Development Review

Learn about the Delaware County Planning Department’s plan and ordinance review process.

The Planning Department (DCPD) strives to improve the quality of development throughout the County by conducting advisory reviews of all land developments, subdivisions, and ordinances proposed in Delaware County. Staff planners present their reviews to the Delaware County Planning Commission at its monthly meetings, where official recommendations are made. In addition, Development Review staff provide technical assistance to municipalities and developers on site planning and ordinance compliance issues.

The Planning Department offers Pre-CAD workshops  at the municipality’s discretion. Pre-CAD workshops are free of charge and intended to be held prior to submissions or engineered drawings to learn more about opportunities for a land development proposal by bringing together the municipality, landowner or developer, and the planning department.

Act 247 SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

Process

The Delaware County Planning Commission's application for mandated Act 247 Review must be completed and contain the original signatures of the developer/applicant and/or designated municipal official. Applicants have the option to submit online, mail-in (PDF), or in-person via application buttons below.

Online Application for mandated Act 247 Review

PDF Application for mandated Act 247 Review

The application can then be submitted to the Planning Department along with one set of plans and the appropriate fee payment in accordance with the Fee Schedule and Submission Procedures for Subdivision and Land Development Reviews.

Fee Schedule and Submission Procedures

Applications submitted will be reviewed by the Planning Commission in accordance with the Meeting/Act 247 Review Application Schedule.

Meeting/Act 247 Review Application Schedule

recording an approved plan

1. For a plan to be recorded, it must have been reviewed by the Delaware County Planning Commission (DCPC) and approved and signed by the municipal Council or the Board of Supervisors/Commissioners.
   
   
2. The applicant must then bring the approved plan to the Delaware County Planning Department where staff will confirm the Commission’s review of the plan before stamping and signing it. To expedite the stamping process, please bring the “DCPD File Number” that can be found on all correspondence from our office regarding the plan.
   
   
3. The applicant must then go to the Delaware County Board of Assessment-Appeals (ground floor of the Government Center building) to obtain a tax map number and folio number for lots that have been created via a subdivision or document/validate these numbers for existing lots.
   
   
4. The plan will then be recorded at the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds office (first floor of the Government Center building). The Recorder of Deeds requires plans for recording to be a minimum of 18" X 30" and no larger than 36" X 46". The fee for recording a plan can be found at: https://www.delcopa.gov/departments/pdfs/RodFEES.pdf.

SEWAGE module review

Process

The Planning Department is the County agency responsible for processing form Component 4B – County Planning Agency Review of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Act 537 Sewage Facility Planning Modules. See DEP’s Act 537 review process and electronic forms. Developers and applicants submitting planning modules to the Planning Department for review should reference the documents below to ensure a timely review. Municipalities requesting review of a plan of study to revise a local Act 537 Plan should also refer to these documents.

Delaware County Act 537 Fee Schedule and Review Procedure

Delaware County Application for Act 537 Review

More Information

I'm Interested in...

Knowing more about the Delaware County Planning Commission

Viewing what’s on the Planning Commission’s Meeting Agenda or the Prior Month Applications

Finding Parcel/Site Information

Viewing the Proposed Subdivision and Land Development Mapping Application* and Dashboard* to see plans reviewed by the Delaware County Planning Commission

Viewing the Countywide Zoning Application*

Viewing Delaware County's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO)

For questions about building permits, please contact your municipality’s code enforcement officials to obtain information concerning requirements and specific permit application status for your town.

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