Fences: get the surveyor lined up first
Bensalem's Fence Permit Application (revised January 2025) asks for the address, tax parcel number, zoning district, fence height, material (wood, vinyl, metal or chain link), estimated cost, and whether footings are required. The owner or the contractor can sign it, and both the Zoning Officer and the Building Inspector sign off.
The surveyor requirement is the part to plan around. The surveyor certifies that permanent markers are on the property, the markers and the fence location must be shown on a plot plan you submit with the application, and the surveyor also certifies any restrictions, easements or other covenants of record. If you're getting fence quotes, ask each installer whether the price includes the survey or whether you need to hire one yourself, and how long the surveyor they use is booked out.
Your plot plan should follow the township's Sample Plot Plan: lot dimensions, every structure on the lot, the distances from each structure to the property lines, and the locations of easements for water, sewer, electric and gas.
Decks: two permits, and plans
The township's residential building permit packet says Bensalem requires an alteration of land permit, submitted with the building application, for any exterior work or change of grading. For a deck, the plans need a site plan showing where it sits and how far it is from the property lines, footing size and depth below grade, and a framing plan with post locations, beam sizes, and joist layout and sizes. The township reviews plans digitally, as PDFs emailed to permitcenter@bensalempa.gov or on a thumb drive, and won't accept paper plans larger than 11 by 17 inches.
The alteration of land application asks how many square feet the project will disturb and how much impervious cover it adds, along with a plot plan showing existing and new structures, their setbacks, and driveways, sidewalks and patios with their dimensions.
Pennsylvania's code exempts some low, uncovered decks from a building permit; our guide to deck permits in Philadelphia and Bucks County explains the state rule. Bensalem's fee schedule still lists an alteration of land fee for decks, so ask Building and Planning which permits your design needs instead of assuming a small deck needs none.
What the fees look like
The fee schedule the township links as adopted March 1, 2024 lists these residential alteration of land fees:
- Fence: $60 plus the application fee.
- Decks, patios, pavers and accessory structures: $185.
The application fee for a single-discipline residential permit is $15 (multi-discipline is $125), it's non-refundable, and a $4.50 state UCC surcharge applies to all applications. For decks, the schedule says the charge is the application fee plus the building permit fee plus the alteration of land permit. Building permit fees are invoiced separately by Code Inspections, Inc., the township's third-party inspection agency, so the township's posted numbers aren't your full deck total.
Setbacks and height limits come in writing
Bensalem's applications page says zoning information isn't given verbally by staff. Find your zoning district on the township's Zoning Map, then read that district's rules in the Code of Ordinances. If the answer still isn't clear, the Zoning Certification application costs $105 by check or money order, one per property, and the answer comes back in writing. Don't borrow a neighbor's setback or fence height; districts differ, and so do townships, as our guide to why Bucks County permit rules vary explains.
Inspections and digging
Per the township's inspection requirements, residential building inspections are done by Code Inspections, Inc. (215-672-9400), while zoning, alteration of land and stakeout inspections are scheduled with the Zoning Inspector at least 24 hours ahead (215-633-3652). A responsible adult must be there, the permit and approved plans must be on site, and the permit must be posted where it can be seen.
Fence posts and deck footings both mean digging, so call 811 first; the township's fence application includes a PA One Call notice telling you to call before any excavation, fences included. Our guide to digging for a fence post or patio covers the Pennsylvania One Call steps. If you're replacing an old deck and the posts or ledger look questionable, see when deck joists or posts need a professional inspection.
Questions to ask your contractor
- Will you apply for the permits, and is the survey included in your price?
- Who pays the township fees and the Code Inspections invoice?
- Which inspections will this job have, and who schedules them?
- Have you registered or licensed with Bensalem Township? The inspection sheet says all contractors must be properly licensed there.
Building and Planning is at 2400 Byberry Road, Bensalem, PA 19020, 215-633-3644 (listed on the township's department page). Applications can also go in the drop box at the building's south side entrance.