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Philadelphia Historical Commission

Notice: The Historical Commission offices are not yet open for walk-ins. Plan reviews are available via eCLIPSE or by scheduling an in-person appointment. To learn how to participate in our remote meetings, see our public meetings page.

What we do

As part of the Department of Planning and Development, the Philadelphia Historical Commission protects the City’s historic resources. Together with its advisory committees, the commission:

The commission staff reviews building permit applications and nominations to the register. When needed, they forward applications to the appropriate committee. The staff:

  • Approves over 90% of building permit applications without referral to a committee.
  • Informs the public about the commission’s rules and processes.
  • Gives advice on preservation techniques.
  • Helps the public research the history of their properties.

Connect

Address
1515 Arch St.
13th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email preservation@phila.gov
TTY: (215) 683-0286
Social

Get updates from the Historical Commission

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Events

  • May
    10
    Historical Commission monthly meeting
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm
    Online via Zoom

    Historical Commission monthly meeting

    May 10, 2024
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm, 5 hours
    Online via Zoom
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    The Historical Commission will hold its Friday, May 10, 2024 meeting remotely using the Zoom Webinar platform. You can watch/listen and speak during the live meetings using your computer, tablet, or smartphone on Zoom. You can listen and speak during the live meetings on your telephone.

    The meeting agenda, applications, nomination materials, and recent meeting minutes are available on the Historical Commission's Public Meetings page. The Historical Commission will consider adopting the minutes of its most recent meeting at the upcoming meeting. The advisory committee minutes are not formally adopted, but are considered drafts until reviewed by the Historical Commission at the meeting.

    To watch the meeting live on Zoom using your computer, tablet, or smartphone, click on the following link on May 10.
    Link: https://bit.ly/PhcMay10
    Meeting Password: 385736

    To listen to the meeting live on the telephone, call this number on May 10.
    Telephone Number: 267-831-0333
    Meeting ID: 892 7030 6864#
    Participant ID: #
    Meeting Password: 385736#

    To offer written comments prior to the meeting, send an email to preservation@phila.gov. Written comments received before noon one business day prior to the meeting will be forwarded to the Commission members.

    After the meeting, you can watch a recording of the meeting (and other earlier meetings) on the Recordings page of the Historical Commission's website.

    For more information on the remote meeting, see the FAQs for Historical Commission's Remote Meeting.
  • May
    22
    Historical Commission Committee on Historic Designation meeting
    9:30 am to 1:00 pm
    Online via Zoom

    Historical Commission Committee on Historic Designation meeting

    May 22, 2024
    9:30 am to 1:00 pm, 4 hours
    Online via Zoom
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  • May
    28
    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm
    Online via Zoom

    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting

    May 28, 2024
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 3 hours
    Online via Zoom
    map

Resources


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