The following height regulations apply to the areas set forth in each subsection. To the extent a property is subject to a height maximum set forth in this § 14-502(3) (Height Regulations) and a height maximum set forth elsewhere in this Code, the smaller maximum shall apply, except the provisions of § 14-502(3)(l) (Center City Commercial District Control Area) shall supersede any height maximums set forth outside of this Chapter 14-500. Except for the City Hall area, the accompanying height control maps are for illustrative purposes only. 349
(a) City Hall.
The maximum height within the City Hall area is identified on Height Control Area Map 1.A.
(b) City Hall View Corridor Northeast.
(See Height Control Area Map 1.B.) The maximum height (measured from zero ft. City Datum) within the City Hall View Corridor Northeast area is as follows:
(.1) Northeast 1: 330 ft.
(.2) Northeast 2: The maximum height increases from 330 ft. along a 45 degree recession plane from the outer edge of Northeast View Corridor 1 to the outer edge of Northeast View Corridor 2, such that the maximum height at the outer edge of Northeast View Corridor 2 is 490 ft.
(See Height Control Area Map 1.C.) The maximum height (measured from zero ft. City Datum) within the City Hall View Corridor Southeast area shall be determined by the following formulas, where "d" is the horizontal distance in feet from the point on the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps designated as N240740, E2719920 on the Pennsylvania State Plane Coordinates South Zone Map, to the point of the building closest to such point on the steps.
(.1) Southeast 1: (d x 0.05705) + 90 ft.
(.2) Southeast 2: (d x 0.02586) + 90 ft.
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(.1) The maximum height within the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Area, except as provided in § 14-502(3)(d)(.2) and § 14-502(3)(d)(.4) below, is 125 ft. (See Height Control Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only). This 125-foot height limit does not apply to monuments, belfries, cupolas, minarets, pinnacles, gables, spires, or ornamental towers not intended for human occupancy, provided that the total height of the structure and excepted items does not exceed a maximum height of 209 ft. 352
(.2) The maximum height within the area bounded by 23rd Street, John F. Kennedy Boulevard, the Schuylkill River, and the center line of the right-of-way of SEPTA is 500 ft. The maximum height within the area bounded by 23rd Street, the center line of the right-of-way of SEPTA, the Schuylkill River, and Cherry Street is 300 ft. These 500-foot and 300-foot height limits do not apply to penthouses or roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans, heating and cooling towers, or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building.
(.3) For any proposed structure and with no residential uses, for which a building permit is issued on or before March 31, 2024, within the area bounded by 20th Street, Arch Street, Cuthbert Street and a line parallel to and 213.958 ft. west of 20th Street, the maximum height is 245 ft. This 245 foot height limit does not apply to penthouses or roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans, heating and cooling towers, or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building provided that the height of a structure in the area described in the preceding sentence including such appurtenances shall not exceed 260 ft. 353
(.4) The maximum height within the area bounded by Callowhill Street, 19th Street, Vine Street, and 20th Street, is 360 ft. This 360-foot height limit does not apply to penthouses or roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans, heating and cooling towers, or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building. 354
(e) Parkway Buffer Area, Northwest.
This § 14-502(3)(e) applies to the Northwest Parkway Buffer Area (See Height Control Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only). No height limit applicable throughout the Buffer Area shall apply to a building no part of which is within the Buffer Area, notwithstanding that a portion of the lot on which the building is located is within the Buffer Area. 355
(.1) Religious Assembly.
Buildings used for religious assembly (e.g., churches and temples) fronting on or facing toward the Benjamin Franklin Parkway are exempt from this § 14-502(3)(e) (Parkway Buffer Area, Northwest).
The maximum height of the main cornice line may not exceed the width of the building facade fronting on the Parkway Drive or facing the Benjamin Franklin Parkway or Logan Square. In no case may the height of the main cornice line exceed the following:
(.a) Properties with street frontage on Parkway Drive or Logan Square: 80 ft.
(.b) Properties between 20th Street and Fairmount Park, but without frontage on Parkway Drive: 160 ft.
(.3) Above the Cornice Line.
No portion of the building, except pediment or attic wall, may exceed the height of the cornice, unless the portion above the cornice recedes from the plane of each building wall face at least as far as said portion extends above the cornice line. In no case may the height of any portion of a building exceed the following:
(.a) Properties between Fairmount Park and the Crescent: 100 ft.
(.b) Properties between the Crescent and 18th Street: 160 ft.
(.c) Properties between 20th Street and Fairmount Park: 180 ft. 357
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(f) Parkway Buffer Area, Southeast.
This § 14-502(3)(f) applies to the Southeast Parkway Buffer Area (See Height Control Area Map 2 for illustrative purposes only). No height limit applicable throughout the Buffer Area shall apply to a building no part of which is within the Buffer Area, notwithstanding that a portion of the lot on which the building is located is within the Buffer Area. 359
(.1) Religious Assembly.
Buildings used for religious assembly (e.g., churches and temples) fronting on or facing toward the Parkway are exempt from this § 14-502(3)(f) (Parkway Buffer Area, Southeast).
(.2) Main Cornice Line.
The maximum height of the main cornice line shall be three times the width of the building facade fronting on or visible at ground level within the boundaries of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. In no case may the height of the main cornice line exceed the following:
(.a) Between Broad and 17th Streets: 230 ft.
(.b) Between 17th and 18th Streets: 200 ft.
No portion of the building, except pediment or attic wall, may exceed the height of the cornice, unless the portion above the cornice recedes from the plane of each building wall face at least as far as said portion extends above the cornice line. In no case may the height of any portion of a building exceed the following:
(.a) Between Broad and 17th Streets: 268 ft.
(.b) Between 17th and 18th Streets: 245 ft.
(g) Independence Hall Area.
This § 14-502(3)(g) applies to the Independence Hall Area (See Height Control Area Map 3 for illustrative purposes only).
(.1) The building height limitations of this subsection shall not apply to the following portions of Independence National Historical Park:
(.a) Old Christ Church;
(.b) Franklin Court; or
(.c) South of Walnut Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, except for any building with street frontage on Walnut Street.
(.2) No building or portion of the exterior of a building in the Independence Hall Area shall be constructed, reconstructed, erected, or altered if the proposed construction, reconstruction, erection, or alteration will exceed 45 ft. in height, measured to any cornice line within 25 ft. of the established building line. Any chimney, penthouse, or other structure, whether attached to a building by its own weight or otherwise, shall be considered to be part of that building, and, within 25 ft. of the established building line, shall not exceed in height above the cornice line of the building the amount of its setback from the established building line. 361
Except for the Bridge Approach area, as defined in subsection (2)(b)(.17)(.b), above, the maximum height within the Central Old City Residential Area shall be 65 ft.(See Height Control Area Map 3 for illustrative purposes only).
The maximum height within the North Chinatown Area shall be 65 ft. Additions to buildings in existence on August 8, 1989 that do not increase the gross floor area of the building by more than one hundred percent (100%) may be built to a height not to exceed the height of the existing building. (See Height Control Area Map 3 for illustrative purposes only.)
Buildings located on lots that are zoned RMX-3, CMX-4, or CMX-5 in the Minimum Building Height Area shall have a minimum height of 25 ft. (See Height Control Area Map 4 for illustrative purposes only).
(k) Chestnut/Walnut/Broad Street Cornice Controls.
The main cornice line on any building in any of the following areas may not be less than 25 ft. above the sidewalk level (See Height Control Area Map 4 for illustrative purposes only).
(.1) Chestnut and Walnut Street Area.
(.2) Commercially-zoned lots located in the Mid-North Broad Street Area.
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For lots zoned CMX-2, except for lots in the Society Hill Area, the maximum height shall be 55 ft., provided that:
(.1) The lot has frontage on at least three streets, with two intersecting streets that have a minimum width of 50 ft.; and
(.2) For portions of any structure above 38 ft. in height, the occupied area shall not exceed:
(.a) For lots that cover less than an entire block: thirty percent (30%) of the total area of the block.
(.b) For lots that cover an entire block: sixty percent (60%) of the total area of the block; and
(.3) For any lot frontage facing a street of 35 ft. or less in width, the first 9 ft. of lot depth shall have a maximum building height of 38 ft.
For lots zoned CMX-2, in the Society Hill Area, except in the Northeast Society Hill Area, the maximum height shall be 45 ft., provided that:
(.1) The lot has frontage on at least three streets, with two intersecting streets that have a minimum width of 50 ft.; and
(.2) For portions of any structure above 38 ft. in height, the occupied area shall not exceed:
(.a) For lots that cover less than an entire block: thirty percent (30%) of the total area of the block;
(.b) For lots that cover an entire block: sixty percent (60%) of the total area of the block; and
(.3) For any lot frontage facing a street of 35 ft. or less in width, the first 9 ft. of lot depth shall have a maximum building height of 38 ft.
The maximum height in the Society Hill Area, Northeast, shall be 65 ft.
(.1) The maximum height of all structures within the Mid-Walnut Street Area shall be 192.46 feet, provided that roof access structures, penthouses or roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building may be located an additional 10 feet above the stated height maximum.
(.2) The exceptions to height limits in Table 14-701-6 (Exceptions to Dimensional Standards) shall not apply.
Notes
| 349 | |
| 350 | Amended, Bill No. 120774-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 351 | Amended, Bill No. 140439 (approved August 5, 2014). Section 3 of Bill No. 140439 provides: "Sunset Provision. This Ordinance shall lapse on December 31, 2016 except as to any building permit then in effect." Amended, Bill No. 170306-A (approved July 11, 2017). Section 4 of Bill No. 170306-A provides: "Sunset Provision. This Ordinance shall lapse on December 31, 2020, except as to any building permit then in effect." Amended, Bill No. 190443 (approved July 24, 2019). Section 3 of Bill No. 190443 provides: "Sunset Provision. This Ordinance shall lapse on May 14, 2024, except as to any building permit then in effect." |
| 352 | Amended, Bill No. 230770 (approved December 20, 2023). |
| 353 | Amended, Bill No. 210742 (became law November 18, 2021). |
| 354 | Added, Bill No. 230770 (approved December 20, 2023). |
| 355 | Amended, Bill No. 230770 (approved December 20, 2023). |
| 356 | Amended, Bill No. 120774-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 357 | Amended, Bill No. 120774-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 358 | Amended, Bill No. 140009 (approved March 31, 2014). |
| 359 | Amended, Bill No. 230770 (approved December 20, 2023). |
| 360 | Amended, Bill No. 120774-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 361 | Amended, Bill No. 120774-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 362 | Amended, Bill No. 130255-A (approved June 25, 2013). |
| 363 | Amended, Bill No. 120774-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 364 | Amended, Bill No. 120774-A (approved January 14, 2013). |
| 365 | Added, Bill No. 140519-AAA (approved October 27, 2015); amended, Bill No. 200094 (became law October 22, 2020). |
| 366 | Added, Bill No. 200094 (became law October 22, 2020). |
| 367 | Added, Bill No. 200094 (became law October 22, 2020). |
| 368 | Added, Bill No. 210362 (approved June 23, 2021). |