|
L&I Focus Group Results
The Department recently conducted annual focus group sessions to garner feedback and identify potential improvement initiatives. Based on your feedback, areas of focus will include:
-
eCLIPSE: Improve business license/renewal processes, automate permit hold resolutions, and enhance customer permit views.
-
Communication: Expand the internal knowledge base, training videos, and help content, and publish a guide on inspection requirements.
-
Permit Issuance: Simplify EZ permit standards, re-evaluate rules for minor residential alterations, and publish average approval timelines.
-
Inspections: Provide clearer instructions and explore options for giving more precise inspector arrival times, potentially through text messaging.
-
Violations: Clarify complaint status, publish average investigation timelines, and expand the Violation Resolution webpage.
We thank you for sharing your experiences and helping us to better serve all stakeholders. We look forward to building on these improvements and hope you join us for our Focus Group sessions next year!
| | |
Help Improve EZ Permit Standards
We are working in partnership with the City’s Service Design Studio to make residential EZ permits easier to understand. We’re testing updates to the design and content of the EZ standard, and we’d like your input.
Take a short survey to share your feedback.
| | |
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.
| |
EZ Solar Permitting Webinar
L&I ISC will offer a 1-hour webinar on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. to provide an overview of the EZ Solar Standard and the associated electrical permitting requirements. Please register if you are interested in attending this webinar.
**Attendees can receive 1.0 hour of continuing education credits for this course. **
| |
Industrialized/Modular Housing Webinar
This course will be presented by Michael Moglia, Chief of Housing and Building Standards Divisions, PA Department of Community & Economic Development. This session will provide updated information related to the installation of new and relocated manufactured homes, the industrialized housing program, and the newly implemented industrialized commercial buildings program.
After attending this course, you will:
- Understand how the PA UCC exemption is applied to each structure.
- Know what documentation is required for the Building Permit application and the Certificate of Occupancy.
- Understand how to perform inspections on site.
- Understand the differences on the types of “off-site” constructed structures.
This session will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, via Zoom. Please register if you are interested in attending this training course.
**Attendees can receive 1.0 hour of continuing education credits for this course. Attendees must sign on individually to be eligible for CEU's.**
| |
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.
| |
The Following Resources were Recently Added to the Website:
| |
PHDC Cost Containment Policy
PHDC is in the process of updating its Cost Containment Policy, including the Approved List of General Contractors and Construction Managers. When required under PHDC’s Cost Containment Policy, developers of affordable housing projects must conduct a competitive bidding process to procure and select a general contractor and/or construction manager. Firms on the Approved List will have the opportunity to bid on these projects. Those interested in being included on the updated Approved List should respond to PHDC’s Request for Qualifications (RFQ) available here: Professional Services RFPs and RFQs – SERVING PHILADELPHIA SINCE 1965 (see “RFQ for Approved General Contractors/Construction Managers)
Please note:
- Any firm on the existing Approved List must respond to this RFQ to be considered for inclusion on the updated Approved List.
- Inclusion on the existing list does not guarantee inclusion on the updated list.
- Firms that do not respond to the RFQ will not be included on the updated Approved List.
| | |
Update on the 2021 Code Adoption
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry has submitted the final-omitted regulation package to adopt the 2021 International Codes (as modified for the Uniform Construction Code). The package is scheduled for consideration on October 16, 2025.
In accordance with the regulation, the effective date of the 2021 I-Codes will be January 1, 2026.
During the 6-months that follow, applicants may elect to file permit applications under the 2018 or 2021 Codes in Philadelphia. Look out for our Code Bulletin on implementation in next month’s newsletter.
| | |
Structural Work
Effective September 26th, all applicants will be required to indicate whether their Residential or Commercial Building Permit Application includes structural work. This update will support more streamlined processing and improve the accuracy of building records.
| | |
Affordable Housing Zoning Reviews
Effective September 15, 2025, L&I ISC will provide expedited review for eligible Affordable Housing zoning applications. Applications that meet the criteria outlined in the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) Affordable Housing Certification Summary will be reviewed within 5 business days, provided that:
Once submitted, your eCLIPSE application will be routed to DPD for certification. If certified, your application will automatically receive a 5-business-day review by L&I ISC.
Important: You must select the Affordable Housing checkbox to qualify for expedited review. Review (and re-review) times will not be shortened retroactively if this step is missed.
| | |
2021 Code Corner
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.
The following FAQ has been recently added:
| |
Help Shape Pennsylvania's Future Building Codes
Pennsylvania’s Review and Advisory Council (RAC) is preparing to review the 2024 International Codes for statewide adoption in 2028. Right now, the RAC is asking for public feedback on code sections that remain the same between the 2021 and 2024 editions.
If you think any unchanged provisions should be revised, now is the time to speak up. Once the review begins, RAC will primarily focus on new changes between the two editions.
Feedback on unchanged sections can be submitted through the Additional Sections public comment form on the RAC webpage. The 2024 I-Codes are also available for free viewing on the ICC website.
Your input is an important part of shaping how codes are adopted across the Commonwealth—don’t miss this chance to share your ideas!
| |
PA Home Improvement Contractor Registration System Outage
The PA Attorney General’s system is currently down and cannot issue or renew Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registrations. Please check their website for complete information and updates.
Until service is restored, the Department will process Philadelphia registrations required for permit issuance as follows:
-
New PA HIC – Mail your application to the State and upload the acknowledgement form with your Philadelphia application.
-
Existing PA HIC / New Philadelphia Registration – Upload a copy of your expired PA registration with your Philadelphia application.
-
Existing PA HIC / Existing Philadelphia Registration – Submit a renewal or amendment and upload your current license with your Philadelphia application.
Registrations issued or renewed under this process will expire on December 31, 2025. Once the PA system is restored, you must update your Philadelphia registration with a valid PA certificate.
| |
Enforcement Priorities
The Audit and Investigations Unit (AIU) wants to call your attention to the following enforcement priorities:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
|
Violation Data Report
AIU issued $89,450 in license violation fines, reinspection fees, and judgments between 8/17/25 and 9/16/25.
The following violations and citations were issued:
- Contractor Hired Unlicensed Sub-Contractor: $2,000
- Failure to Cooperate with Audit/Investigation: $12,000
- Failure to Maintain Insurance: $12,000
- Providing False Information on a Permit/License Application: $5,000
- Worker Without OSHA 10 Certification: $35,000
- Working Without Valid License: $4,000
- Building Certification Judgements: $13,800
- Building Certification Reinspection Fees: $5,650
AIU will continue to follow up and monitor contractors' activities.
| | Back issues of the L&I Newsletters are available on the L&I website under Resources. | | | | |
