THE PHILADELPHIA CODE

[ Click here to go to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter]

9th Edition
2007

Electronic version current through September 1, 2009

Published by:
American Legal Publishing Corporation
432 Walnut Street, 12th Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio  45202
Tel: (800) 445-5588
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PREFACE TO THE NINTH EDITION

     This Ninth Edition of The Philadelphia Code includes all ordinances passed by Council as of December 31, 2006, which became law as of Council's first meeting in 2007. Accordingly, this edition is current through January 23, 2007.

     The Ninth Edition continues the recent practice of a comprehensive new Edition every four years, with Cumulative Supplements every year between Editions. All previous Editions and supplements should be discarded.

      This Edition is published in two volumes. Users of the Code should refer to these volumes and any future Cumulative Supplements for the most up-to-date printed Code available. For information concerning any legislation involving Code amendments between Supplements or electronic updates, please contact the Chief Clerk of City Council, Room 402 City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 or telephone 215-686-3410, or visit City Council's Web site at http://www.phila.gov/citycouncil.

     The Ninth Edition is published by American Legal Publishing Corp., which serves as the official publisher of The Philadelphia Code. In addition to a printed version, American Legal will place the Code on the Internet, where it can be accessed through the City of Philadelphia's home page (http://www.phila.gov) or through American Legal's home page (http://www.amlegal.com). American Legal will sell the Code in print form and CD-ROM format, with FAST Folio (contact: American Legal Publishing Corp., 432 Walnut Street, 12th Floor, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202; telephone: 1-800-445-5588, fax: 1-513-763-3562, e-mail: customerservice@amlegal.com).

     We would appreciate your comments and feedback on any errors you may discover in using the Code, so that we may correct them in the next edition or supplement. Please notify Evan Meyer, Law Department, 17th Floor, One Parkway Building, 1515 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102.

ROMULO L. DIAZ, JR.
City Solicitor

LAW DEPARTMENT PREFACE (September 1, 2009)

     This electronic update of The Philadelphia Code includes all ordinances adopted through September 1, 2009.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE 1     GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Ch. 1-100     Definitions, Construction, Penalties and Enforcement

TITLE 2     CITY-COUNTY CONSOLIDATION

     Ch. 2-100     City-County Consolidation

     Ch. 2-200     Recording of Deeds

TITLE 3     AIR MANAGEMENT CODE

     Ch. 3-100     General Provisions

     Ch. 3-200     Prohibited Conduct

     Ch. 3-300     Administrative Provisions

     Ch. 3-400     Air Pollution Control Program

TITLE 4     THE PHILADELPHIA BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPANCY CODE

     Ch. 4-100.0     Listing of Subcodes

     Ch. 4-200.0     Text of Subcodes

           Subcode “A” (The Philadelphia Administrative Code)

           Subcode “B” (The Philadelphia Building Code)

           Subcode “E” (The Philadelphia Electrical Code)

           Subcode “EB” (The Philadelphia Existing Building Code)

           Subcode “EC” (The Philadelphia Energy Conservation Code)

           Subcode “F” (The Philadelphia Fire Code)

           Subcode “G” (The Philadelphia Fuel Gas Code)

           Subcode “M” (The Philadelphia Mechanical Code)

           Subcode “P” (The Philadelphia Plumbing Code)

           Subcode “PC” (The Philadelphia Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities)

           Subcode “PM” (The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code)

           Subcode “R” (The Philadelphia Residential Code)

TITLE 4.1     ELECTRICAL CODE (REPEALED)

TITLE 4.2     PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE (REPEALED)

TITLE 5     FIRE CODE (REPEALED)

TITLE 6     HEALTH CODE

     Ch. 6-100     General Provisions

     Ch. 6-200     Preventive Medicine

     Ch. 6-300     Food

     Ch. 6-400     Miscellaneous Standards and Requirements

     Ch. 6-500     Administrative Provisions

     Ch. 6-600     Asbestos Projects

     Ch. 6-700     Maintenance and Operation of District Health Centers

     Ch. 6-800     Lead Paint Disclosure

     Ch. 6-900     Mold Inspections

TITLE 7     HOUSING CODE

     Ch. 7-100     Inclusionary Affordable Housing

TITLE 8     PLUMBING CODE (REPEALED)

TITLE 9     REGULATION OF BUSINESSES, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS

     Ch. 9-100     General Provisions

     Ch. 9-200     Commercial Activities on Streets

     Ch. 9-300     Communication

     Ch. 9-400     Carriers

     Ch. 9-500     Boilers, Fuel, Heat and Refrigeration

     Ch. 9-600     Service and Other Businesses

     Ch. 9-700     Amusement Businesses

     Ch. 9-800     Landlord and Tenant – Rent Control

     Ch. 9-900     Professions

     Ch. 9-1000     Trades

     Ch. 9-1100     Fair Practices

     Ch. 9-1200     Condominiums and Cooperative Conversions

     Ch. 9-1300     Home Inspection Business

     Ch. 9-1400     Weights and Measures

     Ch. 9-1500     Notification of Intention to Close or Relocate Operations

     Ch. 9-1600     Prohibition Against Unlawful Eviction Practices

     Ch. 9-1700     Required Policy for Employers Within the City of Philadelphia Regarding Aspects of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus

     Ch. 9-1800     Use of Electronic Scanners for Customer Checkout

     Ch. 9-1900     Fire Insurance Escrow Accounts: Municipal Certificate Required Prior to Payment of Fire Loss Claims

     Ch. 9-2000     Sale of Malt or Brewed Beverages

     Ch. 9-2100     Cigarette Vending Machines

     Ch. 9-2200     Expediters

     Ch. 9-2300     Protection of Displaced Contract Workers

     Ch. 9-2400     Prohibition Against Predatory Lending Practices

     Ch. 9-2500     Fire Suppression System Workers

     Ch. 9-2600     Planned Event Permits

     Ch. 9-2700     Sales of Alcohol; Verification of Age

     Ch. 9-2800     Universities, Property Owners or Managers and Students

     Ch. 9-2900     Take-out Sale of Malt and Brewed Beverages

     Ch. 9-3000     Sheet Metal Technician

     Ch. 9-3100     Use of Mercury in Dentistry

     Ch. 9-3200     Entitlement to Leave Due to Domestic or Sexual Violence

     Ch. 9-3300     Erection, Use and Inspection of Tower Cranes

TITLE 10     REGULATION OF INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT AND ACTIVITY

     Ch. 10-100     Animals

     Ch. 10-200     Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism

     Ch. 10-300     Minors

     Ch. 10-400     Noise and Excessive Vibration

     Ch. 10-500     Property – Damaging, Defacing and Interfering With

     Ch. 10-600     Public Places – Prohibited Conduct

     Ch. 10-700     Refuse and Littering

     Ch. 10-800     Safety

     Ch. 10-900     Criminal Registration

     Ch. 10-1000     Fees

     Ch. 10-1100     Obscenity

     Ch. 10-1100A     Development in Defined Flood Plain Areas

     Ch. 10-1200     Posting of Signs

     Ch. 10-1300     Display of Objectionable Publications and Materials

     Ch. 10-1400     “Tailgating” and Related Activities in the Outdoor Public Parking Lots at the Philadelphia Sports Complex

     Ch. 10-1500     Interference with Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities

     Ch. 10-1600     Conduct in Public Places of Assembly; Administrative Adjudication of Violations

     Ch. 10-1700     Use of Surveillance Tapes in Commercial Businesses

     Ch. 10-1800     Vicarious Liability for Student Conduct

TITLE 11     STREETS

     Ch. 11-100     General Provisions

     Ch. 11-200     Openings and Excavations in the Streets

     Ch. 11-300     Board of Surveyors

     Ch. 11-400     City Plan

     Ch. 11-500     Paving

     Ch. 11-600     Construction, Encroachments and Projections Over, On and Under Streets

     Ch. 11-700     Right-of-Way Management

     Ch. 11-800     Portable On-Demand Storage Units

TITLE 12     TRAFFIC CODE

     Ch. 12-100     General Provisions

     Ch. 12-200     Administration

     Ch. 12-300     Reserved

     Ch. 12-400     Right-of-Way Regulations and Penalties

     Ch. 12-500     Turning Regulations and Penalties

     Ch. 12-600     Street Direction Regulations and Penalties

     Ch. 12-700     Reserved

     Ch. 12-800     Bicycle Regulations and Penalties

     Ch. 12-900     Parking Regulations and Penalties

     Ch. 12-1000     Parking Meter Regulations and Penalties

     Ch. 12-1100     Miscellaneous Regulations and Penalties

     Ch. 12-1200     Traffic-Control Devices

     Ch. 12-1300     Enforcement and Obedience to Traffic Regulations

     Ch. 12-1400     Penalties and Procedure for Violations

     Ch. 12-1500     Effect of Title

     Ch. 12-1600     Special Restrictions Upon Use of Vehicles in Areas Under the Control of the Fairmount Park Commission

     Ch. 12-1700 – Ch. 12-2300  Reserved

     Ch. 12-2400     Towing and Immobilizing of Parked or Abandoned Vehicles

     Ch. 12-2500     Snow Emergencies

     Ch. 12-2600     Chestnut Street Transitway

     Ch. 12-2700     Permit Parking Districts

     Ch. 12-2800     Administrative Adjudication of Parking Violations

     Ch. 12-2900     Contractor Parking

     Ch. 12-3000     Uses of an Automated Red Light Enforcement System to Prevent Red Light Violations

TITLE 13     WATER AND SEWER

     Ch. 13-100     Water Rates

     Ch. 13-200     Sewer Rates

     Ch. 13-300     Water Pipe

     Ch. 13-400     Sewers

     Ch. 13-500     Provisions Governing Use of Water

     Ch. 13-600     Provisions Governing the Use of Sewers

     Ch. 13-700     Garbage Disposal Units

     Ch. 13-800     Damages from Breakage

     Ch. 13-900     Termination of Water and Sewer Service

TITLE 14     ZONING AND PLANNING

     Ch. 14-100     General Provisions

     Ch. 14-200     Residential Districts

     Ch. 14-300     Commercial Districts

     Ch. 14-400     Commercial Entertainment District

     Ch. 14-500     Industrial Districts

     Ch. 14-600     Food Distribution Center District

     Ch. 14-700     Recreational Districts

     Ch. 14-800     Trailer Camp District

     Ch. 14-900     Neighborhood Conservation Districts

     Ch. 14-1000     Sports Stadium District

     Ch. 14-1100     Institutional Development District

     Ch. 14-1200     Pending Public Acquisition District

     Ch. 14-1300     Additional Gross Floor Area

     Ch. 14-1400     Parking and Loading Facilities

     Ch. 14-1500     Area Surrounding Airports

     Ch. 14-1600     Miscellaneous

     Ch. 14-1700     Administration and Enforcement

     Ch. 14-1800     Zoning Board of Adjustment

     Ch. 14-1900     Signs

     Ch. 14-2000     Special Controls in Areas Abutting Parkways, Historical Shrines and Civic Projects

     Ch. 14-2100     Land Subdivision

TITLE 15     PARKS AND RECREATION

     Ch. 15-100     Parks (Reserved)

     Ch. 15-200     Fairmount Park

     Ch. 15-300     Historical Shrines

     Ch. 15-400     Museums

     Ch. 15-500     Libraries (Reserved)

TITLE 16     PUBLIC PROPERTY

     Ch. 16-100     Acquisition or Construction

     Ch. 16-200     Sales, Leases and Other Grants of City-Owned Buildings and Facilities

     Ch. 16-300     Maintenance and Supervision

     Ch. 16-400     Vacant and Surplus Properties

     Ch. 16-500     Councilmanic District Development Program

TITLE 17     CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT

     Ch. 17-100     Procurement Contracts

     Ch. 17-200     Inventory, Care and Disposal of City Goods

     Ch. 17-300     Inventory, Care and Disposal of Private Personal Property

     Ch. 17-400     Payment or Reimbursement of Employee Expenses Associated with the Use of Exclusionary Private Organizations

     Ch. 17-500     Goals for the Participation of Disadvantaged Owned Business Enterprises in City Contracts

     Ch. 17-600     Procurement Price Preferences

     Ch. 17-700     Law Department Fees

     Ch. 17-800     Purchasing Off State Contracts

     Ch. 17-900     Neighborhood Benefit Strategy

     Ch. 17-1000     Employment of Low- and Moderate-Income Persons by City Contractors

     Ch. 17-1100     Economic Impact Statements for City-Funded Development Projects

     Ch. 17-1200     Foreign Outsourcing

     Ch. 17-1300     Philadelphia 21st Century Minimum Wage and Benefits Standard

     Ch. 17-1400     Non-competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance

     Ch. 17-1500     Annual Disparity Study and Participation Goals

     Ch. 17-1600     Economic Opportunity Plans

TITLE 18     COMMERCE

     Ch. 18-100     Port Operations

     Ch. 18-200     Airports

TITLE 19     FINANCE, TAXES AND COLLECTIONS

     Ch. 19-100     General Provisions (Reserved)

     Ch. 19-200     City Funds – Deposits, Investments, Disbursements

     Ch. 19-300     Bond Issues

     Ch. 19-400     Sinking Funds

     Ch. 19-500     Taxes and Rents – General

     Ch. 19-600     Amusement Tax

     Ch. 19-700     Auctioneer Tax (Repealed)

     Ch. 19-800     Bowling Alley Tax (Repealed)

     Ch. 19-900     Mechanical Amusement Device

     Ch. 19-1000     Mercantile License Tax (Repealed)

     Ch. 19-1100     Personal Property Taxes

     Ch. 19-1200     Parking Tax

     Ch. 19-1300     Real Estate Taxes

     Ch. 19-1400     Realty Transfer Tax

     Ch. 19-1500     Wage and Net Profits Tax

     Ch. 19-1600     Water and Sewer Rents

     Ch. 19-1700     Review, Refunds and Compromises

     Ch. 19-1800     School Tax Authorization

     Ch. 19-1900     Payment for City Services by Senior Citizens

     Ch. 19-2000     Discounted Rates for Natural Gas Distribution and Supply Services for Senior Citizens

     Ch. 19-2100     Petroleum Processing Tax

     Ch. 19-2200     Gasoline Distributor’s Tax

     Ch. 19-2300     Condominium Conversion Privilege Tax (Repealed)

     Ch. 19-2400     Hotel Room Rental Tax

     Ch. 19-2500     Real Estate Non-Utilization Tax

     Ch. 19-2600     Business Privilege Taxes

     Ch. 19-2700     Sales and Use Tax and Hotel Occupancy Tax

     Ch. 19-2800     Vending Machines (Repealed)

     Ch. 19-2800     Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Tax on Wages and Net Profits

     Ch. 19-2900     Senior Citizen Low Income Special Tax Provisions

     Ch. 19-3000     Annual Reports Relating to Fees

     Ch. 19-3100     Attorney Fees in Collection Matters; Retention of Private Attorneys

     Ch. 19-3200     Keystone Opportunity Zone and Economic Development District

     Ch. 19-3300     Vehicle Rental Tax

     Ch. 19-3400     Excise Tax on Outdoor Advertising Transactions

     Ch. 19-3500     General Acute Care Hospital Assessment

TITLE 20     OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

     Ch. 20-100     General Provisions

     Ch. 20-200     Appointments of Specified Officers and Employees

     Ch. 20-300     Compensation

     Ch. 20-400     Workmen’s Compensation

     Ch. 20-500     Councilmanic Districts

     Ch. 20-600     Standards of Conduct and Ethics

     Ch. 20-700     Defense and Indemnification

     Ch. 20-800     The W. Thacher Longstreth Memorial Survivors and Dependents Medical Care Ordinance

     Ch. 20-900     Health and Welfare Benefits for Pensioned Employees

     Ch. 20-1000     Political Contributions and Expenditures

     Ch. 20-1100     Civil Service Preferences

TITLE 21     MISCELLANEOUS

     Ch. 21-100     City Emblems, Colors and Awards

     Ch. 21-200     Scholarships

     Ch. 21-300     Police Alarm Signal System

     Ch. 21-400     Civil Defense

     Ch. 21-500     Special Ordinances

     Ch. 21-600     City Institutions

     Ch. 21-700     Waiver of Governmental Immunity (Repealed)

     Ch. 21-800     Advancement of Economic Opportunities

     Ch. 21-900     Services to the Aging

     Ch. 21-900A     The Free Library of Philadelphia

     Ch. 21-1000     Police Uniforms

     Ch. 21-1100     Community Development

     Ch. 21-1200     Police Advisory Board

     Ch. 21-1300     Board of License and Inspection Review

     Ch. 21-1400     Tax Increment Financing Districts

     Ch. 21-1500     Boards and Commissions – Public Deliberations

     Ch. 21-1600     Housing Trust Fund

     Ch. 21-1700     Publication of Notices by City

TITLE 22     PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT CODE

     Ch. 22-100     General Provisions

     Ch. 22-200     Membership

     Ch. 22-300     Retirement Benefits

     Ch. 22-400     Disability Benefits

     Ch. 22-500     Death Benefits

     Ch. 22-600     Reserved

     Ch. 22-700     Beneficiaries and Survivors

     Ch. 22-800     Purchase of Credited Service

     Ch. 22-900     Contributions

     Ch. 22-1000     Investments; Assumptions; and Guarantee

     Ch. 22-1100     Reserved

     Ch. 22-1200     Administration and Management

     Ch. 22-1300     Miscellaneous

AN ORDINANCE

     To adopt a Code of General Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia embodying a comprehensive codification and revision of all general ordinances of the City; and repealing and saving from repeal certain ordinances.

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

     SECTION 1. There is hereby adopted a Code of General Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia embodying a comprehensive codification and revision of all general ordinances of the City, as follows:

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