The provisions of the Borough of Doylestown Code of Ordinance, PAUCC, and the ICC Plumbing and Building Code shall control the installation and repair of water and sewer lines.

Definitions:

Your “Sanitary Sewer Line” is the lateral sewer line that connects your home to the public sewer system. Wastewater from your toilets, sinks, showers, and washing machine travels through your sanitary sewer line to the public sewer main line which carries it to the wastewater plant for treatment. The main is the responsibility of Bucks County Water and Sewer. The lateral sanitary line that runs from the main to your building is your responsibility to keep in good repair.

Your “Water Line” is the piping that connects your home from the water meter to the public water system.

Changing the name on the water service or getting a final reading - click here.

Permit Requirements:

Installation or relocation of a sanitary sewer or a water line requires a plumbing permit. Repair of a sanitary sewer line requires a permit but a short form Repair of a Sewer Lateral Permit may be used. Rodding or cleaning a sewer lateral does not require a permit.

Applicable Building Codes

All construction work must conform to the requirements of the following codes:

Standard Inspection Requirements:

  • Backfill prior to covering any work
  • Sanitary sewer
  • Final

Drawing Requirements can be reviewed here.

Application Checklist

Download Checklist

Select applicable parts.Please note that we are providing this checklist to assist you in submitting drawings and an application package that will provide enough information for us to understand your proposal and determine if it meets the building code. Failure to provide the needed information will delay your permit.

Permit Application and Review Procedures:

  1. Applicant completes Building and Zoning Permit Application and Checklist. Residential applications require 2 complete sets of plans (site, architectural, mechanical, plumbing, structural, & electrical as needed).
  2. Applicant delivers completed signed application, signed completed checklist, and 2 copies of all plans to Borough Building and Zoning Office. Make sure you have the proper type, i.e. residential or commercial. All applicable portions of the permit should be filled in. If you are unsure about the applicability of a question, please ask at the time of submittal. Plans must be complete, identical, legible, to scale, and stapled together as two separate sets.
  3. All applications will be checked at the counter for completeness. If any of the required information, plans or checklist are missing, the building permit application cannot be accepted.
  4. When you come in to file the application, we will determine permit fees. A fee schedule is available here.. Payment must be made for application to be accepted. We will need a separate check for escrows.
  5. Permit review is conducted once a week. Incomplete applications and plans will be returned to applicant. If the plans are incomplete, inaccurate, or un-clear, a correction letter will be sent to the applicant. This will require re-submittal of the corrected construction documents and cause a delay in issuing the permit
  6. We will contact you in writing with the results of the plan review.
  7. You may start your project when you receive the permits. Note that it is your responsibility to schedule all inspections. Inspections must be scheduled 48 hours in advance. Important: Your permit cannot be closed without a final inspection. Escrow will not be returned until the final is complete.

The information provided in this guide is intended only to assist individuals in understanding the code requirements. It is not a complete recitation of the code. Property owners should consult the Doylestown Borough Code of Ordinance for answers to specific questions.