L&I Seeking Qualified Building Inspectors
L&I ISC is seeking qualified individuals to join our team as Building Inspectors. This is a rewarding career opportunity for those with construction experience who want to make a real impact in their community.
As a Building Inspector, you will perform technical inspections of construction codes, ensuring that buildings throughout the city are safe, compliant, and built to standard. These positions provide a clear career progression path, ranging from entry-level roles to full performance positions. You'll enjoy stable employment, competitive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth within L&I.
If you are looking for a meaningful career that protects public safety and supports responsible development, this is your opportunity.
The deadline to submit an application is December 28, 2025.
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Reporting Unsafe Buildings
See an unsafe building condition? Say something!
Emergencies: Call 911 immediately.
Other unsafe conditions: Email L&I Emergency Services Director Stephen.Gallagher@phila.gov or call (215) 686-2480 during normal business hours.
Follow up: Call 311 or submit a formal report for tracking purposes. Concerns may be reported anonymously.
Your vigilance helps keep our community safe.
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Philadelphia Contractor Requirements Webinar
L&I ISC will be conducting a 60-minute webinar on the responsibilities of licensed contractors. The session will cover contractor compliance requirements, common violations, and penalties.
This session will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please register if you are interested in attending this information session.
**Attendees can receive 1.0 hour of continuing education credit for this course. Attendees must sign on individually to be eligible for CEUs.**
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Property Protection Webinar
L&I ISC will be conducting a 90-minute information session to review permit application and inspection requirements for construction and demolition projects affecting adjacent properties. The session will cover relevant code provisions, common conditions, application procedures, and inspection protocols. We will also provide step-by-step guidance on completing the new Pre-Construction Survey Summary Form and Monitoring Form, to become effective on March 1, 2026.
This session will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please register if you are interested in attending this information session.
**Attendees can receive 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for this course. Attendees must sign on individually to be eligible for CEUs.**
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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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Fire and Draft Stopping Webinar Slides
L&I ISC provided a 1-hour webinar on the comprehensive examination of fire and smoke stopping requirements in both new construction and renovation projects. The slides used during this webinar are posted to the website.
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Contractor Requirements
An information sheet detailing contractor responsibilities, including safety training, insurance updates, subcontractor reporting, and associated penalties, is now available on our website.
If you have other general questions on contractor responsibilities, please submit them through the online form.
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Pilot Program: Pre-Construction Meetings for Residential New Construction Projects
Starting in 2026, the Department will require a pre-construction meeting for certain residential projects, per Section 1001.8 of the Philadelphia Administrative Code.
The contractor responsible must convene key project team members, including the design professional in charge, special inspection agencies, and certain subcontractors, to an on-site meeting with the Building Inspector.
Topics will include:
- Review of plans and permit documents
- Project schedule and coordination
- Safety and protection protocols
- Special inspection requirements
- Roles and responsibilities of team members
This initiative is part of our ongoing effort to improve project coordination, safety, and compliance.
The primary contractor listed on the building permit will be notified directly if a project is selected for the pilot.
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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 $29,750 in license violation fines, reinspection fees, and judgments between 11/22/25 and 12/16/25.
The following violations and citations were issued:
- Contractor hired an unlicensed subcontractor: $1,000
- Deviating from or disregarding approved plans: $1,000
- Failure to add all subcontractors to a permit: $8,000
- Failure to comply with Philadelphia code: $1,000
- Failure to cooperate with audit/investigation: $10,000
- Failure to maintain insurance: $2,000
- Working without the required permit: $2,000
- Working without a valid license: $3,000
- Building certification reinspection fees: $1,750
AIU will continue to follow up and monitor contractors' activities.
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Happy Holidays from L&I
As the year comes to a close, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our stakeholders, including contractors, design professionals, inspectors, and community partners, for your collaboration, dedication, and commitment to ensuring safe and compliant construction throughout the year.
Best wishes for a safe, prosperous, and successful New Year!
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Neighborhood City Halls
Each month, the Department of Licenses & Inspections joins the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood and Community Engagement’s Neighborhood Community Action Centers - also known as Neighborhood City Halls - to bring City services directly to you.
Our goal is simple: be a part of a government that residents can see, touch and feel in every neighborhood.
When you stop by your local session, you can:
- Get help with property maintenance or construction concerns.
- Report unsafe buildings or illegal work.
- Learn about required permits and licensing.
- Ask questions about inspections or enforcement.
- Connect with other City agencies for quality-of-life matters.
At every visit, our team will listen, document your concern, set a clear deadline and follow up until the issue is resolved.
These monthly events are your chance to meet L&I in person, address issues on the spot, and learn how we can work together to keep our neighborhoods safe and thriving. To find out what day L&I will be in your neighborhood, call your local Action Center.
| | Back issues of the L&I Newsletters are available on the L&I website under Resources. | | | | |
