The City of Philadelphia's Service Design Studio is working with the Department of Licenses & Inspections to make residential EZ permits easier to understand. Your feedback will help improve the EZ permit process for homeowners. | |
2021 I-Code Updates Webinar Series
In anticipation of the 2021 I-Code implementation, L&I is conducting a webinar series focused on the updates to the 2021 I-Code provisions. The series will be broken down into five parts. You can choose to register for as many sessions as you would like. A repeat of this series will take place tentatively in December 2025/January 2026, upon the mandatory implementation date of the 2021 I-Code provisions in January 2026.
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Part 1: Building, Existing Building and Accessibility Codes - In this webinar, L&I will provide an overview of the significant changes to the Building Code, Existing Building Code and the Accessibility provisions. This session will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2025, via Zoom. Please register if you are interested in attending this training course.
**Attendees can receive 1.5 hours of continuing education credits for this course.**
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L&I eCLIPSE Q&A Session
The Department of Licenses and Inspections will host a 60-minute open Q&A session to address specific permit application questions for users with some experience using eCLIPSE.
This session will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please register if you are interested in attending this session.
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Future Sessions
Do you have any recommendations for additional webinar topics, general process clarification or general code interpretation? Complete and submit this online form to provide your feedback.
Note: This form is for general process clarification and/or general code interpretations and no direct response will be provided by the Department. Any project-specific questions requiring a direct response must be submitted through the online help form.
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Zoning and Building Signs Webinar Slides
On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the Department of Licenses and Inspections presented a webinar to provide an overview of the Zoning and Building Permit requirements for signs. The slides used in this webinar are available on the website.
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L&I eCLIPSE Permitting Basics Webinar Slides
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the Department of Licenses and Inspections presented a public training session on the basics of filing permit applications through the online eCLIPSE system. The slides used in this webinar are available on the website.
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Affordable Housing
As part of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s historic Project H.O.M.E. initiative, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and the Department of Licenses and Inspections are making some immediate changes to streamline permitting for affordable housing projects. Permit applicants will be able to identify a qualifying affordable housing project through the zoning or building permit application, which will generate DPD preapproval, automatically assign shorter review times and prompt the applicant for associated documents. Look out for this change to permit applications this summer.
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The Following Permit Resources Were Recently Added to the Website:
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2021 Code Corner
The 2021 I-Codes, with state and local modifications, will become effective in July 2025 with a 6-month transition period.
As we continue to prepare for the transition into the 2021 I-Codes, please visit the 2021 Code Corner for additional forms and documents, including proposed changes and responses to questions. We encourage you to submit additional questions through the online recommendations form for early identification of questions and concerns.
Keep an eye out for more information sessions relating to the 2021 I-Code throughout the year.
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Resolving "Trade Permit Certs/Docs" Hold
A new "Hold Permit Completion" has been added to Building Permits to notify permit holders of any outstanding certifications on related trade permits that must be resolved before a final inspection can be requested. This hold is for informational purposes and will be automatically removed once the outstanding Trade Permit issues are resolved. Refer to the How-to-Guide for step-by-step instructions.
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High-Rise Inspection Scheduling
The Department conducts regular fire safety inspections as part of the annual High-Rise License. These inspections are scheduled throughout the year by the Fire Safety Unit of the Quality of Life Division.
License holders will be contacted by an inspector to arrange their inspection. However, if an active license holder wishes to proactively schedule the annual inspection, then they may do so through this online form.
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Outstanding Fines Look-Up
Contractors can now quickly identify any outstanding violation fines using the Contractor Look-Up Tool on the website.
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Enforcement Priorities
The Audit and Investigations Unit (AIU) wants to call your attention to the following enforcement priorities:
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Contractors and Subcontractors Information - In accordance with the Philadelphia Code Title 9-1004, contractors who hire a subcontractor to perform work authorized by their permit must list the subcontractor on the permit in eCLIPSE within three (3) days of the commencement of any work authorized by that permit, unless that permit is for a residential building of two dwelling units or less. If the Department establishes that a contractor has failed to do this, the contractor will be cited with a violation of 9-1004(8). That citation is accompanied by a $2,000 fine.
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Subcontracting - Subcontractors must always be licensed and carry a valid contractor or trade license (for trade work) whenever they work. A subcontractor is any person or business hired to perform work authorized by a permit who is not identified on that permit’s application as the prime (or responsible) contractor.
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Worker Certification - Every worker at a Philadelphia construction site must have OSHA 10 training and carry their card with them when they’re on the job. If a building more than three stories or 40 feet tall is being constructed or demolished, an OSHA 30-trained site safety supervisor must be on site whenever the site is active.
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Violation Data Report
AIU issued $80,200 in license violation fines between 3/14/25 and 4/16/25.
The following violations and citations were issued:
- Failure to add all subcontractors to the permit: $30,000
- Working without a valid license: $5,000
- Failure to maintain insurance: $5,000
- Failure to comply with the Philadelphia Code: $1,000
- Required conduct contractor: $1,200
- Working without the required permit: $2,000
- Worker without OSHA 10 certification: $14,000
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Façade and fire escapes reinspection fees: $22,000
AIU will continue to follow up and monitor contractors' activities.
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Virtual Inspections for
Limited Lodging Operator License Applications
As a reminder, beginning on June 1, 2025, a virtual inspection will be conducted on all new and renewed Limited Lodging Operator License applications. A new or renewal license application submitted on or after this date will not be approved until a passing inspection has been completed. Applicants must allow two weeks for the initial inspection and renewing license holders are strongly encouraged to submit the renewal application as soon as it is available (45 days before expiration) to allow ample time for inspection.
Review proposed regulations for more information and the Virtual Inspections Information Sheet for step-by-step instructions.
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Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
The Department has initiated a pilot program to extend the standard term of a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) from 90-days to 180-days to accommodate the industry's current needs.
Please review our updated Temporary Certificate of Occupancy Information Sheet, which also includes:
- Parameters and requirements for phased TCO requests.
- Reference to the Department of Public Health's generator and fire pump testing restrictions during ozone season.
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Notice of Intent to Withhold Contractor Licenses Due to Outstanding Fines
Beginning July 2025, the Department will withhold Contractor Licenses for outstanding fines issued to that license, as authorized by Section 9-102(9) of the Philadelphia Code.
Check the contractor look-up on our website for violations and your eCLIPSE account for outstanding fines. Be sure to pay outstanding fines promptly to avoid disruption to your business.
Visit our website for more information on how to pay a fine or call (215) 686-6600 to make an appointment to pay in person.
If you would like more information on an outstanding contractor license fine, email addinfo@phila.gov.
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Free OSHA Safety Consultation
Employers can receive no-cost safety, health and industrial hygiene evaluations by signing up for a program run by Indiana University of Pennsylvania's (IUP) Safety Sciences Department.
Through the PA OSHA Consultation Program, IUP consultants conduct occupational safety and health evaluations and work with business owners to address issues. The on-site visits are confidential since the program operates independently from OSHA's regulation enforcement.
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