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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
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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(6)   Neighborhood Overlay Subareas.  577
(a)   Brewerytown-Sharswood/Celestial Community.
(.1)   Applicability.
The Brewerytown-Sharswood District Subarea shall consist of all residentially-zoned lots within the boundaries of Cecil B Moore Avenue, 25th Street, Ridge Avenue, 19th Street, Poplar Street, Poplar Drive, Girard Avenue, 33rd Street, Oxford Street and Conrail Right-of-Way.
(.2)   Height Regulation.
(.a)   The maximum height shall be equal to the height of the tallest building located on any abutting lot.
(.b)   If there is no abutting lot, no building on any abutting lot, or the tallest building located on any abutting lot has a height greater than 35 ft., the maximum height shall be 35 ft. or a height equal to the majority of the buildings existing within that block.
(.3)   Roof Decks.
Roof decks and roof deck access structures shall be prohibited.

 

Notes

577
   Added, Bill No. 230574-A (became law November 30, 2023).
(7)   Use Regulations.  578
Roof decks for non-residential uses are permitted within the area bounded by Callowhill Street, 19th Street, Wood Street, 18th Street, Vine Street, and 20th Street.

 

Notes

578
   Added, Bill No. 230770 (approved December 20, 2023). Enrolled bill numbered this as subsection (6); renumbered by Code editor.
§ 14-530. /EDO, Eighth District Overlay District. 579

 

Notes

579
   Added, Bill No. 210078-A (approved April 28, 2021).
(1)   Applicability.
The Eighth District Overlay District applies to lots located within District No. 8, as defined in Section 20-501 (Boundaries of Districts).
(2)   Minimum Lot Area.
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.
(3)   Accessory Dwelling Units.
Accessory dwelling units shall not be permitted in the RSA-5 and CMX-1 zoning districts, except within buildings or structures that meet the conditions of § 14-604(11)(d)(.1) (Historic Structures).
§ 14-531 /HHC, Heliport Hazard Control Overlay District. 580

 

Notes

580
   Added, Bill No. 210482-A (approved July 1, 2021).
(1)   Purpose.
This section is intended to recognize the importance of preventing hazards to aircraft navigation that may result from the height of structures in areas surrounding certain helipads. The regulations create the appropriate zones and applicable boundaries where height restrictions for structures or uses of land will be limited so as not to obstruct the airspace required for aircraft landing or taking off from certain helipads, or would otherwise be hazardous to aviation operations during landing or take-off. The limitations intended to mitigate such obstructions are established in order to protect the safety and general welfare of helicopter operators and passengers, as well as to protect the safety and general welfare of property and occupants of land in the vicinity of a helipad and to continue to foster economic growth for the region.
(2)   Heliport Areas.
(a)   Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Heliport Area.  581
The Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Heliport Area shall be associated with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Heliport (FAA location identifier 9PA8) and shall consist of the area bounded by Sansom Street, 10th Street, Walnut Street, 9th Street, Spruce Street, and 13th Street.
{For printable PDF version of image, click HERE}

 

Notes

581
   Amended, Bill No. 220418 (approved November 30, 2022).
(3)   Height Restrictions.
The following standards shall apply to all lots where any portion of the lot is identified as part of a "Heliport Hazard Area" of a Heliport Hazard Area Map. The Commission is authorized to adopt by regulation height restrictions for the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Heliport Area in a manner consistent with federal aviation law and that will promote air traffic, population and building safety in such Area. The above map is for illustrative purposes only of the Heliport Hazard Area to be established for the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Heliport Area.
(a)   The maximum height of any building or structure within a "Heliport Hazard Area" shall be the height shown on the Heliport Hazard Area Map.
(b)   To the extent a property is subject to more than one height maximum set forth in Heliport Hazard Area Map, the smallest maximum to which the property is subject shall apply to the entire property.
(c)   For the purposes of this section, the height of any building or structure within a "Heliport Hazard Area" shall include all rooftop structures, appurtenances, and equipment including, but not limited to, all permitted encroachments to height limits in Table 14-701-6 (Exceptions to Dimensional Standard), except that airplane beacons, obstruction markers, or lights may exceed the maximum height as deemed necessary by the Federal Aviation Administration.
(d)   Within a "Heliport Hazard Area", if the height of a structure is measured on a gable wall of a structure, the height of the structure shall be considered the top of the ridge.
(e)   Any deck, roof deck, roof deck access structure, or other outdoor area intended for human occupancy, other than those required to operate and maintain the building or structure, within a "Heliport Hazard Area" shall be located a minimum of 100 ft. below the maximum height shown on the Heliport Hazard Area Map.
(4)   Nonconformities.
The following standards shall apply to all lots where any portion of the lot is identified as part of a "Heliport Hazard Area":
(a)   Marking and lighting: Upon notice from L&I, the owner of any nonconforming structure that has an adverse effect on air navigational safety within a "Heliport Hazard Area" as determined by the Federal Aviation Administration or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aviation, as applicable, shall install obstruction markers or lights as deemed necessary by the Federal Aviation Administration or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aviation, as applicable, so that the structures become more visible to pilots. All costs to maintain and operate such markers or lights shall be borne by the owner of the nonconforming structure.
(b)   No person shall rebuild, replace, or substantially alter any nonconforming structure or other object if, in doing so, the structure or other object would exceed the maximum height within a "Heliport Hazard Area" or otherwise increase the occupied area above the maximum height shown within a "Heliport Hazard Area".
(5)   Variances.
No variance from the provisions of this § 14-531 shall be issued unless, in addition to satisfying the requirements of § 14-303(8) (Zoning Variances):
(a)   The applicant submits with the application for a variance:
(.1)   A map or drawing showing the location of the property in relation to the approach and departure flight corridors as approved by the Federal Aviation Administration or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aviation, as applicable, for the designated helipad, provided the Commission shall provide the applicant with appropriate base maps upon which to locate the property;
(.2)   Elevation profiles and a site plan, both drawn to scale, including the elevation of the average grade level, and the location and height of all existing and proposed structures, all measured in feet above grade in City Datum;
(.3)   Documentation that a completed Federal Aviation Administration Form 7460-1 or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Form AV-57, as applicable, has been filed with the Federal Aviation Administration or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aviation, as applicable, along with either a copy of the Form or a printout documenting the relevant information;
(.4)   Any determination from the Federal Aviation Administration or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aviation, as applicable, as to the effect of the proposal on the operation of aircraft navigation facilities and the safe, efficient use of navigable airspace, provided that in no instance shall a variance be issued if it would allow for a development in violation of any applicable federal or state aviation regulation;
(.5)   A study assessing the impact of the proposal on the operation of helicopter aircraft navigation and the safe, efficient use of airspace by helicopters arriving and departing from the associated heliport completed by an independent third party recognized by peers to possess extensive knowledge of aviation engineering or aviation planning; and
(.6)   A notice in writing and copy of the study required by subsection (.5), above, submitted to the owner of the associated heliport at least 30 days prior to the public hearing on the variance request.
(b)   Prior to issuing any variance, the Zoning Board, through L&I, shall give the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aviation, 30 days' notice of the Zoning Board's intent to issue the variance, in such form as the Department of Transportation shall require. The Zoning Board may require further documentation from the applicant, if required by the Department of Transportation.
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