Bolthole Index

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Darby Township, Pennsylvania

Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning districts and requires a permit before any building or structure is erected or altered12. Applications go to the township's Zoning Officer3. Septic permits and well permits come from the Delaware County Health Department, not the township45.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, the township zones land into districts1
Building permit
Required before erecting or altering a building or structure2
Who to apply to
Zoning Officer, on township forms3
Septic permits
Delaware County Health Department4
Single-family lot (R-A)
5,000 sq ft minimum, 35% building coverage67
Owner-builder
Statewide: no general contractor license for work on your own residence8

Who to call

Building permits

Township of Darby (permits, zoning and code enforcement)

Building, zoning, electrical, plumbing and use-and-occupancy permit applications inside Darby Township

(610) 586-1514

21 Bartram Avenue, Glenolden, PA

Septic permits

Delaware County Health Department, Environmental Health

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

(484) 276-2100

environmental@co.delaware.pa.us

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 Darby Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Darby Township, PA have zoning?

Yes. Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania divides land into zoning districts under Chapter 27 of its code1. Delaware County does not zone for its municipalities; each one keeps its own zoning map and district rules9.

In the R-A Single-Family Detached District, a single-family detached house needs a lot of at least 5,000 square feet, 50 feet wide at the building line, with 20 feet of frontage6. Setbacks there are 30 feet in front, 25 feet in back, and side yards totaling 20 feet with neither under 8 feet; a side yard holding a driveway must be at least 12 feet wide10. Buildings may cover 35% of the lot and reach 35 feet in height711.

In the R-B Residence District, a semidetached house needs 2,500 square feet per dwelling and 35 feet of width and frontage12. Front setback is 20 feet, side 15 feet and rear 25 feet13, with height capped at 25 feet14. Look up your parcel's district before you assume which column applies.

Do you need a building permit in Darby Township, and who issues it?

Yes. Darby Township requires a permit before any building, structure or part of one is erected or altered, and no construction may begin until township fees are paid and a building permit is issued2. Applications go to the Zoning Officer on township forms3.

The township office lists separate applications for building, zoning (special exception and variance), electrical, plumbing and use and occupancy15. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code also applies, and Delaware County itself does not issue building permits; it sends building-permit questions to the municipality's code enforcement officials16. A residential building may not be occupied without a certificate of occupancy17.

We could not confirm the township's fee amounts or which UCC edition it enforces locally; call the township office to ask15.

How do septic permits and wells work in Darby Township?

Septic permits for on-lot systems in Delaware County, including new systems, repairs and modifications, come from the Delaware County Health Department418. Major new permits require soil testing18. The same department issues permits for well construction5.

County soil data suggest conventional drain fields rate poorly: only 3.6% of Delaware County soils are rated not limited for them, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system if a lot is not on public sewer19. We could not confirm which parts of Darby Township are on public sewer; ask the township office15.

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

We could not confirm a township rule on RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny homes, so do not assume any of them is allowed. Call the Zoning Officer through the township office before you buy or park anything15. Pennsylvania's statewide campground rules cover state parks and do not answer whether you can live in an RV on your own lot20.

Building a home in Darby Township: the steps, in order

  1. Find the parcel's zoning district and check lot size, setbacks and coverage against the district rules1.
  2. Apply to the Zoning Officer on township forms3.
  3. Pay township fees and obtain the building permit before any construction2.
  4. If the lot is not on public sewer, apply to the Delaware County Health Department for septic and well permits4.
  5. If the driveway meets a state highway, a PennDOT highway occupancy permit is required21.
  6. Pass the required inspections: foundation, plumbing, mechanical and electrical, frame and masonry, wallboard and final22.
  7. Get the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in17.

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

Septic and well permits stay with the Delaware County Health Department4. Subdividing a lot goes through county Planning Commission review and municipal approval before the plan is recorded23. For land outside the township, see the Delaware County page.

Pennsylvania has no general contractor license requirement for an owner working on their own residence8. Delaware County's effective property tax rate is 2% and the median bill is $6,001 a year2425. Floodplain construction needs documentation sealed by a registered design professional26; we could not confirm township floodplain rules, so ask the township office.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm township rules on accessory dwellings, minimum house size, short-term rentals or driveway permits; ask the Zoning Officer at the township office15.
  • Zoning numbers above apply only to the R-A and R-B districts; other districts have different standards1.
  • A completed permit application is not an approval, and the township says you will hear back in 7 - 14 days15.

Sources

  1. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 3: Classification of Districts (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 16: Administration (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 16: Administration (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sewage and Water, quoted and re-checked
  5. Sewage and Water, quoted and re-checked
  6. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 4: R-A Residential Districts (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 4: R-A Residential Districts (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Contractor Licensing (2026 county census)
  9. delcopa.gov, quoted and re-checked
  10. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 4: R-A Residential Districts (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 4: R-A Residential Districts (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 5: R-B Residence Districts (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 5: R-B Residence Districts (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Township of Darby, PA Code, Chapter 27, Part 5: R-B Residence Districts (Darby Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Township of Darby (permits, zoning and code enforcement) (darbytwp.org)
  16. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  17. Uniform Construction Code Chapter 403, quoted and re-checked
  18. Permits for On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  19. 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
  20. RV and Tent Campsites (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Uniform Construction Code Chapter 403, quoted and re-checked
  22. Uniform Construction Code Chapter 403, quoted and re-checked
  23. Development Review, quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked

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 Darby Township

Darby Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection or alteration of a building or structure inside Darby Township.

    • A zoning permit is required before erection or alteration of a building or structure.
    • No construction may begin until Township fees are paid and a building permit has been issued.
    • The zoning chapter also regulates changes in use and nonconforming uses.
    “A permit shall be required prior to the erection or alteration of any building, structure, or portion thereof”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Deck construction inside Darby Township.

    • The code says decks may be inspected rather than prescribing a mandatory inspection for every deck.
    • The Building Official may require construction to be delayed or closed if materials or methods are unsafe or questionable.
    “All decks may be inspected by the Building Official at any time during and after construction.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

    • The chapter classifies land into zoning districts.
    “For the purpose of this chapter, the Township of Darby is hereby zoned in districts as follows:”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning permits for erection, alteration, use, change of use, or extension of a nonconforming use inside Darby Township.

    • Applications must be made to the Zoning Officer on Township forms.
    • Applications must contain information needed to determine compliance with the zoning chapter.
    “Applications for permits shall be made to the Zoning Officer on such forms as may be furnished by the Township. Each application shall contain all information necessary for such official to ascertain whether the proposed erection, alteration, use or change of use complies with the provisions of this chapter.”

Rules another office applies inside Darby Township

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 Darby Township's R-A Single-Family Detached District.

    • The listed standards are for a single-family detached dwelling.

    minimum lot area: 5000 square feet · minimum lot width at building line: 50 feet · minimum frontage: 20 feet

    “Single-Family Detached Dwelling Minimum Lot Area | 5,000 square feet Minimum Lot Width at the Building Line | 50 feet Minimum Frontage | 20 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family semidetached dwellings in Darby Township's R-B Residence District.
      “Single-family semidetached dwelling, provided that the dwelling with which it has a party wall in common is erected at the same time. | Minimum Lot Area Per Dwelling | 2,500 square feet | Minimum Lot Width | 35 feet | Minimum Frontage | 35 feet”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in Darby Township's R-A Single-Family Detached District.

    • A side yard containing a parking space or driveway must be at least 12 feet wide.

    minimum front yard setback: 30 feet (from the street line on each street on which the lot abuts) · minimum side yards aggregate: 20 feet (neither side yard may be less than 8 feet) · minimum rear yard setback: 25 feet

    “Minimum Front Yard Setback | 30 feet from the street line on each street on which the lot abuts Minimum Side Yard Setback | 2 side yards are required with an aggregate of 20 feet, neither of which may be less than 8 feet. A side yard containing a parking space or driveway must be at least 12 feet wide Minimum Rear Yard Setback | 25 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Single-family semidetached dwellings in Darby Township's R-B Residence District.

    • The dwelling sharing a party wall must be erected at the same time.

    maximum building coverage: 35 percent

    “Minimum Front Yard Setback | 20 feet | Minimum Side Yard Setback | 15 feet | Minimum Rear Yard Setback | 25 feet | Maximum Building Coverage | 35% | Maximum Impervious Coverage | 80% | Maximum Height | 25 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family semidetached dwellings in Darby Township's R-B Residence District.

    • The dwelling sharing a party wall must be erected at the same time.

    maximum height: 25 feet

    “Minimum Front Yard Setback | 20 feet | Minimum Side Yard Setback | 15 feet | Minimum Rear Yard Setback | 25 feet | Maximum Building Coverage | 35% | Maximum Impervious Coverage | 80% | Maximum Height | 25 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Darby Township.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Darby Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Darby Township.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Darby Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Darby Township.
15 more unanswered
  • 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
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 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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