Delaware County has no countywide dark-sky ordinance. Outdoor-lighting and shielding rules are set by each borough or township through its zoning or subdivision code under the state Planning Code. Some Delco municipalities have adopted lighting standards; check yours.
The PA Municipalities Planning Code (§603) lets municipalities regulate the location and use of structures, and many Delaware County townships include outdoor-lighting standards in their zoning or subdivision and land development ordinances, requiring full-cutoff (shielded) fixtures, foot-candle limits at property lines, and curfews on non-essential lighting. There is no single county dark-sky law. Delaware County's own park rules keep parks dark by closing them dawn to dusk. For lighting on private property or new development, the applicable standards are in your municipality's code, so confirm shielding and glare requirements with your local zoning officer.
Lighting that violates a municipal standard is a zoning code violation, enforced with correction notices and fines set by the borough or township.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard composting is legal across Delaware County and encouraged by the county's Act 101 recycling program. There is no county compost permit, but municipa...
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Delaware County sets no rule on artificial turf. Whether synthetic grass is allowed, and any impervious-coverage or stormwater conditions, is decided by your...
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Delaware County has no rule against native-plant or meadow landscaping. Native gardens are encouraged for stormwater and pollinator benefits, but you must st...
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Rainwater harvesting is legal in Pennsylvania and Delaware County has no ban. The county and its municipalities generally encourage rain barrels and cisterns...
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Delaware County publishes no lawn-watering schedule. Mandatory outdoor-water restrictions in Pennsylvania take effect only when the Governor declares a droug...
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There is no Delaware County weed ordinance. Each municipality bans noxious weeds and overgrown vegetation through its own property-maintenance code. Lower Ch...
See how Delaware County's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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