Planning construction in Delaware County, Pennsylvania? Whether you're building a new house, renovating an office building, or updating HVAC and electrical systems, understanding the Delaware County building permit process is key to staying compliant and on schedule. This guide outlines what requires a permit, how to apply, and what costs to expect.
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What requires a building permit in Delaware County?
While Delaware County doesn’t issue building permits directly, every municipality within the county follows the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC), which mandates permits for most construction work.
Typical projects that require a building permit include:
- New construction / additions / structural changes: New houses/garages/additions, moving/removing load-bearing walls, finishing basements/attics, change of use, demolitions
- Decks / porches / patios / retaining walls: Most decks (especially if >30" high), covered/enclosed porches, new or enlarged patios/hardscaping, retaining walls >4' or with surcharge
- Sheds / garages / accessory buildings: Most sheds/garages over local size limits (e.g.,>120–300 sq ft) or with utilities
- Roofing / siding / stucco: Full re-roofing, significant sheathing changes, large-area siding/stucco replacement
- HVAC / mechanical / plumbing / gas: New or replacement furnaces/boilers/heat pumps/AC, new or relocated plumbing lines/fixtures, water/sewer lines, new/altered gas lines
- Electrical: Service/panel upgrades, new circuits, room rewires, EV chargers, any work beyond minor repair
- Pools / hot tubs: In-ground or above-ground pools, spas, and hot tubs >24" deep + required safety barriers and related electrical
- Driveways / sidewalks / site work: New or enlarged driveways/parking, new or significantly altered sidewalks/curbs/aprons, grading or stormwater work adding impervious area
- Commercial / tenant work: Tenant fit-outs, changes to fire protection or life-safety systems, commercial kitchens
What doesn’t require a Delaware County building permit?
The following work typically does not require a permit under the UCC:
- Painting (interior or exterior)
- Wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, and similar finish work
- New gutters and replacement of downspouts (no structural changes)
- Like-for-like window or door replacement where the opening size does not change and there’s no structural alteration
- Repaving existing private sidewalks, driveways, or patios as long as size/footprint is not increased and no new structure is added (Upper Darby says full remove-and-replace can trigger a permit)
- Prefabricated pools under 24 in deep, entirely above ground, and under 5,000 gallons
- Swings and playground equipment accessory to one- or two-family homes
- Window awnings supported only by the exterior wall, projecting <54 in and not needing extra supports
- Movable cases, counters, and partitions under 5'9" in height
Delaware County building permit cost
Permit fees in Delaware County vary by municipality and are based on square footage, project value, or trade scope.
To get a sense of typical permitting costs, here are permit fees for Middletown Township in Delaware County:
Delaware County trade permits
Plumbing permits
Permits are required for new plumbing systems, replacements, or significant changes to water and sewer lines.
Here’s an example of plumbing permit fees in Middletown Township:
| Work type | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| New residential plumbing / alteration | $150 for first 7 fixtures + $20 per additional, min $100 per new dwelling unit |
| New commercial / multifamily plumbing | $150 for first 7 fixtures + $15 per additional, min $100 per new dwelling unit in multi-family or $200 min for other use groups |
| Wa Electrical permitsYou’ll need an electrical permit for any service upgrade, rewiring, panel replacement, or generator installation. Here’s an example of electrical permit fees in Middletown Township: HVAC permitsHVAC permits are required for all new system installs, replacements, or ductwork changes. Here’s an example of HVAC permit fees in Middletown Township: Get Delaware County permits approved faster. How to get a building permit in Delaware CountyDelaware County itself does not issue standard building permits. Each township or borough (like Middletown, Upper Darby, Haverford, Radnor, Upper Chichester) issues permits. Step 1: Contact your local township or boroughFirst, confirm which township or borough your property is in, then go to that municipality’s website or office. Look for “Building & Zoning,” “Building & Codes,” “Licenses & Inspections,” or “Planning & Development.” You’ll typically need:
Examples of township policies in Delaware County:
Step 2: Submit your applicationEach township sets its own submission process, but common options are:
Step 3: Wait for plan reviewOnce submitted, your application is reviewed for:
If plans are incomplete or not code-compliant, you’ll receive comments and may need to revise and resubmit. Step 4: Pay fees and get your permitAfter approval, the township calculates your permit fees and issues an invoice or tells you the amount due. Fees are usually based on construction cost, square footage, or fixture counts and are listed in each township’s fee schedule. Once payment is made, you’ll receive:
Step 5: Start construction and schedule inspectionsWith the permit issued and posted, you can start construction according to the approved plans. You must then:
Delaware County permitting resources
Simplify Delaware County permitting with PermitFlowPermitting in Delaware County means coordinating across dozens of independent municipalities, each with its own building department, forms, fees, and review timelines. Chester doesn’t operate like Upper Darby or Radnor. For construction teams, that fragmentation turns permitting into a time drain instead of keeping projects moving. PermitFlow streamlines the entire workflow. Our AI-powered platform centralizes the Delaware County permitting process in one place. We prepare permit applications that align with Pennsylvania codes and municipality-specific requirements, submit them to the correct offices, and track progress through every stage of review. Automated status updates give your team real-time visibility without constant phone calls or manual spreadsheets. Why building professionals choose PermitFlow in Delaware County:
Get a demo today to see how PermitFlow brings predictability, visibility, and momentum to Delaware County construction. Categories Learn about permitting, industry trends, tips, and customer stories. Content by Role Find the most useful and relevant information for your projects by exploring our articles by role. Learn by State Filter resources by state to get the most up-to-date and accurate information on permitting requirements and regulations. You can now see how the permitting varies from state to state and from municipality to municipality. Select a state below to learn more. Thank you! Your submission has been received! Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.   Permitting without the headacheBook a Demo     |
