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The Philadelphia Code
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
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
CHAPTER 10-100. ANIMALS
CHAPTER 10-200. ETHNIC INTIMIDATION AND INSTITUTIONAL VANDALISM
CHAPTER 10-300. MINORS
CHAPTER 10-400. NOISE AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATION
CHAPTER 10-500. PROPERTY - DAMAGING, DEFACING AND INTERFERING WITH
CHAPTER 10-600. PUBLIC PLACES - PROHIBITED CONDUCT
CHAPTER 10-700. REFUSE AND LITTERING
CHAPTER 10-800. SAFETY
§ 10-801. Abandoned Iceboxes.
§ 10-802. Building Activities in Streets.
§ 10-803. Excavations and Obstructions.
§ 10-804. False Reports or Alarms for Police or Fire Services.
§ 10-805. Hoisting Heavy Objects.
§ 10-806. Reviewing Stands - Construction.
§ 10-807. Reserved.
§ 10-808. Reserved.
§ 10-809. Water Control.
§ 10-810. Weapons and Dangerous Devices.
§ 10-811. Penalties.
§ 10-812. Removal and Abandonment of Shopping Carts.
§ 10-813. Reserved.
§ 10-814. Acquisition or Transfer of Firearms.
§ 10-814a. Acquisition or Transfer of Firearms.
§ 10-815. Hunting.
§ 10-816. Incendiary Devices.
§ 10-817. Police and Fire Radio Broadcasts.
§ 10-818. Firearms in Public Places.
§ 10-819. State of Emergency.
§ 10-820. Cutting Weapons in Public Places.
§ 10-821. Reserved.
§ 10-821a. Contraband Weapons, Accessories and Ammunition.
§ 10-821b. Contraband Weapons, Accessories and Ammunition.
§ 10-822. Carrying of Weapons in or on Public and Private Buildings.
§ 10-823. Driveways.
§ 10-824. Unauthorized Entry on School Premises.
§ 10-825. Stun Guns.
§ 10-826. Sale to or Possession by Minors of Dangerous Martial Arts Weapons and Instruments.
§ 10-827. Display of Building Numbers.
§ 10-828. Strict Liability for Damages Caused by Certain Firearms.
§ 10-829. Prohibition on Sale of Box Cutters and Similar Utility Knives to Persons Under the Age of Eighteen.
§ 10-830. Reporting Requirements Upon the Application or Renewal of a License to Carry a Firearm.
§ 10-830a. Reporting Requirements Upon the Application for or Renewal of a License to Carry a Firearm.
§ 10-831. Straw and Multiple Handgun Purchase Reduction.
§ 10-831a. Straw and Multiple Handgun Purchase Reduction.
§ 10-832. Firearms Tracing.
§ 10-833. Possession of Weapons on School Property.
§ 10-834. Responsibility to Avoid Possession and Discharge of Firearms by Children.
§ 10-835. Prohibited Possession, Sale and Transfer of Firearms by Persons Subject to Protection From Abuse Orders.
§ 10-835a. Prohibited Possession, Sale and Transfer of Firearms by Persons Subject to Protection From Abuse Orders.
§ 10-836. Reserved.
§ 10-836a. Reserved.
§ 10-837. Sale or Transfer of Ammunition.
§ 10-838. Failure to Report Lost or Stolen Firearm.
§ 10-838a. Failure to Report Lost or Stolen Firearm.
§ 10-839. Reporting Requirements for Lost or Stolen Vehicles.
§ 10-840. Criminal and Defiant Trespassers.
§ 10-841. Fraudulent Leasing of Residential Property.
§ 10-842. Possession of Weapons at City Recreation Facilities.
CHAPTER 10-900. CRIMINAL REGISTRATION
CHAPTER 10-1000. FEES
CHAPTER 10-1100. OBSCENITY
CHAPTER 10-1100A. DEVELOPMENT IN DEFINED FLOOD PLAIN AREAS (Repealed)
CHAPTER 10-1200. POSTING OF SIGNS
CHAPTER 10-1300. DISPLAY OF OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS AND MATERIALS
CHAPTER 10-1400. "TAILGATING" AND RELATED ACTIVITIES IN THE OUTDOOR PUBLIC PARKING LOTS AT THE PHILADELPHIA SPORTS COMPLEX
CHAPTER 10-1500. INTERFERENCE WITH ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
CHAPTER 10-1600. CONDUCT IN PUBLIC PLACES OF ASSEMBLY; ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION OF VIOLATIONS
CHAPTER 10-1700. USE OF SURVEILLANCE TAPES IN COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES
CHAPTER 10-1800. VICARIOUS LIABILITY FOR STUDENT CONDUCT
CHAPTER 10-1900. WITNESS INTIMIDATION
CHAPTER 10-2000. UNLAWFUL MANUFACTURE OF FIREARMS
CHAPTER 10-2100. MARIJUANA POSSESSION
CHAPTER 10-2200. HATE CRIMES
CHAPTER 10-2300. LIABILITY FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING
CHAPTER 10-2400. PHILADELPHIA GUN VIOLENCE PROTECTION
CHAPTER 10-2500. PROHIBITED PHYSICAL CONTACT BY PEACE OFFICERS
CHAPTER 10-2600. LESS LETHAL DEVICES
CHAPTER 10-2700. CITY REPORTS ON IMPERMISSIBLE CAMPING
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 10-800. SAFETY
§ 10-801. Abandoned Iceboxes. 235
   (1)   No person shall place or permit the placing outside of any building in a place accessible to children any abandoned or unattended icebox, refrigerator, or any other container which has an airtight door or lock which cannot be released for opening from the inside of such icebox, refrigerator, or container.

 

Notes

235
   Source: 1953 Ordinances, p. 620.
§ 10-802. Building Activities in Streets. 236
   (1)   No person shall mix any lime, cement, mortar, or any product containing lime on the streets of the City except in leakproof containers, so constructed that nothing mixed in them will fall onto the street. In the case of lime products, the container shall be raised at least 4 inches off the ground by substantial supports.
   (2)   No person shall make any fire for the melting of solder or for the heating of roofing material or for any other building purpose upon paved public streets except in a metal container the bottom of which is raised at least 2 feet off the ground.

 

Notes

236
   Source: 1892 Ordinances, p. 136; 1917 Ordinances, p. 263.
§ 10-803. Excavations and Obstructions. 237
   (1)   The owner of any real estate abutting any street shall enclose the real estate with a suitable fence where:
      (a)   a building is being erected or an excavation is being made for building purposes or for purposes of repairing or maintaining buildings or other structures or facilities;
      (b)   it is unimproved and otherwise dangerous;
      (c)   it is of a higher grade than the adjoining land and is in such condition that dirt therefrom is washed down upon the sidewalk by the action of the elements.
   (2)   In the case of subsection 10-803(1)(c), the owner shall also grade back such real estate.
   (3)   No one shall make any excavation on any property which excavation extends below the surface of the adjoining property or below the existing grade or the City Plan grade for that area without first submitting to the Department of Licenses and Inspections plans setting forth the purpose of the proposed excavation and the manner in which the public will be protected from it and obtaining from the Department a permit to make such excavation. 238
      (a)   The Department of Licenses and Inspections shall refuse to grant a permit if it determines that the proposed excavation or the plan of protection is contrary to the public welfare or safety.
      (b)   Nothing in subsection 10-803(3) shall apply to an excavation made for the purpose of construction, repairing or maintaining buildings or other structures or facilities on the land excavated.
   (4)   The owner of any land upon which there exists any excavation, quarry, or other depression in which water has accumulated to a depth dangerous to children, and to which children have access with or without permission of the owner, shall immediately submit a plan for the abatement of such condition to the Department of Licenses and Inspections. The Department shall forthwith approve or amend the plan and shall issue a written order to such owner setting forth the manner in which and the time within which such condition shall be abated. The Department shall also issue such a written order in the event that a person fails to file a plan of abatement as required by this subsection. 239
   (5)   The creation or continuance of any condition described in subsection 10-803(1), (3) or (4) is a public nuisance.
   (6)   The Department of Licenses and Inspections shall order any person violating subsection 10-803(1), (3) or (4) to comply with such subsections by fencing his land, abating the unlawful conditions thereon, or otherwise safeguarding the public as may be required, from such condition within such reasonable time as the Department shall determine.
   (7)   Upon failure of the owner of any real estate to comply with an order of the Department of Licenses and Inspections issued pursuant to subsection 10-803(4), (5) or (6) the Department may itself or by contract abate the condition and charge the cost to the owner of such property, and the Law Department may take such action for the collection of such costs by lien or otherwise as may be authorized by law.
   (8)   Each day any violation of the provisions of this Section occurs or continues shall be considered a separate offense. 240

 

Notes

237
   Source: 1897 Ordinances, p. 222; 1909 Ordinances, p. 226.
238
   Source: 1952 Ordinances, p. 403.
239
   Source: 1952 Ordinances, p. 403.
240
   Former subsection (8) deleted, Bill No. 171122 (approved March 14, 2018). Enrolled bill failed to renumber subsequent subsection (9); renumbered by Code editor.
§ 10-804. False Reports or Alarms for Police or Fire Services. 241
   (1)   No person shall knowingly make or cause to be made any false report or alarm, or misleading call or request for any of the services of the Fire Department or of the Police Department of the City. 242

 

Notes

241
   Source: 1954 Ordinances.
242
   Amended, 1958 Ordinances, p. 760.
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