What Folcroft's New Sewer Inspection Requirement Means for Home Buyers and Sellers

Folcroft Borough is moving to formalize something that buyers and sellers in Delaware County should know about before they get to the closing table. The borough council is set to vote on an ordinance that would require sewer lateral inspections before a use and occupancy permit is issued when a property changes hands. It sounds like a procedural detail. It is actually a significant shift in how transactions work in this small Delaware County community.

What the Ordinance Does

According to the Daily Times, Folcroft Borough Council was scheduled to hold a public hearing and consider the ordinance at its regular meeting on March 24. The proposed measure would amend Chapter 480 of the borough code to establish inspection requirements, define key terms, outline reinspection procedures, and set penalties for violations. The Suburban Realtors Alliance reviewed the proposed ordinance and planned to submit a letter to the borough.

Worth noting: Folcroft has informally required these inspections before, but the borough never passed enabling legislation. This ordinance would codify the requirement and bring it in line with the Pennsylvania Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act. That distinction matters. A written, enforceable requirement creates obligations for sellers and timelines that buyers need to plan around.

A sewer lateral is the private underground pipe that runs from a home to the public sewer main. When it fails or needs repair, the cost falls on the property owner — not the municipality. Inspections catch those problems before they become someone else's surprise. In a borough like Folcroft, where a significant portion of the housing stock dates back to the 1950s, that is not an abstract concern.

According to Bright MLS data from March 2026, the median closed sale price in Folcroft over the past six months was $228,250, with homes averaging just 25 days on market and selling at 97.6% of list price. This is a market where homes move quickly and buyers are motivated. Adding an inspection requirement to the transaction process means both sides need to plan ahead.

What This Means for You

If you are selling a home in Folcroft, you will want to get ahead of this. Schedule your sewer lateral inspection before you list, not after you have an offer in hand. Delays at the borough level can slow or derail closings. If you are buying in Folcroft, ask your agent specifically about the use and occupancy process and whether a sewer lateral inspection has already been completed. It should be part of your due diligence checklist regardless of what the ordinance requires.

The McKnight Team works throughout Delaware County and knows how local borough requirements affect real estate transactions. We help buyers and sellers navigate the details that matter before they become problems. Learn more at TheMcKnightTeam.com.

Thinking about buying or selling in Folcroft or Delaware County? Let's talk.