Skip to main content

Translate

It looks like your device language is set to . Would you like to translate this page?

Philadelphia Historical Commission

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
Phone
TTY: (215) 683-0286
Social

Get updates from the Historical Commission

Sign up to receive email updates from the Historical Commission.

Events

  • Oct
    10
    Historical Commission monthly meeting
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

    Historical Commission monthly meeting

    October 10, 2025
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm, 5 hours
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map
    The Historical Commission will hold its Friday, October 10, 2025 meeting in person at 1515 Arch Street, 18th Floor, Room 18-029. Applicants, property owners, and the public may attend the meeting in person at 1515 Arch Street, or remotely on the Zoom platform using your computer, tablet, smartphone, or 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 October 10.
    Link: October 10, 2025 meeting
    Meeting Password: 093609

    To listen to the meeting live on the telephone, call this number on October 10.
    Telephone Number: 267-831-0333
    Meeting ID: 893 0853 4922#
    Participant ID: #
    Meeting Password: 093609#

    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 meeting, see the FAQs for Historical Commission's Meeting.
  • Oct
    15
    Historical Commission Committee on Historic Designation meeting
    9:30 am to 12:00 pm
    Online via Zoom

    Historical Commission Committee on Historic Designation meeting

    October 15, 2025
    9:30 am to 12:00 pm, 3 hours
    Online via Zoom
    map
  • Oct
    28
    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm
    Online via Zoom

    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting

    October 28, 2025
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 3 hours
    Online via Zoom
    map

Resources


Top