acting as contractor still has to meet the Uniform Construction Code, township ordinances, required inspections and any affidavits7.

Building in Upper Darby Township: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your zoning district and whether zoning approval is needed with Upper Darby Licenses & Inspections2.
  2. Check whether the property sits in a floodplain, since floodplain rules may still apply2.
  3. Apply for the building permit, plus any trade permits, with the township1.
  4. Confirm septic or sewer arrangements with the Delaware County Health Department16.
  5. Do not start work until the permit is issued2.
  6. Pass the required inspections14.

If you plan to split or combine lots, subdivision and land-development plans are regulated by the township17.

What stays with Delaware County, and what to check before you buy?

Septic and private-well permits stay with the Delaware County Health Department186. Land outside the township is covered on the Delaware County page.

A driveway onto a state highway needs a PennDOT permit19. Delaware County's effective property tax rate is about 2 percent20. Nearly all of the county's land is gentle, 15 percent slope or less21, but conventional septic drain fields rate poorly in county soils, so expect a site evaluation22.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm who regulates on-lot septic or private wells inside Upper Darby Township itself; ask the Delaware County Health Department and township Licenses & Inspections16.
  • Floodplain rules may apply on top of a building permit; ask Licenses & Inspections whether a parcel is in a floodplain2.
  • We could not confirm any Upper Darby rule on living in an RV, camping or tiny homes, so do not assume they are allowed. Ask Licenses & Inspections2.

Sources

  1. Building Permits | Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Upper Darby Township Licenses & Inspections (upperdarby.org)
  3. Chapter 550: Zoning - Township of Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Delaware County Planning Department - Development Review (2026 county census)
  5. Delaware County Planning Department - Development Review (2026 county census)
  6. Sewage and Water, quoted and re-checked
  7. Building Permits | Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article IV: Residential Districts - Township of Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Article IV: Residential Districts - Township of Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article IV: Residential Districts - Township of Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article IV: Residential Districts - Township of Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Permits for On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  13. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Building Permits | Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 262: Construction Codes, Uniform - Township of Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Delaware County Health Department, Environmental Health (delcopa.gov)
  17. Chapter 475: Subdivision and Land Development - Township of Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Sewage and Water, quoted and re-checked
  19. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: 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 Upper Darby Township

Upper Darby Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Regulated residential construction work inside Upper Darby Township.

    • Permits are required before regulated work begins.
    • Work exempt under the UCC is limited, narrowly defined, and subject to Township determination.
    “permits are required prior to the commencement of regulated construction work.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A property owner seeking to perform permitted work inside Upper Darby Township.

    • The property must be the owner's primary residence.
    • The owner must personally perform the work.
    • The owner must meet applicable code, ordinance, permit, inspection, affidavit, and documentation requirements.
    • The homeowner-permit path does not apply to rental, investment, or non-owner-occupied property.
    “A property owner may apply for a building permit only for their primary residence and only if they are personally performing the work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction subject to the municipal building code inside Upper Darby Township.

    • The Township code incorporates 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 to 405 as amended and contains local amendments.
    “is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code for the Township”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Upper Darby Township.

    • Inspections occur at required stages and may include footing, framing, trade, insulation, close-in, and final inspections.
    “Inspections are required at various stages of construction to ensure compliance with approved plans and codes.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Upper Darby Township.

    • The code identifies amendments where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Upper Darby 5-19-2010 by Ord. No. 2984. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land-development plans for real property inside Upper Darby Township.

    • The Mayor may approve only when authorized by majority Council vote at a duly constituted public meeting.
    • The Township adopted the Delaware County Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance of 2016 and future amendments as its ordinance.
    “Chapter 475 Subdivision and Land Development”

Rules another office applies inside Upper Darby Township

Upper Darby Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 Residential District inside Upper Darby Township.

    • Applies to buildings or structures erected, altered, or used in the listed zoning districts.

    minimum lot size: >= 6500 square feet (R-1)

    “The following lot, area and bulk standards shall be required for every building or structure hereinafter erected, altered or used in the R-C, R-C-1, R-1, and R-2 Zoning Districts:”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 Residential District inside Upper Darby Township.

    • Where construction establishes a greater building line, the required front yard becomes that distance; a legally existing covered porch, patio, or deck meeting new-construction front-yard setback may be enclosed.

    minimum front yard: >= 25 feet (R-1) · minimum side yard aggregate: >= 25 feet (R-1; 10 feet minimum) · minimum rear yard: >= 20 feet (R-1)

    “Minimum front yard (feet) | *35 | *35 | *25 | *20 Minimum side yard (feet) | 35 aggregate; 15 feet minimum | 35 aggregate; 15 feet minimum | 25 aggregate; 10 feet minimum | 22 aggregate; 10 feet minimum Minimum rear yard | 30 feet | 30 feet | 20 feet | 20 feet”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 Residential District inside Upper Darby Township.

    • Applies to buildings or structures erected, altered, or used in the listed zoning districts.

    maximum building coverage: <= 30 percent (R-1)

    “Maximum building height (feet) | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 Maximum building coverage (percent) | 25% for 15,000 square feet lot; 20% for 20,000 square feet lot | 20% | 30% | 30%”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 Residential District inside Upper Darby Township.

    • Applies to buildings or structures erected, altered, or used in the listed zoning districts.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (R-1)

    “Maximum building height (feet) | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 Maximum building coverage (percent) | 25% for 15,000 square feet lot; 20% for 20,000 square feet lot | 20% | 30% | 30%”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 Residential District inside Upper Darby Township.
  • Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Upper Darby Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Upper Darby Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Upper Darby Township.
  • Who permits septic — On-lot septic systems inside Upper Darby Township.
9 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Upper Darby Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Delaware County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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