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Philadelphia Overview
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
TITLE 11. STREETS
TITLE 12. TRAFFIC CODE
CHAPTER 12-100. GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 12-200. ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 12-300. SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS UPON USE OF VEHICLES AROUND WHEELCHAIR LIFT EQUIPPED VEHICLES
CHAPTER 12-400. RIGHT-OF-WAY REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES
CHAPTER 12-500. TURNING REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES
CHAPTER 12-600. STREET DIRECTION REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES
CHAPTER 12-700. BICYCLE LANES
CHAPTER 12-800. BICYCLE REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES
CHAPTER 12-900. PARKING REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES
CHAPTER 12-1000. PARKING METER REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES
CHAPTER 12-1100. MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES
CHAPTER 12-1200. TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES
CHAPTER 12-1300. ENFORCEMENT AND OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 12-1400. PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE FOR VIOLATIONS
CHAPTER 12-1500. EFFECT OF TITLE
CHAPTER 12-1600. SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS UPON USE OF VEHICLES IN AREAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE FAIRMOUNT PARK COMMISSION
CHAPTER 12-1700. ACHIEVING DRIVING EQUALITY
CHAPTERS 12-1800 TO 12-2300. RESERVED
CHAPTER 12-2400. TOWING AND IMMOBILIZING OF PARKED OR ABANDONED VEHICLES
CHAPTER 12-2500. SNOW EMERGENCIES
CHAPTER 12-2600. CHESTNUT STREET TRANSITWAY
CHAPTER 12-2700. PERMIT PARKING DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 12-2800. ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION OF PARKING VIOLATIONS
CHAPTER 12-2900. CONTRACTOR PARKING
CHAPTER 12-3000. USE OF AN AUTOMATED RED LIGHT ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM TO PREVENT RED LIGHT VIOLATIONS
CHAPTER 12-3100. SELLING, LEASING, OR RESERVING OF PARKING SPACES ON PUBLIC STREETS PROHIBITED
CHAPTER 12-3200. FEE FOR LOCAL USE
CHAPTER 12-3300. SELF-PROPELLED MOBILITY DEVICES
CHAPTER 12-3400. USE OF AN AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM TO IMPROVE SAFETY
CHAPTER 12-3500. PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICES
CHAPTER 12-3600. CAMERA-BASED ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM FOR PARKING, STOPPING, AND STANDING VIOLATIONS THAT INTERFERE WITH MASS TRANSIT
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
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§ 12-911. Permit for Loading or Unloading at an Angle to the Curb.
   (1)   The Department may issue special permits to allow the backing of a vehicle across the sidewalk to a curb or a loading platform for the purpose of loading and unloading. Such permit shall be in the possession of the operator.
   (2)   Any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter within the area between the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers and between Spring Garden street including both sides of that street and Bainbridge street shall, upon summary conviction before a Traffic Court Judge, pay a fine of ten dollars ($10) together with cost of prosecution and, in default of payment undergo imprisonment for not more than five (5) days. 95

 

Notes

95
   Added, 1973 Ordinances, p. 120.
§ 12-912. Stopping, Standing and Parking Outside Business and Residence Districts. 96
   (1)   Outside a business or residence district (as such districts are defined at 75 Pa. C.S. § 102), no person shall stop, park or stand any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the roadway when it is practicable to stop, park or stand the vehicle off the roadway. In the event it is necessary to stop, park or stand the vehicle on the roadway or any part of the roadway, an unobstructed width of the highway opposite the vehicle shall be left for the free passage of other vehicles and the vehicle shall be visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet in each direction upon the highway.
   (2)   This Section and Section 12-913 (relating to prohibitions in specified places) and Section 12-914 (relating to additional parking regulations) do not apply to the driver of any vehicle which is disabled in such a manner and to such an extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving the vehicle in that position.

 

Notes

96
   Added, 1989 Ordinances, p. 99, effective June 30, 1989.
§ 12-913. Prohibitions in Specified Places. 97
   (1)   Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to protect the safety of any person or vehicle or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall:
      (a)   Stop, stand or park a vehicle:
         (.1)   On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street.
         (.2)   On a sidewalk except that a bicycle may be parked as provided in Section 12-807.
         (.3)   Within an intersection.
         (.4)   On a crosswalk.
         (.5)   Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb within thirty (30) feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a different length is indicated by official traffic-control devices.
         (.6)   Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.
         (.7)   On any railroad tracks.
         (.8)   In the area between roadways of a divided highway, including crossovers.
         (.9)   At any place where official signs prohibit stopping.
         (.10)   Where any part of the vehicle would block any part of a curb cut or handicapped ramp. 98
         (.11)   Within a designated bicycle lane. 98.1
         (.12)   In the travel lane within twenty (20) feet of an open adjacent space in the parking lane or a designated loading zone. 98.2
      (b)   Stand or park a vehicle:
         (.1)   In front of a public or private driveway.
         (.2)   Within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant.
         (.3)   Within twenty (20) feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
         (.4)   Within thirty (30) feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic- control signal located at the site of a roadway.
         (.5)   Within twenty (20) feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station or, when properly sign posted, on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within seventy-five (75) feet of the entrance.
         (.6)   Where the vehicle would prevent the free movement of a streetcar.
         (.7)   On a limited access highway unless authorized by official traffic-control devices.
         (.8)   At any place where official signs prohibit standing.
      (c)   Park a vehicle: 99
         (.1)   Within fifty (50) feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.
         (.2)   For more than 20 minutes at any place where official signs prohibit parking. 100
   (2)   No person shall park or leave unattended a vehicle on private property without the consent of the owner or other person in control or possession of the property except in the case of emergency or disablement of the vehicle, in which case the operator shall arrange for the removal of the vehicle as soon as possible.
   (3)   The provisions of subsection 12-913(2) shall not apply to private parking lots unless such lots are posted to notify the public of any parking restrictions and the operator of the vehicle violates such posted restrictions. For the purposes of this subsection, "private parking lot" means a parking lot open to the public or used for parking without charge; or a parking lot used for parking with charge. A private parking lot has posted adequate notice under this subsection if it has posted notice that meets the requirements of regulations issued pursuant to 75 Pa. C.S. § 3353(b)(2).

 

Notes

97
   Added, 1989 Ordinances, p. 99, effective June 30, 1989.
98
   Added, Bill No. 970324 (approved July 1, 1997).
98.1
   Added, Bill No. 240657 (approved November 13, 2024).
98.2
   Added, Bill No. 240749 (approved November 13, 2024).
99
   Amended, Bill No. 240657 (approved November 13, 2024).
100
   Amended, Bill No. 190463 (approved June 26, 2019).
§ 12-914. Additional Parking Regulations. 101
   (1)   Except as otherwise provided in this Title, every vehicle standing or parking upon a two-way highway shall be positioned parallel to and with the right-hand wheels within twelve (12) inches of the right-hand curb or, in the absence of a curb, as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder.
   (2)   Except as otherwise provided in this Title, every vehicle standing or parked upon a one-way highway shall be positioned parallel to the curb or edge of the highway in the direction of authorized traffic movement with its right-hand wheels within twelve (12) inches of the right-hand curb or, in the absence of a curb, as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder, or with its left-hand wheels within twelve (12) inches of the left-hand curb or, in the absence of a curb, as close as practicable to the left edge of the left hand shoulder.

 

Notes

101
   Added, 1989 Ordinances, p. 99, effective June 30, 1989.
§ 12-915. Unattended Motor Vehicle. 102
   (1)   No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit the vehicle to stand unattended without placing the gear shift lever in a position which under the circumstances impedes the movement of the vehicle, stopping the engine, locking the ignition in vehicles so equipped, removing the key from the ignition and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway and effectively setting the brake.

 

Notes

102
   Added, 1989 Ordinances, p. 99, effective June 30, 1989.
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