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PHILADELPHIA HOME RULE CHARTER
THE PHILADELPHIA CODE
TITLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 2. CITY-COUNTY CONSOLIDATION
TITLE 3. AIR MANAGEMENT CODE
TITLE 4. THE PHILADELPHIA BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPANCY CODE
CHAPTER 4-100.0. LISTING OF SUBCODES
CHAPTER 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
TITLE 4.2. PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
TITLE 5. FIRE PREVENTION CODE
TITLE 6. HEALTH CODE
TITLE 7. HOUSING CODE
TITLE 8. PLUMBING CODE
TITLE 9. REGULATION OF BUSINESSES, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS
TITLE 10. REGULATION OF INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT AND ACTIVITY
TITLE 11. STREETS
TITLE 12. TRAFFIC CODE
TITLE 13. WATER AND SEWER
TITLE 14. ZONING AND PLANNING
TITLE 15. PARKS AND RECREATION
TITLE 16. PUBLIC PROPERTY
TITLE 17. CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT
TITLE 18. COMMERCE AND AVIATION
TITLE 19. FINANCE, TAXES AND COLLECTIONS
TITLE 20. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
TITLE 21. MISCELLANEOUS
TITLE 22. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT CODE
CHAPTER 3
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
SECTION PM-301 GENERAL
PM-301.1 Scope. The provisions of this Chapter shall govern the minimum conditions and the responsibilities of persons for maintenance of structures, equipment and exterior property.
PM-301.2 Responsibility. The owner of the premises shall maintain the structures and exterior property in compliance with these requirements, except as otherwise provided for in this code. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant or permit another person to occupy premises which are not in a sanitary and safe condition and which do not comply with the requirements of this Chapter. Occupants of a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit are responsible for keeping in a clean, sanitary and safe condition that part of the dwelling unit, rooming unit, housekeeping unit or premises which they occupy and control.
PM-301.3 Vacant structures and land. All vacant structures and premises thereof or vacant land shall be maintained in a clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition as provided herein so as not to cause a blighting problem or adversely affect the public health or safety.
SECTION PM-302 EXTERIOR PROPERTY AREAS
PM-302.1 Sanitation. All exterior property and premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. The occupant shall keep that part of the exterior property which such occupant occupies or controls in a clean and sanitary condition.
PM-302.2 Grading and drainage. All premises shall be graded and maintained to prevent the erosion of soil and to prevent the accumulation of standing water thereon, or within any structure located thereon.
Exception: Approved retention areas and reservoirs.
PM-302.3 Sidewalks and driveways. All sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, parking spaces and similar areas shall be kept in a proper state of repair, and maintained free from hazardous conditions.
PM-302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code) and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the jurisdiction or contractor hired by the jurisdiction shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the costs of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.
PM-302.5 Rodent harborage. All structures and exterior property shall be kept free from rodent harborage and infestation. Where rodents are found, they shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes which will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to eliminate rodent harborage and prevent reinfestation.
PM-302.6 Exhaust vents. Pipes, ducts, conductors, fans or blowers shall not discharge gases, steam, vapor, hot air, grease, smoke, odors or other gaseous or particulate wastes directly upon abutting or adjacent public or private property or that of another tenant.
PM-302.7 Accessory structures. All accessory structures, including detached garages, fences and walls, shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
   PM-302.7.1 Temporary Fences: No person shall place or maintain a fence in the 10th Councilmanic District that is free-standing (meaning not permanently affixed to the property) and that is of a type customarily used for building projects and construction sites, such as a modular chain-link fence, unless such free-standing fence is placed and maintained in connection with a building permit issued pursuant to Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code), or unless such fence is placed and maintained to protect against either a potential safety hazard from an ongoing work process for which a building permit is not required or any imminent safety hazard. Any temporary fence so placed shall be removed upon completion of the work authorized by such building permit or the elimination of the present or potential safety hazard.
PM-302.8 Motor vehicles. Except as provided for in other regulations, no inoperative or unlicensed motor vehicle shall be parked, kept or stored on any premises, and no vehicle shall at any time be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. Painting of vehicles is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth.
Exception: A vehicle of any type is permitted to undergo major overhaul, including body work, provided that such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes.
PM-302.9 Defacement of property. No person shall willfully or wantonly damage, mutilate or deface any exterior surface of any structure or building on any private or public property by placing thereon any marking, carving or graffiti.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner to restore said surface to an approved state of maintenance and repair.
PM-302.10 Encroaching Trees.  430.1 No person shall allow any tree on his or her property to overhang or rest on the property of another person if the tree (i) is dead, weakened or decayed such that a significant portion of the tree could reasonably be expected to fall or come to rest on the property of another person or (ii) otherwise encroaches in a manner that harms or is likely to harm the other’s property.
CLIP may serve notice of violation with sixty (60) days to cure the violation. Upon failure of the tree owner to abate the encroachment after service of a notice of violation, CLIP shall be authorized, itself or by contract, to prune or remove the encroaching tree to the extent necessary to cure the violation and the owner of the tree shall be liable for the costs of such work.
This provision shall not apply to any Street Tree consistent with the provisions of Section 15-203 of The Philadelphia Code.

 

Notes

430.1
   Added, Bill No. 240371 (approved June 26, 2024).
SECTION PM-303 SWIMMING POOLS, SPAS AND HOT TUBS
PM-303.1 Swimming pools. Swimming pools shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and in good repair.
PM-303.2 Enclosures. pools, hot tubs and spas, containing water more than 24 inches (610 mm) in depth shall be completely surrounded by a fence or barrier at least 48 inches (1219 mm) in height above the finished ground level measured on the side of the barrier away from the pool. Gates and doors in such barriers shall be self-closing and self-latching. Where the self-latching device is less than 54 inches (1372 mm) above the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the gate. Self-closing and self-latching gates shall be maintained such that the gate will positively close and latch when released from an open position of 6 inches (152 mm) from the gatepost. No existing pool enclosure shall be removed, replaced or changed in a manner that reduces its effectiveness as a safety barrier.
Exception: Spas or hot tubs with a safety cover that complies with ASTM F 1346 shall be exempt from the provisions of this Section.
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