Bolthole Index

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic in Springfield Township, Delaware County, PA

Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania requires a building permit before any building or structure is erected or altered1. The township adopts its own zoning in Chapter 143 of its code2. Septic permits for on-lot systems come from the Delaware County Health Department, not the township3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before erecting or altering any building or structure1
Building code
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, adopted by the township4
Zoning
Township zoning, Chapter 143, with a map and districts25
A Residence District height
35 feet and two stories6
A Residence District coverage
Buildings up to 30% of the lot, impervious surface up to 40%7
Septic permit
Delaware County Health Department3
Floodplain
Permit required for all development in an identified floodplain area8

Who to call

Building permits

Springfield Township Code Enforcement Officer

Administers and enforces the township zoning ordinance and issues building permits

Septic permits

Delaware County Health Department, Environmental Health

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

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

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Does Springfield Township, PA have zoning?

Yes. Springfield Township in Delaware County sets its own zoning through Chapter 143 of the township code, adopted by the Board of Commissioners2. The chapter includes zoning districts, district regulations and a zoning map5. Delaware County itself does not zone; zoning is handled by each municipality9.

Dimensional rules depend on the district. In the A Residence District, dwellings and other structures are limited to 35 feet and two stories6. Buildings may cover no more than 30% of a lot, and impervious surfaces no more than 40%7. Rules for RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings and minimum home size inside the township were not confirmed; ask the township Code Enforcement Officer before you plan around them.

Do you need a building permit in Springfield Township, PA?

Yes. Springfield Township requires a permit before any building, structure or sign is erected or altered, and work may not start until the permit is issued1. The township has adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as its building code4.

Applications are written, made by the landowner or an authorized agent on township forms, with a scaled plot plan10. The Code Enforcement Officer will not issue a permit until the work is certified to comply with zoning and other codes, including state or township highway entrance rules11. The Board of Commissioners sets the fee schedule by resolution, so ask the township for current permit fees12.

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

The township's Code Enforcement Officer, appointed by the Board of Commissioners, administers and enforces the zoning ordinance13. Delaware County does not issue building permits; its planning department directs building permit questions to the municipality's code enforcement officials14. We could not confirm a township phone number or address, so reach the officer through the Springfield Township municipal office.

How do septic permits work in Springfield Township, PA?

On-lot septic permits in Delaware County come from the Delaware County Health Department, which handles inspections, permit issuance and enforcement under Pennsylvania Act 53715. A permit is required for new systems, repairs and modifications that need digging equipment3. A permit is valid for 3 years from issuance3.

If your lot can connect to public sewer instead, a township sewer connection must be made within 1 year of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approval, or the allocated connection and tapping fee are forfeited16. Which parts of the township are sewered, and whether private wells need a permit there, we could not confirm; ask the health department.

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

  1. Ask the township Code Enforcement Officer which zoning district the lot is in and what it allows5.
  2. Check whether any part of the lot lies in an identified floodplain area, where a permit is required for all development8.
  3. Settle sewer or septic: township sewer connection or a Delaware County Health Department permit15.
  4. Apply for the building permit on township forms with a plot plan10.
  5. If the driveway will meet a state road, expect a PennDOT highway occupancy permit17.

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

Septic and well permits stay with the Delaware County Health Department15. For land outside the township, see the Delaware County page. Delaware County's typical home value is about $373,57518 and its effective property tax rate is about 2%19. Only 3.6% of county soils are rated not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so expect a site evaluation20.

Watch-outs

  • Township zoning in Chapter 143 governs your lot2, but we could not confirm township rules on RV living, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or owner-built homes; ask the township Code Enforcement Officer before buying.
  • The township fee schedule is set by resolution of the Board of Commissioners, so fees can change12.
  • Zoning amendments are noted in the township code, so confirm current district rules before relying on them2.

Sources

  1. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 143, Article XIX: Administration (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 143: Zoning (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Sewage and Water, quoted and re-checked
  4. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 134: Uniform Construction Code (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 143: Zoning (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 143, Article IV: A Residence District (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 143, Article IV: A Residence District (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 143, Article XIII: FH Flood Hazard District (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. delcopa.gov, quoted and re-checked
  10. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 143, Article XIX: Administration (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 143, Article XIX: Administration (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 143, Article XIX: Administration (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Springfield Township Code Enforcement Officer (ecode360.com)
  14. Delaware County Planning Department - Development Review (2026 county census)
  15. Delaware County Health Department, Environmental Health (delcopa.gov)
  16. Township of Springfield, PA, Chapter 112: Sewer Connections (Springfield Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. pa.gov, quoted and re-checked
  18. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. 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 Springfield Township

Springfield Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection or alteration of a building, structure, portion thereof, or sign inside Springfield Township.

    • In an Identified Floodplain Area, a permit is required for all development.
    • Work may not commence until the permit has been issued.
    “A permit shall be required prior to the erection or alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof, including signs. Within an Identified Floodplain Area a permit is required for all development (see definition in § 143-9).”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction regulated inside Springfield Township.

    • The incorporated Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.
    “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 this municipality.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Code-enforcement inspections inside Springfield Township.

    • The code permits an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections, and enforcement for structures other than one- and two-family dwellings and utility and miscellaneous-use structures.
    “Conduct inspections and surveys to determine compliance or noncompliance with the terms of this ordinance.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land within Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

    • Chapter 143 was adopted by the Township Board of Commissioners and is subject to amendments noted in the code.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Springfield 3-22-2010 by Ord. No. 1504. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts within Springfield Township.

    • Chapter 143 includes a zoning-district article, district regulations, a summary of zoning district regulations, and a zoning-map attachment.
    “The A Residence District is designed primarily to provide opportunities for low- to medium-density residential development to complement existing residences and neighborhoods.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    A property owner seeking a public sewer connection inside Springfield Township.

    • The application must be complete.
    • Applicable tapping fees must be paid.
    • Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approval of the connection is required.
    • A connection must be made within one year of DEP approval or the allocated connection and tapping fee are forfeited.

    connection completion deadline: <= 1 year after DEP approval (Failure forfeits allocated sewer connection and tapping fee.)

    “A sewer connection pursuant to an approved Township sewer connection permit must be made within one year of approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. If connection is not made within one year, the applicant will forfeit the allocated sewer connection as well as the tapping fee.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Development subject to Township building-permit review where a highway entrance is proposed.

    • The proposed building, structure, or alteration must comply with applicable Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and/or Township highway entrance regulations before permit issuance.
    “No building permit shall be issued until the Code Enforcement Officer has certified that the proposed building, structure or alteration complies with the provisions of this ordinance and other applicable codes, regulations and ordinances, including the highway entrance regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and/or the Township.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Zoning, building, occupancy, sign, special-exception, variance, appeal, conditional-use, and amendment matters inside Springfield Township.

    • The Board of Commissioners establishes the fee schedule by resolution.
    • The schedule may be altered or amended only by the Board.
    • No action on a special exception, variance, or appeal occurs until fees, charges, and expenses are paid in full.
    “The Board of Commissioners shall establish, by resolution, a schedule of fees, charges and expenses and collection procedures for building permits, occupancy permits, sign permits, special exceptions, variances, appeals, conditional uses, amendments and other matters pertaining to this ordinance.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Township building-permit applications.

    • Application must be written by the landowner or authorized agent on Township forms.
    • A scaled plot plan and other information needed to assess compliance are required.
    • No permit is issued until zoning and other applicable-code compliance is certified.
    “All applications for building permits shall be made in writing by the landowner or his authorized agent on forms furnished by the Township and shall be accompanied by a plot plan drawn to scale, showing the exact size and location of any building or other structures existing on the lot in question and upon abutting land within 50 feet of the side and rear lot line of such lot and the lines within which the proposed building or other structure shall be erected or altered.”

Rules another office applies inside Springfield Township

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

  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Permitted principal uses in the A Residence District.

    maximum building coverage: <= 30 percent of lot area · maximum impervious-surface coverage: <= 40 percent of lot area

    “Building coverage and impervious surface. Not more than 30% of any lot area shall be occupied by buildings, and not more than 40% of any lot area shall be covered by impervious surfaces.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Dwellings and other structures in the A Residence District.

    • Exceptions under §§ 143-104 and 143-111 and TND Overlay District rules apply.

    maximum height: <= 35 feet (Also limited to two stories, subject to stated exceptions.) · maximum stories: <= 2 stories (Subject to stated exceptions.)

    “The maximum height of dwellings and other structures erected, enlarged or used shall be 35 feet and two stories, except as provided in Article XVII, §§ 143-104 and 143-111, or Article XIV, when proposed in a TND Overlay District.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    All land identified as the Flood Hazard District within Springfield Township, Delaware County.

    • No development or structure work may occur except in full compliance with Article XIII and other applicable provisions.
    • The Flood Hazard District is an overlay to the Zoning Map.
    “Within an Identified Floodplain Area a permit is required for all development (see definition in § 143-9).”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Springfield Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family detached dwellings in the A Residence District.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Springfield Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Springfield Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Springfield Township.
8 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Springfield 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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