Handyman services in Delaware County, PA: older homes, lead paint and local licenses
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Why does the age of the house matter so much in Delaware County?
Because most handyman jobs disturb paint, and much of the county's paint is old. The county health department says the average home in Delaware County was built in 1956, and the Census Bureau's survey puts 22.1 percent of its 229,715 homes, more than one in five, in the "first built in 1939 or earlier" group. Only 3.5 percent were built since 2010, the lowest share of the five counties in this directory. The county's own history notes heavy building after both world wars in places such as Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, Havertown, Springfield and Marple.
What does the lead rule mean for a handyman job here?
That certification is the norm, not the exception. In a home built before 1978, the EPA requires anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces to work for a certified firm, unless the job stays within six square feet of paint per room indoors or 20 square feet outside. Window replacement and demolition of painted surfaces are covered at any size. The county goes further in its advice: it says all home repairs that disrupt paint in pre-1978 homes should be done by a lead-certified contractor.
The county also explains why. It reports that 37 of its 49 municipalities, nearly 76 percent, have had at least one child under 16 with a blood-lead level at or above the CDC's benchmark. Its suggestion while you wait for a certified professional is to cover loose or chipping paint with heavy tape, paneling, heavy wallpaper, contact paper or a piece of furniture. And if a child in the home tests at 3.5 micrograms per deciliter or higher, a statewide program now offers a free home lead inspection; the county's Wellness Line, (484) 276-2100, can help.
Who licenses trades in Delaware County?
Some townships do, and their rules can be strict. Upper Darby's code requires a contractor who wants a plumbing or electrical license to employ someone holding a master plumber's or electrician's license, and only that master may apply for the permit. Haverford Township says it accepts no permit application without a signed contract between owner and contractor, a current township license for plumbing and electrical contractors, state home improvement registration and proof of insurance with workers' compensation.
So a handyman offering to add an outlet or move a sink drain in those townships is offering work they cannot get a permit for. Elsewhere in the county's 49 municipalities, ask the local code office; the state's Labor and Industry department keeps no list of local trade licenses.
State registration applies everywhere: a handyman business that did $5,000 or more of home improvement work last year must register with the Attorney General, and the number belongs on every estimate and contract.
Is there county help with repairs?
Delaware County had $7.12M in total for its share of the Whole-Home Repairs grants, which pay for health, safety and accessibility repairs of up to $50,000 per home for income-qualified owners. The county's announcement lists porch repair, plumbing and minor electrical repairs, bathroom repairs, grab bars and handrails, door widening, zero-step entries and stair lifts among eligible work. Income limits ran from $62,500 for one person to $117,850 for a household of eight or more. Applicants had to own and live in the home, carry homeowner's insurance and be current on taxes and mortgage.
Two cautions from the same announcement. The program has a waiting period and is not an emergency resource; for urgent dangers, the county says to dial 211. And its funding rules required all money to be spent by the end of 2026, so ask whether any remains before counting on it.
Do you need a permit?
For ordinary repairs, the state says no; for new wiring, new piping or structural changes, yes; and any township may add its own requirements. With 49 municipalities in a little over 184 square miles, the answer can change a few blocks away, so call the code office for your address before work that goes beyond a like-for-like replacement.
Where can you complain about a handyman in Delaware County?
The county's Office of Consumer Affairs, in the Government Center at 201 West Front Street in Media (610-891-4865), offers voluntary mediation and takes complaints about home repair and remodeling, passing suspected fraud to the District Attorney or the Attorney General. The checks to make first are in how to choose a handyman, and handymen serving the county are on the Delaware County handyman services page.
Sources
- Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- Your County at a Glance: History, Delaware County
- Building & Codes Department, Township of Haverford
- Contractor Licensing, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
- 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
- Lead Free 1-2-3, Delaware County
- Chapter 265: Contractors, Township of Upper Darby (Delaware County), via eCode360
- Delaware County Council Announces Additional $2.7M in Funding for Delaware County Whole Home Repair Program, Delaware County
- Consumer Affairs/Weights & Measures, Delaware County