Bolthole Index

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Glenolden Borough, PA

Glenolden Borough, Delaware County, Pennsylvania requires a permit before any building or structure is erected, constructed or altered1. The borough enforces its own zoning through a Zoning Officer2. Septic and well permits for Glenolden addresses come from the Delaware County Health Department3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before erecting, constructing or altering any building or structure1
Building code
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, adopted by the borough4
Zoning
Yes, enforced by the Borough Zoning Officer2
Certificate of occupancy
Required before occupying or changing the use of land, a building or a structure5
Septic and wells
Permits from the Delaware County Health Department3
R-1 lot size
At least 60 feet of frontage and 125 feet of depth6

Who to call

Building permits

Glenolden Borough Hall

The borough's main office; ask it for the Zoning Officer and for the Uniform Construction Code building permit application

610-583-3221

boroughmanager@glenoldenborough.org

36 Boon Avenue Glenolden, PA 19036

Septic permits

Delaware County Health Department, Environmental Health

On-lot sewage system permits and inspections, and well permits

(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 Borough of Glenolden means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Glenolden have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Glenolden Borough has its own zoning chapter, and the borough Zoning Officer enforces it2. The chapter divides the borough into districts, including residential districts R-1, R-2 and R-37.

In the R-1 Low-Density District, a lot for a single-family detached dwelling needs at least 60 feet of frontage on a public street and a depth of at least 125 feet, and the street must be fully improved with curbs, sidewalks, paving and sanitary sewers6. Front yards must be at least 25 feet (12 feet on the long side of a corner lot), side yards at least 10 feet each, and the rear yard at least 25 feet8. Buildings, including accessory structures, may cover no more than 30% of an R-1 lot, paved areas no more than 10%, and grass and plantings must cover at least 60%9. Residential buildings in R-1, R-2 and R-3 may not exceed 35 feet in height10. R-1 driveways are limited to 10 feet wide, except a portion serving a multivehicle garage11.

We could not confirm Glenolden rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes or accessory dwelling units, so ask the Zoning Officer through Borough Hall before you plan any of them.

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

Yes. Glenolden Borough requires a permit before any building, structure or portion of one is erected, constructed or altered1. The borough has adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code4.

Applications for zoning permits go in writing to the Zoning Officer, who checks that the proposed construction or use complies with the zoning chapter12. The borough may grant or refuse the permit within 30 days; work must start within 1 year and be finished within 3 years1. Fees follow a schedule set by Borough Council resolution, so ask Borough Hall for the current amounts13. A certificate of occupancy is required before the land, building or structure is occupied or its use changes, and for new construction you apply for it with the permit5.

Glenolden's permits come from the borough, not from Delaware County. The county directs building permit questions to each municipality's code enforcement officials14.

Call Borough Hall at 610-583-322114.

How do septic permits work inside Glenolden?

The Delaware County Health Department, not the borough, issues permits for individual and small-community on-lot sewage systems and for well construction3. A permit is required for new systems, repairs or modifications that need digging equipment15.

Glenolden's R-1 district expects streets with sanitary sewers6, so most lots here are likely on public sewer. We could not confirm whether any address in the borough is allowed an on-lot system, or the borough's sewer connection rules. Ask Borough Hall first, then the Health Department at (484) 276-210016.

Building a home in Glenolden: the steps, in order

  1. Call Glenolden Borough Hall at 610-583-3221 to confirm the zoning district for your parcel and ask for the Zoning Officer14.
  2. Check the district's lot size, setback, coverage and height limits against your plans6.
  3. Apply in writing to the Zoning Officer, then obtain the construction permit before work starts12.
  4. If the driveway connects to a state highway, a PennDOT highway occupancy permit is required, and the building permit must carry notice of that requirement17.
  5. Confirm sewer service, or contact the Delaware County Health Department about any on-lot system or well3.
  6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in5.

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

Delaware County handles septic and well permits3 and county subdivision and land-development review under Act 24718. Anyone buying land outside Glenolden should read the Delaware County page, because borough rules do not apply there.

Before you buy, ask Borough Hall about floodplain limits. The zoning chapter lists a Floodplain Conservation District, but we could not confirm its operative rules. Also ask whether the borough requires construction inspections or has an owner-builder exemption, since we could not confirm either. Pennsylvania has no statewide license requirement for most construction contractors, though municipalities may set their own19.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Glenolden rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or short-term rentals, so ask the Zoning Officer through Borough Hall; use is controlled by the zoning districts7.
  • The lot, setback and coverage figures above apply only to the R-1 district; R-2 and R-3 have their own standards in the zoning chapter7.
  • Permit fees are set by Borough Council resolution and can change, so get the current schedule from Borough Hall13.

Sources

  1. Article XI: Administration; Applications and Permits; Penalties - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 162: Zoning - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  3. Sewage and Water, quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 64: Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  5. Article XI: Administration; Applications and Permits; Penalties - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article III: Regulations for Residential Districts R-1, R-2 and R-3 - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 162: Zoning - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article III: Regulations for Residential Districts R-1, R-2 and R-3 - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  9. Article III: Regulations for Residential Districts R-1, R-2 and R-3 - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article III: Regulations for Residential Districts R-1, R-2 and R-3 - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article III: Regulations for Residential Districts R-1, R-2 and R-3 - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article XI: Administration; Applications and Permits; Penalties - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article XI: Administration; Applications and Permits; Penalties - Borough of Glenolden, PA (Borough of Glenolden), quoted and re-checked
  14. Glenolden Borough Hall (delcopa.gov)
  15. Permits for On-Lot Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  16. Delaware County Health Department, Environmental Health (delcopa.gov)
  17. Uniform Construction Code Chapter 403, quoted and re-checked
  18. Development Review, quoted and re-checked
  19. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), 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 Borough of Glenolden

Borough of Glenolden’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, construction, or alteration of a building or structure inside Glenolden Borough.

    • Permit must be obtained before the work.
    • Permit may be granted or refused within 30 days and is valid for no more than one year to start construction, with three years total to complete construction.
    • Permit must conform to Chapter 162.

    permit decision period: <= 30 days · time to start construction: <= 1 year · total construction completion period: <= 3 years

    “A permit shall be required prior to erection, construction or alteration of any building, structure or any portion thereof.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction code administration inside Glenolden Borough.

    • The adopted Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapter 401 - 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of this municipality.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupation for use or change of use of land, a building, or a structure inside Glenolden Borough.

    • For new construction or alteration, apply when applying for the permit.
    • Certificate is granted or refused within 15 days after notice of construction completion or application to occupy and use land.

    certificate decision period: <= 15 days

    “A certificate of occupancy shall be required prior to the occupation for use or change of use of land, building or structure.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Glenolden Borough limits.

    • Zoning is enforced by the Borough Zoning Officer.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Glenolden 8-12-1937 by Ord. No. 354, approved 8-31-1937; amended, revised and reenacted 8-9-1979 by Ord. No. 814, approved 8-9-1979. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Glenolden Borough.

    • The zoning chapter identifies residential districts R-1, R-2, and R-3, and the Borough zoning map is addressed in § 162-6.
    “For the purpose of this chapter, the Borough of Glenolden is hereby divided into the following districts:”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Borough zoning permits and certificates of occupancy.

    • Fees are controlled by a Borough Council resolution and may be amended.
    “The applicant for a permit and certificate of occupancy shall, at the time of mailing the application, pay to the Borough a fee in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by resolution of Borough Council upon the enactment of this chapter or as such schedule may be amended by resolution of Borough Council.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning permit applications for construction inside Glenolden Borough.

    • Application is in writing to the Zoning Officer and must provide information sufficient to determine conformity.
    • Permit is granted or refused within 30 days and must conform with Chapter 162.

    permit decision period: <= 30 days

    “Application for permits shall be made in writing to the Zoning Officer and shall contain all information necessary for such Officer to ascertain whether the proposed erection, construction, alteration or use complies with the provisions of this chapter.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Glenolden

Borough of Glenolden 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 Low-Density District inside Glenolden Borough.

    • The street must be fully improved, including curbs, sidewalks, paving, sanitary sewers, and necessary utilities.

    minimum lot frontage: >= 60 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 125 feet

    “Each lot on which a dwelling is constructed shall have a frontage of at least 60 feet on a public street and a depth of not less than 125 feet. Said street shall be fully improved, which includes curbs, sidewalks, street paving and all sanitary sewers and necessary utilities.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 Low-Density District inside Glenolden Borough.

    • Corner-lot long-side front yard may be reduced to 12 feet.

    minimum front yard: >= 25 feet (12 feet for the long side of a corner lot) · minimum side yard: >= 10 feet (each of two side yards, except corner lot) · minimum rear yard: >= 25 feet

    “There shall be a front yard on each street on which a lot abuts which shall be not less than 25 feet in depth, provided that the front yard on the long side of a corner lot may be reduced to a depth of not less than 12 feet. [...] Except for a corner lot, there shall be two side yards on each lot, neither of which shall be less than 10 feet in width. [...] There shall be a rear yard on each lot which shall have a depth of not less than 25 feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 Low-Density District inside Glenolden Borough.

    maximum building coverage: <= 30 percent (includes accessory structures) · maximum paved-area coverage: <= 10 percent (parking, driveways, sidewalks, and other paved areas) · minimum grass and planted area: >= 60 percent

    “Not more than 30% of the area of any lot shall be occupied or covered by buildings, including accessory structures, and not more than 10% of the area of any lot shall be occupied or covered by paved off-street parking areas, driveways thereto, sidewalks and other paved areas and not less than 60% of the area of any lot shall be occupied or covered by grass and planted areas.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in Glenolden residential districts R-1, R-2, and R-3.

    • Exception for chimneys, spires, elevator shafts, tanks, air-conditioning equipment, and similar projections.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Specified projections)

    “No building shall exceed 35 feet in height from the lowest point of grade to highest part of the building, except chimneys, spires, elevator shafts, tanks, air-conditioning equipment and similar projections of the building.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways serving R-1 detached dwellings inside Glenolden Borough.

    • A portion serving a multivehicle garage may exceed 10 feet where required for access.

    maximum driveway width: <= 10 feet (portion serving a multivehicle garage as required for access)

    “Be a maximum of 10 feet in width; provided, however, that in any case involving a multivehicle garage, a portion of the driveway may exceed 10 feet in width as required for access.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Glenolden Borough.
  • Inspections — Construction inside Glenolden Borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 Low-Density District inside Glenolden Borough.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Glenolden Borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Glenolden Borough.
13 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
  • 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 Borough of Glenolden publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Delaware County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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