Delaware County does not require short-term rentals to be an owner's primary residence. Whether a home can be a non-owner-occupied STR is decided by each municipality's zoning ordinance under the PA Municipalities Planning Code.
Some Pennsylvania municipalities restrict short-term rentals to owner-occupied or primary-residence properties, but this is a purely local zoning decision. Delaware County government imposes no primary-residence requirement. Regional planning guidance notes municipalities may adopt 'ownership restrictions' as part of an STR ordinance, confirming the choice sits at the borough/township level under the PA Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247). So one Delco municipality may allow full-home, non-owner-occupied rentals while a neighboring borough limits STRs to homes where the owner lives. Confirm the rule with the zoning office where the property is located before buying or listing an investment STR.
Municipal zoning enforcement; operating a non-owner-occupied STR where prohibited can bring cease-and-desist orders and daily fines.
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 primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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