Bolthole Index

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in New Hope Borough, Pennsylvania

New Hope Borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania adopts and administers its own zoning under Chapter 2751 and enforces the state Uniform Construction Code for building permits2. Septic permits are not a borough matter: the Bucks County Department of Health permits on-site sewage systems3. Bucks County itself does not run a county building department4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, borough Chapter 275, with R1, R2 and ten other districts15
Building permit
Required; issued through the borough under the state UCC26
Septic
Bucks County Department of Health3
R1 minimum lot (single-family)
40,000 sq ft, 150 ft wide at the street line7
R2 minimum lot
2 acres, 200 ft wide at the street line8
Short-term rentals
Borough permit required9
RV or tiny-home living
Set by borough zoning by district; ask the zoning officer1

Who to call

Building permits

New Hope Borough Administration (building permits and zoning)

Building, zoning, sign, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire protection permit applications inside the borough

215-862-3347

info@newhopeborough.org

123 New Street, New Hope, PA 18938

Septic permits

Bucks County Department of Health

On-lot sewage (septic) permits for Bucks County, including inside boroughs

215-345-3318

1282 Almshouse Road, Doylestown, PA 18901

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does New Hope, PA have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The borough adopts and administers Chapter 275 Zoning itself, with special exceptions heard by the zoning hearing board and conditional uses by borough council1. The map includes R1, R2, RB, RC, CC, HC, SC, MU, PRD, LI and LC districts plus a Riverfront Cultural overlay5.

Check the district before you buy. In R1, a single-family detached home needs at least 40,000 square feet and 150 feet of width at the street line7, with setbacks of 35 feet front, 15 feet each side and 50 feet rear10. In R2, all permitted uses need two acres and 200 feet of width8, with 50 feet front, 35 feet each side and 50 feet rear11.

In both districts, impervious surface is capped at 25% and buildings at 15% of the lot1213, and buildings top out at 35 feet1415.

Do you need a building permit in New Hope, and who issues it?

Yes. New Hope Borough has adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code2, and the borough's own page says an owner or authorized agent who intends to build, alter, move or demolish a structure, or change its occupancy, must first apply to the building official and obtain the permit6.

Applications go to New Hope Borough Administration at 123 New Street; the borough asks residents to make an appointment to review the process first6. Zoning, building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire protection permits each have their own form6. Bucks County does not issue building permits for you4. A certificate of occupancy is required before a UCC-regulated building can be used16.

How do septic permits work inside New Hope?

Septic permits for New Hope addresses come from the Bucks County Department of Health, not the borough: the county permits on-site sewage facilities3, and its rules require a permit before a structure that needs an on-lot system is built or occupied17. Before anyone may occupy the structure, the system needs written Approval to Cover and a final inspection by the Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer18.

On-lot systems may not be used where an approved public sewer is accessible19. We could not confirm which New Hope parcels are on public sewer; ask the borough Administration, and call the county health department at 215-345-3318 for an on-lot site evaluation20.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in New Hope?

We could not confirm New Hope's rules on living in an RV, camping or placing a tiny home on a lot. The borough's zoning chapter governs those uses by district1, so the answer depends on the parcel's district. Ask the borough zoning officer through New Hope Borough Administration before you buy or park anything6.

Short-term rentals are a separate matter: no owner may operate a short-term rental in the borough without a permit from the borough zoning officer or designee, and the rental chapter does not excuse compliance with zoning9.

Building a home in New Hope: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and its lot, setback and coverage limits in Chapter 2755.
  2. Ask Borough Administration whether public sewer is available; if not, arrange an on-lot site evaluation with the Bucks County Department of Health21.
  3. Make an appointment with the borough to review the permitting process, then submit the zoning and building permit applications6.
  4. If the driveway meets a state highway, a PennDOT highway occupancy permit is required before access is permitted22.
  5. If the site is in a flood plain, the design documentation must be sealed by a registered design professional23.
  6. Pass inspections and obtain the certificate of occupancy before use16.

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

Septic and well matters, and subdivision review, sit above the borough. Bucks County's rules cover septic permits3, and the Bucks County Planning Commission reviews subdivision and land-development plans, while the borough must also approve them24. Wells that PA DEP does not regulate need a county permit25.

These numbers are for Bucks County as a whole: the effective property tax rate is 1.4%26, the median property tax bill is $5,833 a year27, and the typical home value is $533,66028. Read the county page at Bucks County for land outside the borough, where township rules differ.

Watch-outs

  • The borough amended its zoning chapter with Ord. No. 2026-02 on 2026-06-16, so confirm the current text before relying on a district standard1.
  • Dimensional standards differ by district, and uses other than single-family homes in R1 follow different numbers; check the district map7.
  • We could not confirm New Hope's permit fees, whether a given parcel must connect to public sewer, or its RV and tiny-home rules; call New Hope Borough Administration at 215-862-33476.

Sources

  1. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 112 Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  3. Sewage Program, quoted and re-checked
  4. PA Department of Labor & Industry - Uniform Construction Code (2026 county census)
  5. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  6. New Hope Borough Administration (building permits and zoning) (newhopeborough.org)
  7. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 219 Short Term Rental Units - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 275 Zoning, Article V Zoning District Regulations - Borough of New Hope, PA (Borough of New Hope), quoted and re-checked
  16. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  17. Bucks County Department of Health On-Lot Sewage Rules and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  18. Rules and Regulations Governing Individual and Community On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  19. Bucks County Department of Health Rules and Regulations Governing Individual and Community On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  20. Bucks County Department of Health (buckscounty.gov)
  21. Bucks County Department of Health On-Lot Sewage Rules and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  22. Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, quoted and re-checked
  23. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  24. Bucks County Planning Commission Overview, quoted and re-checked
  25. Residential Well Inspection Program, quoted and re-checked
  26. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 14, 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 New Hope

Borough of New Hope’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside New Hope borough; borough elects to administer and enforce the PA Uniform Construction Code

    • Administration may be by employee, third-party agency, intermunicipal agreement, or L&I for non-residential structures, as set by council resolution
    • Penalty fines $1,000 per day; fees may be changed by council resolution
    “the uniform construction code, contained in 34 pa. code, chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of new hope borough.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside New Hope borough; the borough adopts and administers Chapter 275 Zoning

    • Ord. No. 2026-02 (2026-06-16) amends Chapter 275 per the eCode360 new-laws banner
    • Special exceptions go to the zoning hearing board; conditional uses to borough council
    “the purpose of the r1 district is to recognize and accommodate development at low densities in sections of the borough where single-family development has occurred.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside New Hope borough (R1, R2, RB, RC, CC, HC, SC, MU, PRD, LI, LC, Riverfront Cultural overlay)

    districts: R1, R2, RB, RC, CC, HC, SC, MU, PRD, LI, LC, Riverfront Cultural Overlay

    “§ 275-30 rc multifamily residential district. § 275-31 cc central commercial district. § 275-32 hc highway commercial district. § 275-33 sc shopping center district. § 275-34 mu mixed use district. § 275-35 prd planned residential development district. § 275-36 li light industrial district. § 275-37 lc limited commercial district. § 275-37.1 riverfront cultural district (overlay).”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R1 Low-Density Residential District, single-family detached dwellings, inside New Hope borough

    • Article IV may state a different requirement for a specific use
    • Other permitted uses in R1: one acre minimum

    minimum lot area: >= 40000 sq ft (other permitted uses: one acre) · minimum lot width at street line: >= 150 ft

    “(1) use in § 275-14a, single-family detached dwellings: (a) minimum lot area: 40,000 square feet. (b) maximum impervious surface coverage: 25%. (c) maximum building coverage: 15%. (d) minimum lot width at street line: 150 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R1 Low-Density Residential District, single-family detached dwellings, inside New Hope borough

    • Other permitted uses in R1: front 50 ft, side 20 ft each, rear 50 ft
    • Article VI sets corner-lot and averaging rules for front yards

    front yard: >= 35 ft · side yard (each): >= 15 ft · rear yard: >= 50 ft

    “(f) minimum yards (setbacks): [1] front: 35 feet. [2] side (each): 15 feet. [3] rear: 50 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R1 Low-Density Residential District, single-family detached dwellings, inside New Hope borough

    • Other permitted uses in R1: 40% impervious, 30% building coverage

    maximum impervious surface coverage: <= 25 percent · maximum building coverage: <= 15 percent

    “(b) maximum impervious surface coverage: 25%. (c) maximum building coverage: 15%. (d) minimum lot width at street line: 150 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    R1 Low-Density Residential District inside New Hope borough

    • Article IV may state a different requirement for a specific use

    maximum building height: <= 35 ft

    “(d) minimum lot width at street line: 150 feet. (e) maximum building height: 35 feet. (f) minimum yards (setbacks):”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short term rentals of residential dwellings inside New Hope borough

    • Chapter does not apply to an inn, bed and breakfast, accessory boarders or lodgers or group home
    • Chapter does not excuse compliance with the zoning ordinance
    • Chapter 219 sections cover permit application, standards, fees/term/renewal, inspections, marketing, violations
    “no owner of any subject property in new hope borough shall operate a short term rental in the borough without first obtaining from the borough zoning officer, or from his/her designee, a short term rental permit ("permit") for each dwelling unit to be used as a short term rental.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of New Hope or Bucks County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits inside New Hope borough
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside New Hope borough
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside New Hope borough
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside New Hope borough
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside New Hope borough
17 more unanswered
  • 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
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 New Hope publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bucks County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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