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Digital permit application gateway

Apply for a permit in Delaware County

Start with the issuing authority’s own submission lane. A complete application package, accurate valuation, and accessible inspection path are the fastest route through statutory plan review.

Recommended first click

Open the official online permit gateway.

Use the official digital gateway to submit plans, monitor review comments, pay required charges, and request inspections when the permit is issued. If the link is unavailable, use the agency website or phone number on the administrative profile to confirm the current lane.

Portal link not verifiedAgency website ↗

Typical review lane

Pennsylvania UCC generally requires a building code official to grant or deny a complete permit application within 30 business days of filing; actual timing varies by municipality, code agency, project type, and completeness.

Treat this as a planning signal, not a guaranteed approval date. Completeness, corrections, resubmittals, and agency workload control the actual clock.

01

Confirm jurisdiction

Verify the parcel is inside this agency’s service area and note whether a city, state, fire marshal, septic authority, or utility district also has approval authority.

02

Assemble a complete package

Prepare legible plans, site information, project valuation, ownership authorization, contractor information, and any energy, floodplain, zoning, or utility documentation the issuing office requires.

03

Track the review record

Keep the permit number, approved plan set, correction comments, fee receipts, and inspection results together. Those records establish the compliance trail for the next trade.

Application documents

Use the official form when a portal is not the only filing route.

Before submission, call Delaware County Planning Department: 610-891-5200; local building/code official varies by municipality if the project involves a change of occupancy, structural alteration, accessory structure, demolition, or work near a regulated environmental feature.

Source trail

Official sources for this profile

Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.

Project questions

Frequently asked questions for Delaware County

Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?

This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.

How should I begin an application?

Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact Delaware County Planning Department: 610-891-5200; local building/code official varies by municipality.

How long might review take?

Pennsylvania UCC generally requires a building code official to grant or deny a complete permit application within 30 business days of filing; actual timing varies by municipality, code agency, project type, and completeness.

How are inspections scheduled?

Contact the city, borough, or township where the work is located to identify its building-code official, submit the UCC application and plans, and schedule inspections. Delaware County Planning’s Act 247 review and UCC appeal-board functions do not replace municipal permit issuance or routine inspections.

Which codes and exemptions should I review?

Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC), 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405 and referenced current ICC codes as adopted by Pennsylvania, including applicable 2021 ICC editions for 2026 permits. Delaware County Planning provides advisory review of subdivisions, land developments, and ordinances; its official guidance directs building-permit questions to the municipality’s code-enforcement officials. Exemptions are controlled by the applicable municipality and Pennsylvania UCC. Emergency repairs or equipment replacements may proceed without a prior permit only when the application is submitted to the building code official within three business days. Local ordinances may exempt normal maintenance or minor repairs that do not alter a structure; confirm all minor-work, zoning, floodplain, sewage, driveway, and occupancy requirements with the municipality.

What makes an application complete

A portal submission is only as strong as its supporting record.

Before you click submit, make sure the drawings agree with the site plan, project description, valuation, ownership authorization, and contractor information. If the work changes structure, occupancy, drainage, fire protection, energy performance, or utility demand, describe that scope plainly. Ambiguous narratives create correction cycles and delay the field schedule.

Save the confirmation number, payment receipt, uploaded plan set, and every correction comment. Those records are the backbone of a defensible compliance file when multiple trades or agencies share responsibility.

Submission quality check

Site: address, parcel, access, setbacks, and existing conditions are consistent.

Scope: structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, and energy work is identified.

Closeout: inspection contacts and the final approval path are understood before work begins.