13th Edition
2024
2024
Electronic version of The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter is current through February 14, 2025.
PREFACE TO THE THIRTEENTH EDITION
This Thirteenth Edition of The Philadelphia Code includes all ordinances passed by Council through the end of its 2020-2023 term and is current through March 19, 2024.
The Thirteenth Edition continues the practice of publication of a comprehensive new hard copy edition every four years, with cumulative supplements published every year between editions. This edition is published in four volumes. Users of the Code should refer to these volumes and any future cumulative supplements for the most up-to-date printed Code available; all previous editions and supplements are outdated.
The Thirteenth Edition is edited and published by American Legal Publishing, which serves as the Code’s official publisher, in conjunction with the City’s Law Department. In addition to this printed version, American Legal hosts the Code on the internet, where it can be accessed through the City of Philadelphia’s home page (www.phila.gov) or through American Legal’s home page (www.amlegal.com). The online edition of the Code is updated regularly and is usually no more than a month or so behind recently adopted City legislation.
For information concerning any legislation involving Code amendments adopted after the most recent electronic update, please refer to the Legislation tab of City Council’s website at www.phila.gov/citycouncil or contact the Office of the Chief Clerk at 215-686-3410.
American Legal sells the Code in print form and electronic format, with Rocket’s Folio software. Contact American Legal Publishing at 800-445-5588 or via email: customerservice@amlegal.com.
We would appreciate your comments and feedback on any errors you may discover in using the Code, so that we may correct them online and in the next edition or supplement. Please notify Lewis Rosman, Law Department, 17th Floor, One Parkway Building, 1515 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102; Lewis.Rosman@phila.gov.
RENEE GARCIA
City Solicitor
City Solicitor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Ch. 1-100 Definitions, Construction, Penalties and Enforcement
TITLE 2 CITY-COUNTY CONSOLIDATION
Ch. 2-100 City-County Consolidation
Ch. 2-200 Recording of Deeds
Ch. 2-300 Property Assessment
TITLE 3 AIR MANAGEMENT CODE
Ch. 3-100 General Provisions
Ch. 3-200 Prohibited Conduct
Ch. 3-300 Administrative Provisions
Ch. 3-400 Air Pollution Control Program
TITLE 4 THE PHILADELPHIA BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPANCY CODE
Ch. 4-100.0 Listing of Subcodes
Ch. 4-200.0 Text of Subcodes
Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code)
Subcode "B" (The Philadelphia Building Code)
Subcode "E" (The Philadelphia Electrical Code)
Subcode "EB" (The Philadelphia Existing Building Code)
Subcode "EC" (The Philadelphia Energy Conservation Code)
Subcode "F" (The Philadelphia Fire Code)
Subcode "G" (The Philadelphia Fuel Gas Code)
Subcode "M" (The Philadelphia Mechanical Code)
Subcode "P" (The Philadelphia Plumbing Code)
Subcode "PC" (The Philadelphia Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities)
Subcode "PM" (The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code)
Subcode "R" (The Philadelphia Residential Code)
TITLE 4.1 ELECTRICAL CODE (REPEALED)
TITLE 4.2 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE (REPEALED)
TITLE 5 FIRE CODE (REPEALED)
TITLE 6 HEALTH CODE
Ch. 6-100 General Provisions
Ch. 6-200 Preventive Medicine
Ch. 6-300 Food
Ch. 6-400 Miscellaneous Standards and Requirements
Ch. 6-500 Administrative Provisions
Ch. 6-600 Asbestos Projects
Ch. 6-700 Maintenance and Operation of District Health Centers
Ch. 6-800 Lead Paint Disclosure and Certification
Ch. 6-900 Mold Inspections
Ch. 6-1000 Tanning Facilities
Ch. 6-1100 Nuisance Health Establishments
Ch. 6-1200 Prescription Data Collection
Ch. 6-1300 Healthy Outdoor Public Spaces
Ch. 6-1400 Privacy of Certain Health Information
Ch. 6-1500 Protection of Reproductive Healthcare
Ch. 6-1600 City Reports on Opioid Antidote Use
TITLE 7 HOUSING CODE
Ch. 7-100 Inclusionary Affordable Housing
Ch. 7-200 Preservation of Affordable Housing
TITLE 8 PLUMBING CODE (REPEALED)
TITLE 9 REGULATION OF BUSINESSES, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS
Ch. 9-100 General Provisions
Ch. 9-200 Commercial Activities on Streets
Ch. 9-300 Communication
Ch. 9-400 Carriers
Ch. 9-500 Boilers, Fuel, Heat and Refrigeration
Ch. 9-600 Service and Other Businesses
Ch. 9-700 Amusement Businesses
Ch. 9-800 Landlord and Tenant
Ch. 9-900 Professions
Ch. 9-1000 Trades
Ch. 9-1100 Fair Practices Ordinance: Protections Against Unlawful Discrimination
Ch. 9-1200 Condominiums and Cooperative Conversions
Ch. 9-1300 Home Inspection Business
Ch. 9-1400 Weights and Measures
Ch. 9-1500 Notification of Intention to Close or Relocate Operations
Ch. 9-1600 Prohibition Against Unlawful Eviction Practices
Ch. 9-1700 Required Policy for Employers Within the City of Philadelphia Regarding Aspects of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Ch. 9-1800 Protecting Philadelphia's Restaurants During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ch. 9-1900 Fire Insurance Escrow Accounts: Municipal Certificate Required Prior to Payment of Fire Loss Claims
Ch. 9-2000 Sale of Malt or Brewed Beverages
Ch. 9-2100 Cigarette Vending Machines
Ch. 9-2200 Expediters
Ch. 9-2300 Protection of Displaced Service Employees
Ch. 9-2400 Prohibition Against Predatory Lending Practices
Ch. 9-2500 Fire Suppression System Workers
Ch. 9-2600 Planned Event Permits
Ch. 9-2700 Sales of Alcohol; Verification of Age
Ch. 9-2800 Universities, Property Owners or Managers and Students
Ch. 9-2900 Take-out Sale of Malt and Brewed Beverages
Ch. 9-3000 Sheet Metal Technician
Ch. 9-3100 Use of Mercury in Dentistry
Ch. 9-3200 Entitlement to Leave Due to Domestic or Sexual Violence
Ch. 9-3300 Use and Inspection of Tower and Mobile Cranes in Construction
Ch. 9-3400 Energy Conservation
Ch. 9-3500 Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards
Ch. 9-3600 Agents and Sheriff's Sales
Ch. 9-3700 Bouncers
Ch. 9-3800 Electric Fences
Ch. 9-3900 Property Licenses and Owner Accountability
Ch. 9-4000 Automated Purchasing Machines
Ch. 9-4100 Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces
Ch. 9-4200 Donation Bins
Ch. 9-4300 Wage Theft Complaints
Ch. 9-4400 Responsible Business Operations
Ch. 9-4500 Protections for Domestic Workers
Ch. 9-4600 Fair Workweek Employment Standards
Ch. 9-4700 Wrongful Discharge from Parking Employment
Ch. 9-4800 Responsibilities Concerning Bed Bug Infestation
Ch. 9-4900 Prohibition on Use of Certain Bags by Retail Establishments
Ch. 9-5000 Employee Protections in Connection with COVID-19 Emergency Health Order
Ch. 9-5100 Food Delivery Services
Ch. 9-5200 Residential Property Wholesalers
Ch. 9-5300 Travel and Hospitality Worker Recall and Retention
Ch. 9-5400 Retention of Hotel Workers
Ch. 9-5500 Prohibition on Testing for Marijuana as a Condition for Employment
Ch. 9-5600 Workforce and Career Pathways Information Sheet
Ch. 9-5700 Leasing of Commercial Property
Ch. 9-5800 Tangled Title Disclosure
Ch. 9-5900 Prohibition on Certain Gaming and Skill-Based Devices
Ch. 9-6000 Employee Commuter Transit Benefit Programs
Ch. 9-6100 Motor Vehicle Salvaging, Dismantling, Recycling, or Repairing
Ch. 9-6200 Trespassing in Retail Establishments
Ch. 9-6300 Consumer Protection Ordinance
Ch. 9-6400 Operation and Maintenance of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
TITLE 10 REGULATION OF INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT AND ACTIVITY
Ch. 10-100 Animals
Ch. 10-200 Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism
Ch. 10-300 Minors
Ch. 10-400 Noise and Excessive Vibration
Ch. 10-500 Property – Damaging, Defacing and Interfering with
Ch. 10-600 Public Places – Prohibited Conduct
Ch. 10-700 Refuse and Littering
Ch. 10-800 Safety
Ch. 10-900 Criminal Registration
Ch. 10-1000 Fees
Ch. 10-1100 Obscenity
Ch. 10-1100A Development in Defined Flood Plain Areas (Repealed)
Ch. 10-1200 Posting of Signs
Ch. 10-1300 Display of Objectionable Publications and Materials
Ch. 10-1400 "Tailgating" and Related Activities in the Outdoor Public Parking Lots at the Philadelphia Sports Complex
Ch. 10-1500 Interference with Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities
Ch. 10-1600 Conduct in Public Places of Assembly; Administrative Adjudication of Violations
Ch. 10-1700 Use of Surveillance Tapes in Commercial Businesses
Ch. 10-1800 Vicarious Liability for Student Conduct
Ch. 10-1900 Witness Intimidation
Ch. 10-2000 Unlawful Manufacture of Firearms
Ch. 10-2100 Marijuana Possession
Ch. 10-2200 Hate Crimes
Ch. 10-2300 Liability for Human Trafficking
Ch. 10-2400 Philadelphia Gun Violence Protection
Ch. 10-2500 Prohibited Physical Contact by Peace Officers
Ch. 10-2600 Less Lethal Devices
Ch. 10-2700 City Reports on Impermissible Camping
TITLE 11 STREETS
Ch. 11-100 General Provisions
Ch. 11-200 Openings and Excavations in the Streets
Ch. 11-300 Board of Surveyors
Ch. 11-400 City Plan
Ch. 11-500 Paving
Ch. 11-600 Construction, Encroachments and Projections Over, On and Under Streets
Ch. 11-700 Right-of-Way Management
Ch. 11-800 Portable On-Demand Storage Units
Ch. 11-900 Complete Streets Policy
TITLE 12 TRAFFIC CODE
Ch. 12-100 General Provisions
Ch. 12-200 Administration
Ch. 12-300 Special Restrictions Upon Use of Vehicles Around Wheelchair Lift Equipped Vehicles
Ch. 12-400 Right-of-Way Regulations and Penalties
Ch. 12-500 Turning Regulations and Penalties
Ch. 12-600 Street Direction Regulations and Penalties
Ch. 12-700 Bicycle Lanes
Ch. 12-800 Bicycle Regulations and Penalties
Ch. 12-900 Parking Regulations and Penalties
Ch. 12-1000 Parking Meter Regulations and Penalties
Ch. 12-1100 Miscellaneous Regulations and Penalties
Ch. 12-1200 Traffic-Control Devices
Ch. 12-1300 Enforcement and Obedience to Traffic Regulations
Ch. 12-1400 Penalties and Procedure for Violations
Ch. 12-1500 Effect of Title
Ch. 12-1600 Special Restrictions Upon Use of Vehicles in Areas Under the Control of the Fairmount Park Commission
Ch. 12-1700 Achieving Driving Equality
Ch. 12-1800 – Ch. 12-2300 Reserved
Ch. 12-2400 Towing and Immobilizing of Parked or Abandoned Vehicles
Ch. 12-2500 Snow Emergencies
Ch. 12-2600 Chestnut Street Transitway
Ch. 12-2700 Permit Parking Districts
Ch. 12-2800 Administrative Adjudication of Parking Violations
Ch. 12-2900 Contractor Parking
Ch. 12-3000 Uses of an Automated Red Light Enforcement System to Prevent Red Light Violations
Ch. 12-3100 Selling, Leasing, or Reserving of Parking Spaces on Public Streets Prohibited
Ch. 12-3200 Fee for Local Use
Ch. 12-3300 Self-Propelled Mobility Devices
Ch. 12-3400 Use of an Automated Speed Enforcement System to Improve Safety
Ch. 12-3500 Personal Delivery Devices
Ch. 12-3600 Camera-Based Enforcement System for Parking, Stopping, and Standing Violations That Interfere with Mass Transit
TITLE 13 WATER AND SEWER
Ch. 13-100 Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rates
Ch. 13-200 Reserved
Ch. 13-300 Water Pipe
Ch. 13-400 Sewers
Ch. 13-500 Provisions Governing Use of Water
Ch. 13-600 Provisions Governing Use of Sewers
Ch. 13-700 Reserved
Ch. 13-800 Damages from Breakage
Ch. 13-900 Termination of Water and Sewer Service
TITLE 14 ZONING AND PLANNING
Ch. 14-100 General Provisions
Ch. 14-200 Definitions
Ch. 14-300 Administration and Procedures
Ch. 14-400 Base Zoning Districts
Ch. 14-500 Overlay Zoning Districts
Ch. 14-600 Use Regulations
Ch. 14-700 Development Standards
Ch. 14-800 Parking and Loading
Ch. 14-900 Signs
Ch. 14-1000 Historic Preservation
TITLE 15 PARKS AND RECREATION
Ch. 15-100 Parks and Outdoor Spaces
Ch. 15-200 Fairmount Park System
Ch. 15-300 Historical Shrines
Ch. 15-400 Museums
Ch. 15-500 Libraries
Ch. 15-600 Parks and Playgrounds
Ch. 15-700 Recreation Centers
TITLE 16 PUBLIC PROPERTY
Ch. 16-100 Acquisition or Construction
Ch. 16-200 Sales, Leases and Other Grants of City-Owned Land, Buildings and Facilities
Ch. 16-300 Maintenance and Supervision
Ch. 16-400 Surplus Properties
Ch. 16-500 Blight Reduction Committee
Ch. 16-600 Redevelopment Proposals and Contracts
Ch. 16-700 Philadelphia Land Bank
Ch. 16-800 Philadelphia Affordable Housing Opportunity Zones
Ch. 16-900 Philadelphia Workforce Housing Opportunity Zones
TITLE 17 CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT
Ch. 17-100 Procurement Contracts
Ch. 17-200 Inventory, Care and Disposal of City Goods
Ch. 17-300 Inventory, Care and Disposal of Private Personal Property
Ch. 17-400 Payment or Reimbursement of Employee Expenses Associated with the Use of Exclusionary Private Organizations
Ch. 17-500 Goals for the Participation of Disadvantaged Owned Business Enterprises in City Contracts
Ch. 17-600 Procurement Price Preferences
Ch. 17-700 Law Department Fees
Ch. 17-800 Purchasing Off State Contracts
Ch. 17-900 Neighborhood Benefit Strategy
Ch. 17-1000 Employment of Low- and Moderate-Income Persons by City Contractors
Ch. 17-1100 Economic Impact Statements for City-Funded Development Projects
Ch. 17-1200 Foreign Outsourcing
Ch. 17-1300 Philadelphia 21st Century Minimum Wage and Benefits Standard
Ch. 17-1400 Non-competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance
Ch. 17-1500 Annual Disparity Study and Participation Goals
Ch. 17-1600 Economic Opportunity Plans
Ch. 17-1700 Prompt Payment of City Vendors and Their Subcontractors
Ch. 17-1800 Philadelphia Re-Entry Employment Program ("PREP") for Returning Citizens
Ch. 17-1900 Equal Benefits
Ch. 17-2000 First Source Jobs Policy
Ch. 17-2100 Conflicts Counsel Contracts
Ch. 17-2200 Labor Peace Agreements for Hotels Where the City Has a Financial Interest
Ch. 17-2300 Public Hearing Prior to Execution of a Labor Agreement Concerning Police Employees Represented by the Fraternal Order of Police
TITLE 18 COMMERCE AND AVIATION
Ch. 18-100 Port Operations
Ch. 18-200 Airports
Ch. 18-300 Economic Development Reporting
Ch. 18-400 Tax Incentive Reporting
Ch. 18-500 Project Information Forms
Ch. 18-600 Workforce Development Activity and Reporting
TITLE 19 FINANCE, TAXES AND COLLECTIONS
Ch. 19-100 General Provisions (Reserved)
Ch. 19-200 City Funds – Deposits, Investments, Disbursements
Ch. 19-300 Bond Issues
Ch. 19-400 Sinking Funds
Ch. 19-500 Taxes and Rents – General
Ch. 19-600 Amusement Tax
Ch. 19-700 Auctioneer Tax (Repealed)
Ch. 19-800 Bowling Alley Tax (Repealed)
Ch. 19-900 Mechanical Amusement Devices
Ch. 19-1000 Mercantile License Tax (Repealed)
Ch. 19-1100 Personal Property Taxes
Ch. 19-1200 Parking Tax
Ch. 19-1300 Real Estate Taxes
Ch. 19-1400 Realty Transfer Tax
Ch. 19-1500 Wage and Net Profits Tax
Ch. 19-1600 Water and Sewer Rents
Ch. 19-1700 Review, Refunds and Compromises
Ch. 19-1800 School Tax Authorization
Ch. 19-1900 Payment for City Services by Senior Citizens
Ch. 19-2000 Discounted Rates for Natural Gas Distribution and Supply Services for Senior Citizens
Ch. 19-2100 Petroleum Processing Tax
Ch. 19-2200 Gasoline Distributor's Tax
Ch. 19-2300 Condominium Conversion Privilege Tax (Repealed)
Ch. 19-2400 Hotel Room Rental Tax
Ch. 19-2500 Real Estate Non-Utilization Tax
Ch. 19-2600 Business Income and Receipts Taxes
Ch. 19-2700 Sales and Use Tax and Hotel Occupancy Tax
Ch. 19-2800 Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Tax on Wages and Net Profits
Ch. 19-2900 Senior Citizen Low Income Special Tax Provisions
Ch. 19-3000 Annual Reports Relating to Fees
Ch. 19-3100 Attorney and Other Collection Fees in Collection Matters; Retention of Private Attorneys and Other Collectors
Ch. 19-3200 Keystone Opportunity Zone, Economic Development District, and Strategic Development Area
Ch. 19-3300 Vehicle Rental Tax
Ch. 19-3400 Excise Tax on Outdoor Advertising Transactions
Ch. 19-3500 Hospital Assessments
Ch. 19-3600 False Claims
Ch. 19-3700 Tobacco and Tobacco-Related Products Tax
Ch. 19-3800 New Businesses
Ch. 19-3900 Tax Exemptions for Longtime Owner-Occupants of Residential Properties
Ch. 19-4000 Income Inequality Initiative – Tax Liability Reduction Eligibility Notification
Ch. 19-4100 Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax
Ch. 19-4200 New Sustainable Businesses
Ch. 19-4300 Monthly Reconciliation Reporting
Ch. 19-4400 Development Impact Tax
Ch. 19-4500 Annual Reporting Relating to Unclaimed Property
Ch. 19-4600 Low-Income Tax Provisions
TITLE 20 OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
Ch. 20-100 General Provisions
Ch. 20-200 Appointments of Specified Officers and Employees
Ch. 20-300 Compensation and Benefits
Ch. 20-400 Workmen's Compensation
Ch. 20-500 Councilmanic Districts
Ch. 20-600 Standards of Conduct and Ethics
Ch. 20-700 Defense and Indemnification
Ch. 20-800 The W. Thacher Longstreth Memorial Survivors and Dependents Medical Care Ordinance
Ch. 20-900 Health and Welfare Benefits for Pensioned Employees
Ch. 20-1000 Political Contributions and Expenditures
Ch. 20-1100 Civil Service Preferences
Ch. 20-1200 Lobbying
Ch. 20-1300 Penalties for Campaign Finance-Related and Ethics-Related Violations
Ch. 20-1400 – Ch. 20-1600 Reserved
Ch. 20-1700 Philadelphia Re-Entry Employment Program ("PREP") for Returning Citizens
TITLE 21 MISCELLANEOUS
Ch. 21-100 City Emblems, Colors and Awards
Ch. 21-200 Scholarships
Ch. 21-300 Police Alarm Signal System
Ch. 21-400 Civil Defense
Ch. 21-500 Special Ordinances
Ch. 21-600 City Institutions
Ch. 21-700 Waiver of Governmental Immunity (Repealed)
Ch. 21-800 Advancement of Economic Opportunities
Ch. 21-900 Services to the Aging
Ch. 21-900A The Free Library of Philadelphia
Ch. 21-1000 Police Uniforms
Ch. 21-1100 Community Development
Ch. 21-1200 Citizens Police Oversight Commission
Ch. 21-1300 Board of License and Inspection Review
Ch. 21-1400 Tax Increment Financing Districts
Ch. 21-1500 Boards and Commissions – Public Deliberations
Ch. 21-1600 Housing Trust Fund
Ch. 21-1700 Publication of Notices by City
Ch. 21-1800 Foster Care
Ch. 21-1900 Freedom from Abuse Rights Reporting
Ch. 21-2000 Police Accident Reports
Ch. 21-2100 Program-Based Budgeting
Ch. 21-2200 Cost-Benefit Analysis for Capital Budgeting
Ch. 21-2300 Fiscal Impact Statements
Ch. 21-2400 Electronic Option Requirement
Ch. 21-2500 Information Technology Strategic Plan
Ch. 21-2600 Administrative Environmental Assessments
Ch. 21-2700 Municipal Identification Cards
Ch. 21-2800 Fire Service Paramedic Safety and Health
Ch. 21-2900 Dissemination of Missing and Endangered Persons Alert Via Internet
Ch. 21-3000 Environmental Justice Reporting
Ch. 21-3100 Reporting Related to Civil Actions
Ch. 21-3200 Business Improvement Districts and Special Services Districts
Ch. 21-3300 Flag Raisings
Ch. 21-3400 Youth Name, Image, and Likeness Protection
TITLE 22 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT CODE
Ch. 22-100 General Provisions
Ch. 22-200 Membership
Ch. 22-300 Retirement Benefits
Ch. 22-400 Disability Benefits
Ch. 22-500 Death Benefits
Ch. 22-600 Reserved
Ch. 22-700 Beneficiaries and Survivors
Ch. 22-800 Purchase of Credited Service
Ch. 22-900 Contributions
Ch. 22-1000 Investments; Assumptions; and Guarantee
Ch. 22-1100 Reserved
Ch. 22-1200 Administration and Management
Ch. 22-1300 Miscellaneous
AN ORDINANCE
To adopt a Code of General Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia embodying a comprehensive codification and revision of all general ordinances of the City; and repealing and saving from repeal certain ordinances.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. There is hereby adopted a Code of General Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia embodying a comprehensive codification and revision of all general ordinances of the City, as follows: