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

Radnor Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

  • The locally adopted code is the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405, as amended through February 14, 2022 and further amended from time to time.

  “The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, contained within Title 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended through February 14, 2022, and as further amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Radnor Building Code for the Township of Radnor, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Existing residential or nonresidential property inside Radnor Township when transferred to a new owner.

  • The requirement applies to existing property occupied or used by a new owner following a transfer by title, deed, or other legal means.
  • The certificate must be issued by the Director of Community Development.

  “No existing property as defined by this article shall be occupied or used by a new owner as a result of a transfer by title, deed or other legal means until a certificate of use and occupancy has been issued by the Director of Community Development.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Radnor Township, Pennsylvania.

  • Chapter 280 was adopted by the Township Board of Commissioners; amendments are noted where applicable.

  “Chapter 280 Zoning [HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Radnor 2-25-1974 by Ord. No. 1564 as Ch. 135 of the 1974 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Radnor Township.

  • The Township code publishes an Article II titled Classification of Districts, including a section titled Classes established.

  “Article II Classification of Districts [...] § 280-5 Classes established. [...] § 280-6 Zoning Map.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Radnor Township.

  • The official chapter identifies administration and enforcement and requires final plan approval.

  “Article II Administration and Enforcement [...] § 255-10 Final plan approval required.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township services and permits for which the Radnor consolidated fee schedule applies.

  • The code states that applicable Township Code fees are consolidated into the schedule for staff and Board review.

  “The fees effective January 1, 2026, shall be as follows: CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE”

• Permit processPartial

  Certificates of use and occupancy for transferred existing property inside Radnor Township.

  • The stated process applies only to existing property occupied or used by a new owner after a property transfer.

  “Certificates of use and occupancy for the transfer of property shall be issued in accordance with the following procedures:”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Radnor Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Radnor Township.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Radnor Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Radnor Township.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family residential districts inside Radnor Township.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Radnor Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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