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§ 9-3904. Vacant Lot License.
   (1)   Required.
      (a)   The owner of any lot on which no structure is built and no productive activity has been conducted with the owner's permission for at least the past three (3) months shall obtain a Vacant Lot License.
      (b)   Exceptions. No license is required for the following:
         (.1)   Vacant lots contiguous to and in common ownership with a vacant lot that has a current vacant lot license. This exception shall include building lots in common ownership within an approved subdivision, provided there is a current vacant lot license for the subdivision tract.
         (.2)   Vacant lots contiguous to or separated by a driveway from a building where there is common ownership of the lot and the building. This exception includes a contiguous lot owned and maintained by the abutting property owner as a side yard.
         (.3)   A lot that is continuously maintained as a garden.
§ 9-3905. Vacant Structure License.
   (1)   Required. The owner of any structure that lacks the habitual presence of human beings who have a legal right to be on the premises, or at which substantially all lawful business or construction operations or residential occupancy has ceased within the past three (3) months, shall obtain a Vacant Structure License.
      (a)   Exception. The owner of a vacant structure for which a current and valid rental license has been issued shall not be required to obtain a Vacant Structure License.
   (2)   Additional Requirements for LVCIPs. 1331
      (a)   Bonding. In addition to the license issuance requirements set forth in subsection 9-3901(2), the Department shall issue or renew a vacant structure license for a Large Vacant Commercial and Industrial Property (as defined in Section PM-202) only if the applicant has also posted a bond or other security or a deposit in form approved by the Law Department and in an amount determined by the Department to be necessary to secure the City's potential cost of correcting Code violations or abating unsafe or imminently dangerous conditions as authorized by Section PM-108.2, Section PM-110.4, Section PM-902.13 or any other provision of this Code. If the City does incur such costs, the City may recover such costs from the posted bond or other security or deposit, in addition to pursuing any other remedy authorized by law. The bond or other security shall provide that it will not expire and the City need not release it upon transfer of the property unless and until a subsequent owner posts a comparable bond or other security or deposit. Failure to post the required security or deposit or to maintain such security or deposit may result in the suspension or denial of any license issued to the owner under this Code, which license suspension(s) or denial(s) shall continue until the owner has posted the required security. No license shall be suspended under this provision until the owner has been provided written notice.
      (b)   Owner Consent Statement. At the time of license application, a building owner may complete a written statement on a form provided by the Department granting consent to the City for access to the building for purposes of inspection, enforcement of the City Code and protection of public safety.
      (c)   City Inspections of LVCIPs. In connection with inspections of LVCIPs conducted pursuant to Section F-108.6 of the Code or otherwise, if consent has not been provided under subsection (b) and is not otherwise provided by the owner or lawful occupant, the City shall take such steps as may be necessary to gain access to the property in order to carry out the inspection, including, when needed, obtaining an administrative warrant.

 

Notes

1331
   Amended, Bill No. 150650 (approved December 23, 2015).
§ 9-3906. Vacant Waterfront Structure License.
   (1)   Required.
      (a)   The owners of vacant piers, bulkheads, wharves, docks, moored vessels, and other structures that have structural elements partly or totally below water along the shorelines of the Delaware River, Schuylkill River, or estuaries shall obtain a Vacant Waterfront Structure License. Occupied waterfront structures shall comply with the requirements of PM-314 and are not required to be licensed under this Section.
   (2)   Additional Issuance Requirement. In addition to the license application requirements set forth in subsection 9-3901(2), an application for a new Vacant Waterfront Structure License or the renewal of such license shall also contain the following information:
      (a)   A certification that the structure for which application is made has a barrier to human occupancy which is maintained at all points of access from the on-shore side of the structure.
      (b)   Proof that the structure is posted on all sides, in a visible and conspicuous manner, with "Danger - No Trespassing" signs.
§ 9-3907. Managing Agents.
   (1)   Required Designation of Managing Agent.
      (a)   The owner of any property required to obtain a rental license, Vacant Lot License, Vacant Structure License, or Vacant Waterfront Structure License, shall designate a Managing Agent for the property.
   (2)   Managing Agent Requirements.
      (a)   A Managing Agent must be a natural person over the age of eighteen years who resides within the City or customarily or regularly attends a business office maintained within the City, who has agreed to carry out the responsibilities set forth in subsection (3).
      (b)   An owner (or, in the case of a corporate owner, a principal of the corporation) who meets the qualifications of subsection (2)(a) may be designated as the Managing Agent.
   (3)   Duties of a Managing Agent. A Managing Agent shall:
      (a)   Receive and accept, on behalf of the owner, any notices, orders, or summonses issued by the Department and any service of process for all matters related to the relevant property. 1332
      (b)   In the case of a Managing Agent for an owner who is required to obtain a rental license, the Managing Agent shall at the inception of each tenancy (i) provide to the tenant contact information (including telephone number and address, which must be a Philadelphia address and not a post office box) for the Managing Agent, and information as to whether the Managing Agent is responsible for routine maintenance of the property and, if not, contact information for the person who is responsible for such routine maintenance; and (ii) ensure that the information required to be provided to the tenant under subsection 9-3903(1)(a) is in fact provided.
   (4)   Notice to Managing Agent. Notice provided to or service of process served upon a Managing Agent of a property at the address provided pursuant to subsection 9-3901(2)(a)(.3) shall constitute notice to the owner of such property for all matters related to such property. 1333

 

Notes

1332
   Amended, Bill No. 180939-A (approved January 3, 2019), effective July 1, 2020.
1333
   Added, Bill No. 180939-A (approved January 3, 2019), effective July 1, 2020.
§ 9-3908. Notification of License Obligation. 1334
   (1)   Notification of License Obligation.
      (a)   Whenever the City issues a certificate to an owner indicating the zoning classification and the legality of the existing use of a property to be sold, as required by the act of November 28, 1973 (P.L. 348, No. 121), as amended (21 P.S. § 613), such certificate shall include a summary of the license and owner accountability responsibility requirements of this Chapter and the property maintenance requirements of Title 4, Subcode PM (the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code). Such summary shall contain, at minimum, the following information:
         (.1)   an explanation of the property license requirements, including the following statement: "No person shall collect rent with respect to any property without first obtaining a license pursuant to Chapter 9-3900 of The Philadelphia Code.";
         (.2)   an explanation of the license requirements applicable to vacant lots, structures and waterfront structures, including the following statement: "The owner of a vacant lot, structure or waterfront structure is required to obtain a license pursuant to Chapter 9-3900 of The Philadelphia Code." 1335
         (.3)   an explanation of how an owner can obtain a copy of the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code; and
         (.4)   the following statement: "Failure of the buyer to obtain a property license, if required by Chapter 9-3900 of The Philadelphia Code, within ten (10) days after the transfer of ownership shall constitute a violation of The Philadelphia Code and may result in fines and penalties."

 

Notes

1334
   Added, Bill No. 140939 (approved January 15, 2015). Section 2 of Bill No. 140939 provides: "This Ordinance shall take effect upon the effective date of Bill No. 140892." Bill No. 140892-A is effective July 1, 2015.
1335
   Added and subsequent subsections renumbered, Bill No. 160249 (approved June 28, 2016).
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