GENERAL QUESTIONS—WHERE TO GET HELP

All questions about any zoning or building related ordinances should be directed to the Yardley Borough Building and Zoning Office (215-493-2960). 

Questions about all ordinances dealing with unlawful behavior or traffic should be directed to the Yardley Borough Police Department Business Office (215-493-2782). 

All other questions relating to Yardley Borough Code of Ordinances should be directed to the Yardley Borough Code Enforcement Office (215-493-6832 x-103).

All tax related questions or concerns about a specific property in Yardley Borough should be directed to the Yardley Borough Tax Collector, Christine Ventresca (267-793-0526) email: taxcollector@yardleyboro.com

Q. THE PROPERTY DOWN THE STREET IS OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS AND POISON IVY. DOES THAT VIOLATE AN ORDINANCE? 

According to the Brush, Grass and Weeds Ordinance, if the weeds or ivy are higher than 6 inches, they must be cut.. 

Q. I WOULD LIKE TO INSTALL A FENCE AND A SHED. DO I NEED A PERMIT? 

Yes, a zoning permit and a building permit are required. If your property is in the Historic District, please ask about the regulations of the Historic District Ordinance as you plan your project. 

Q. THERE IS A DEAD TREE NEAR THE CURB IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING IT? 

Yes. Just as maintenance of the sidewalk and curbs are the property owner's responsibility, so is the maintenance and removal of trees. 

Q. DOES THE BOROUGH HAVE A "POOPER SCOOPER" ORDINANCE? 

Yes. When going out and about with your dog, you must immediately pick up and dispose of its excrement in a sanitary manner.

Q. THERE IS A JUNKED CAR IN MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD. IS THAT PERMITTED? 

It is lawful to either store one currently unregistered and/or uninspected restorable junk vehicle for an indefinite period OR store one currently unregistered and/or uninspected wreck for not more than 60 days. Except on a driveway, the storage of the restorable or wrecked junk vehicle may not be in the front yard, within 15 feet of any boundary line or within15 feet of any street.

Q. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A YARD SALE? MAY I POST SIGNS TO ADVERTISE THE SALE? 

One-week before the yard sale, you may post a sign no large than 3 square feet on your property only but it may not be posted on a tree or utility pole. A permit is required for a yard sale. The permit is free.

Q. THE SIDEWALK NEXT DOOR HAS A LARGE CRACK IN IT. WILL THE BOROUGH REPAIR IT?

If a sidewalk is in need of repair, it is the property owner's responsibility to fix it. If the property owner refuses or neglects to do so, the Borough can arrange to have the sidewalk repaired and bill the property owner. 

Q. I WILL BE MOVING OUT OF THE BOROUGH IN SEVERAL WEEKS. DO I NEED A MOVE-OUT PERMIT?

Move-in and move-out permits are required for residents and businesses. The permits are free.

Q. I AM PLANNING TO PUT AN ADDITION ON MY HOME. WHAT PERMITS ARE REQUIRED? 

You will need a zoning permit because when the "footprint" of your home is changed, a zoning permit is required. You will also need a building permit, an electrical permit (if there will be electricity in your addition) and a plumbing permit (if there will be any plumbing in your addition). If your property is in the Historic District, please ask about the regulations of the Historic District Ordinance as you plan your project. 

Q. WHAT ARE THE REGULATIONS FOR SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL?

All snow and ice must be removed from sidewalks within 18 hours after the snow stops falling. People responsible for the removal are the occupants, landlords or the owners of the property. 

Q. A CONTRACTOR WORKING NEXT DOOR IS STARTING WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THE SOUND OF THE EQUIPMENT IS VERY LOUD. IS THIS PERMITTED? 

It is prohibited to perform any construction operation or to operate any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling or demolition work before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. or at any time on weekends, if a noise disturbance is created across a real property boundary line. This does not apply to domestic power tools. 

Q. MAY I BURN THE LEAVES ON MY PROPERTY? 

No, the burning of leaves, trash and building materials is prohibited. 

Should you wish to report any ordinance violation, please call the Yardley Borough Police Department Business Office (215-493-2782).

General questions about the information below may be directed to the Yardley Borough Manager's Office (215-493-6832). 

Q. HOW ARE MY REAL ESTATE TAX DOLLARS DIVIDED? 

For each real estate tax dollar you paid in 2017, 76 cents went to the Pennsbury School District, 12 cents went to the County, and the remaining 12 cents went to Yardley Borough. 

Q. ALONG WITH REAL ESTATE TAXES, WHAT OTHER TAXES DO YARDLEY BOROUGH RESIDENTS PAY?

The other taxes include an annual $10.00 per capita tax and an occupation assessment tax. However, any Yardley Borough resident who is under the age of eighteen or older than sixty-five years of age is exempt from paying the per capita tax. Borough residents who are retired or unemployed are exempt from paying the occupation assessment tax. 

Q. HOW IS MY OCCUPATION ASSESSMENT TAX CALCULATED? 

The Borough assigns a value, ranging from 100 to 800, to each occupation. The value for your occupation is multiplied by the occupation assessment tax rate adopted by Yardley Borough Council on an annual basis (in 2017, the millage rate for this tax is 30 mills). For example, if you are a teacher, which has a occupation value of 450, the amount of your annual occupation assessment tax bill would be $13.50 (450 x .030 = $13.50). The highest amount one can pay for this tax is $24.00 per year. 

Q. DO BUSINESSES IN YARDLEY BOROUGH PAY A MERCANTILE OR BUSINESS PRIVILEGE TAX? 

Any person who advertises an address or telephone number located in the Borough must pay an annual business privilege tax in the sum of $500 or 1%  of his/her gross income, whichever is less. 

Q. WHAT TAXES DOES AN APARTMENT OR HOUSE RENTER IN YARDLEY BOROUGH PAY? 

An apartment or house renter must pay the annual $10 per capita tax and the occupation assessment tax. However, any Yardley Borough resident who is under the age of eighteen or older than sixty-five years of age is exempt from paying the per capita tax. Borough residents who are retired or unemployed are exempt from paying the occupation assessment tax. 

Q. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO WHEN I WANT TO SELL/RENT MY PROPERTY?

Yardley Borough ordinance # 439 requires that all properties being rented or sold (including commercial properties) be subject to a safety inspection at the time of change in occupancy. This inspection covers smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, chimneys, sidewalks, move in/out permits, and trash certifications. Call 215-493-6832 to schedule an inspection appointment.