Langhorne Borough now accepts credit card and other electronic payment methods for building, zoning, and Use & Occupancy permits.
Please see our fee schedule for a comprehensive list of fees and permit procedures.
Review the Borough Code for our building and zoning Ordinances.
Call Before You Dig
In Pennsylvania, homeowners and contractors are required to contact PA One Call by dialing 8-1-1 at least three business days before beginning any project that requires digging, no matter how large or small. This is to locate any underground utility lines that may be impacted by upcoming excavation work, as striking these utility lines can cause serious injury, property damage, and service interruption. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission website has more information about PA One Call.
Building Permit
A building permit must be obtained for various types of projects including but not limited to the following: demolition, new construction, additions, renovations, alterations or changes to buildings, structures, dwellings and accessory buildings, porches, patios, decks, above and in-ground swimming pools, sidewalks, driveways, curbs, plumbing and electrical improvements, signs, storage tanks, HVAC systems, and fire suppression systems.
Building permits require a copy of a site plan, and some may require a minimum of two.
Smaller projects typically only require a single copy. Examples of smaller projects include:
- roof, chimney lining, oil tank, HVAC replacement, water heater
Larger projects requiring two site plan copies include:
- bathroom & kitchen alteration, addition, new construction, pool, solar panel
During the building process a number of inspections may need to be completed by the building inspector. Please schedule your inspections accordingly.
For a general list of projects that do and do not require building permits, please see our building inspection FAQ sheet.
Event Permit
An event permit is required for the following:
- Any activity, expressive or otherwise, that is designed to or can be reasonably anticipated to gather crowds
- The exclusive use of a part, section, room, portion, or entire Borough building, grounds, or right-of-way
- Any activity for which a group or individual intends to use any kind of sound amplification or other equipment
- Any activity involving structures, vehicles, banners, or signs being placed on or attached to any Borough buildings
- Any activity involving electricity, water, or other utility service
- Any activity that can reasonably be anticipated to require the presence of Borough security and maintenance personnel, such as activities involving road closures.
Applicants submitting permits for events that require the presence of Borough security and maintenance personnel must coordinate with the Langhorne Borough Police Department. All events must be approved by Borough Council.
More information on the procedures for events and use of Borough facilities can be found in the event permit application packet.
Historic Architectural Review Board
Any exterior alterations, renovations, additions, and demolition in the historic district must be approved by the Langhorne Borough Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) before a permit application can be submitted. There is a fast-track application for one-for-one repair or replacement of existing materials called a Repair-Replace-In-Kind (RRIK) application form.
For information on materials permitted in the historic district and other guidelines, please review the Residents Guide to HARB and the HARB Guide to Signs & Advertising.
Sign Permit
There are three types of sign permit applications: permanent signs, temporary signs, and signs and banners for the Mayors’ Playground.
Permanent sign applications are for signs that will not be taken down after a certain period of time, most often for businesses. Temporary sign applications are for signs that are intended to be up for a short period of time, most often to advertise events going on in the Borough. The Mayors’ Playground sign and banner application is for signs and banners to be put up specifically at the Mayors’ Playground by organizations advertising activities and events.
Temporary signs and Mayors’ Playground signs and banners typically do not require permit fees and are approved by Borough Council. Permanent sign permit applications are reviewed and approved by the zoning officer and have fees, which can be found in the Langhorne Borough fee schedule and the application itself.
Solicitation Permit
For door-to-door solicitation, pop-up stands, and other forms of solicitation in the Borough, the soliciting party must submit a permit application and be issued approval by the Borough. The applicant must provide a valid driver’s license or ID card to be copied for the Borough’s records and submit a $100 permit fee. Once issued, the permit is valid for 30 days.
Sub-Division and Land Development
See the link below for Langhorne Borough’s Sub-Division and Land Development permit application package.
Use and Occupancy Application
A residential or commercial Use and Occupancy inspection and certificate are required whenever real estate within the Borough is sold or rented to a new tenant. The application may be picked up at Borough Hall or downloaded from this page. There is a $100.00 fee per unit for residential inspections and a $150.00 fee per unit for commercial inspections.
For resale Use and Occupancy inspections, the Borough requires electrical, heater, and chimney (if there is a working chimney) inspections from third-party underwriters. Langhorne Borough cannot recommend or endorse any underwriters, nor do we know what they charge for inspections. Applicants and property owners who need assistance finding an underwriter can review the following list of third-party electrical, chimney, and heater underwriter agencies. These are agencies that have been previously used in the Borough.
For an overview of what the Borough’s building inspector evaluates during a Use and Occupancy inspection, click here.
Certain items are often overlooked by property owners when preparing for U&O inspections, which can require reinspection and add additional time onto the application process. Please see the list of commonly overlooked items for U&O inspections: Use and Occupancy Q&A
Zoning Permit
A zoning permit must be issued by the zoning officer prior to a use being established or a change in use, as well as for the erection, construction, alteration, reconstruction, or removal of an existing structure, such as a shed, fence, or deck. The zoning officer is also available by appointment for preliminary project scope review consultation at an additional fee of $100.00 an hour as per the Langhorne Borough fee schedule.
A fence permit requires a permission letter from the neighboring property owner(s) if the proposed fence will be located on the property line or less than two feet from the property line.
Keeping of Chickens Permit
A special zoning permit, called a Keeping of Chickens permit, is required to keep chickens in the Borough. The zoning officer reviews Keeping of Chickens permits and inspects the chicken coop/chicken run once construction is complete.
All Keeping of Chickens permits expire on December 31st of the year they were issued and require annual re-registration and inspection.
Zoning Hearing Board Application
For zoning matters that must come before the Zoning Hearing Board, please fill out the application below. The application contains a list of required supplementary documents.
