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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
TITLE 13. WATER AND SEWER
TITLE 14. ZONING AND PLANNING
PREFACE: BILL NO. 110845
CHAPTER 14-100. GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 14-200. DEFINITIONS
CHAPTER 14-300. ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 14-400. BASE ZONING DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 14-500. OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICTS
§ 14-501. General.
§ 14-502. /CTR, Center City Overlay District.
§ 14-503. /NCA, Neighborhood Commercial Area Overlay District.
§ 14-504. /NCO, Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District.
§ 14-505. /ENV, Environmental Preservation Overlay District.
§ 14-506. /NCP, North Central Philadelphia Overlay District.
§ 14-507. /CDO, Central Delaware Riverfront Overlay District.
§ 14-508. /DRC, Delaware River Conservation Overlay District.
§ 14-509. /CAO, City Avenue Overlay District.
§ 14-510. /WWO, Wissahickon Watershed Overlay District.
§ 14-511. /AHC, Airport Hazard Control Overlay District.
§ 14-512. /ANC, Airport Noise Compatibility Overlay District.
§ 14-513. /TOD, Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District.
§ 14-514. /FNE, Far Northeast Overlay District.
§ 14-515. /NE, Northeast Overlay District.
§ 14-516. /WST, West Overlay District.
§ 14-517. /UED, Urban Experiential Display Overlay Control District.
§ 14-518. /WWA, West Washington Avenue Overlay District.
§ 14-519. /ECO, East Callowhill Overlay District.
§ 14-520. /NDO, Ninth District Overlay District.
§ 14-521. /STM, St. Mary's Master Plan Overlay.
§ 14-522. /WAH, Warrington Affordable Housing Overlay District.
§ 14-523. /IMA, Industrial and Manufacturing Area Overlay District.
§ 14-524. /FDO, Fourth District Overlay District.
§ 14-525. /SNM, South Ninth Street Market Overlay District.
§ 14-526. /AME, American Street Overlay District.
§ 14-527. /SMH, South Philadelphia Municipal Hub Overlay District.
§ 14-528. /TSO, 30th Street Overlay District.
§ 14-529. /VDO, Fifth District Overlay District.
§ 14-530. /EDO, Eighth District Overlay District.
§ 14-531 /HHC, Heliport Hazard Control Overlay District.
§ 14-532. /GAO, Girard Avenue Overlay District.
§ 14-533. /MIN, Mixed Income Neighborhoods Overlay District.
§ 14-534. /AHP, Affordable Housing Preservation Overlay District.
§ 14-535. /YOD, Yorktown Neighborhood Overlay District.
§ 14-536. /NHO, Nehemiah Homes Overlay District.
§ 14-537. /NBO, Nelson Brown People's Village Overlay District.
§ 14-538. /CGC, Cobbs Creek Golf Course Overlay District.
§ 14-539. /EOD, East Poplar Overlay District.
§ 14-540. /NIS, Narcotics Injection Sites Overlay District.
§ 14-541. /RAN, Ridge Avenue Neighborhoods Overlay District.
§ 14-542. /PAK, Packer Avenue Overlay District.
§ 14-543. /PCH, Philadelphia Chinatown Overlay District.
CHAPTER 14-600. USE REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 14-700. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
CHAPTER 14-800. PARKING AND LOADING
CHAPTER 14-900. SIGNS
CHAPTER 14-1000. HISTORIC PRESERVATION
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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(2)   Use Regulations.
(a)   Commercial vehicle repair and maintenance, commercial vehicle sales and rentals, vehicle fueling station, personal vehicle repair and maintenance, personal vehicle sales and rentals, and vehicle paint finishing shop uses are prohibited within all lots zoned I-1 or I-2. 526
(b)   In CA-2 districts, Visitor Accommodations is not permitted within 1,000 feet of a residential zoning district.
(c)   Any use within the Code that qualifies for a special exception shall instead require a variance within this Overlay District. 527
(d)   Any Medical Marijuana Dispensary as defined in § 14-601(6)(c)(.3) shall not include a person authorized to dispense marijuana for recreational or other non-medical purposes. 528

 

Notes

526
   Amended, Bill No. 150264 (approved June 16, 2015).
527
   Added, Bill No. 210425 (approved June 23, 2021).
528
   Added, Bill No. 230448 (became law September 14, 2023).
(3)   Roof Decks.
Roof decks and roof deck access structures are prohibited in all residential, CMX-1, and CMX-2 zoning districts.
(4)   Height Regulations.  529
In residential, CMX-1 and CMX-2 zoning districts, a building may neither exceed 35 ft. in height nor contain more than three stories.

 

Notes

529
   Amended, Bill No. 210865 (became law January 20, 2022).
(5)   Minimum Lot Area.  530
(a)   In the RSA-5 district, the minimum lot area shall be 1,440 sq. ft., except that a lot containing at least 1,600 sq. ft. of land may be divided into lots with a minimum lot size of 800 sq. ft., provided that:
(.1)   At least seventy-five percent (75%) of lots adjacent to the lot to be divided are 1,000 sq. ft. or less;
(.2)   Each of the lots created is used for one single-family attached home; and
(.3)   Each of the lots created meets the minimum lot width requirement of the zoning district.
(b)   In the CMX-2 district, the number of permitted dwelling units is as follows, provided that, whenever the calculation of permitted number of dwelling units results in a fraction of a dwelling unit, then the number of permitted dwelling units shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number:
(.1)   A maximum of two dwelling units are permitted for lots less than 1,440 sq. ft. in area;
(.2)   A maximum of three dwelling units are permitted for lots that are 1,440 sq. ft. to 1,919 sq. ft. in area; and a minimum of 480 sq. ft. of lot area is required per dwelling unit for the lot area in excess of 1,919 sq. ft.

 

Notes

530
   Added, Bill No. 210078-A (approved April 28, 2021).
(6)   Accessory Dwelling Units.  531
Accessory dwelling units shall not be permitted.

 

Notes

531
   Added, Bill No. 210078-A (approved April 28, 2021).
(7)   Bonuses.  532
Lots located in any residential, CMX-1 or CMX-2 zoning district shall not be eligible for any floor area, height or dwelling unit density bonus pursuant to § 14-702 of the Code ("Floor Area, Height, and Dwelling Unit Density Bonuses").

 

Notes

532
   Added, Bill No. 210865 (became law January 20, 2022).
(8)   Motor Vehicle Parking Ratios.  533
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 14-802(3), the minimum number of required parking spaces within CMX-1 and CMX-2 zoning districts shall be one space per dwelling unit.

 

Notes

533
   Added, Bill No. 210865 (became law January 20, 2022).
§ 14-515. /NE, Northeast Overlay District. 534

 

Notes

534
   Added, Bill No. 130770 (became law December 5, 2013); amended, Bill No. 230448 (became law September 14, 2023).
(1)   Boundaries.
The Northeast Overlay District applies to lots located within:
(a)   All divisions of the 41st Ward; divisions 1-6 , 12, 15, 20, 23 and 25 of the 45th Ward; divisions 7-22 of the 54th Ward; all divisions of the 55th Ward; all divisions of the 57th Ward; divisions 17, 21-22, and 24-26 of the 62nd Ward; all divisions of the 64th Ward; and all divisions of the 65th Ward, as shown for illustrative purposes only on the following Map A;
(b)   All divisions of the 56th Ward, 58th Ward, 63rd Ward, and 66th Ward, as shown for illustrative purposes only on the following Map B.
Map A
Map B
{For printable PDF version of image, click HERE}
{For printable PDF version of image, click HERE}
(2)   Use Regulations.  535
(a)   Medical Dental and Health Practitioner (Solo Practitioner and Group Practitioner) uses are prohibited in CMX-1, CMX-2, CMX-2.5, CMX-3, CMX-4, CMX-5, CA-1, CA-2, IRMX, ICMX, I-1, and I-2 districts.
(b)   Equipment and materials storage yards and buildings uses are prohibited on lots zoned I-1.
(c)   Minimum Lot Area.
(.1)   In the RSA-5 district, the minimum lot area shall be 1,440 sq. ft., except that a lot containing at least 1,600 sq. ft. of land may be divided into lots with a minimum lot size of 800 sq. ft., provided that:
(.a)   At least seventy-five percent (75%) of lots adjacent to the lot to be divided is 1,000 sq. ft. or less;
(.b)   Each of the lots created is used for one single-family attached home; and
(.c)   Each of the lots created meets the minimum lot width requirement of the zoning district.
(.2)   In the CMX-2 district, the number of permitted dwelling units is as follows, provided that, whenever the calculation of permitted number of dwelling units results in a fraction of a dwelling unit, then the number of permitted dwelling units shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number:
(.a)   A maximum of two dwelling units are permitted for lots less than 1,440 sq. ft. in area;
(.b)   A maximum of three dwelling units are permitted for lots that are 1,440 sq. ft. to 1,919 sq. ft. in area; and a minimum of 480 sq. ft. of lot area is required per dwelling unit for the lot area in excess of 1,919 sq. ft.
(d)   Accessory dwelling units shall not be permitted.

 

Notes

535
   Amended, Bill No. 150766 (approved December 8, 2015); amended, Bill No. 210078-A (approved April 28, 2021).
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