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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
    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
    The Committee on Historic Designation will hold its October 15, 2025 meeting remotely using the Zoom Webinar platform. You can watch, listen, and comment using a computer, tablet, smartphone, or telephone.

    The meeting agenda and nomination materials for the Committee on Historic Designation meeting are available on the Historical Commission's Public Meetings page.

    To watch/listen to and speak during the remote Committee on Historic Designation meeting live on Zoom using your computer, tablet, or smartphone, click on the following link on October 15:
    Link: October 15, 2025 Meeting
    Passcode: 879011

    To listen to and speak during the remote Committee on Historic Designation meeting live on the telephone, call the following telephone number on October 15:
    Telephone Number: 267-831-0333
    Webinar ID: 839 7583 6717#
    Participant ID: #
    Passcode: 879011#

    To email comments, send them to preservation@phila.gov by noon the day before the meeting.

    After the meeting, you can watch a recording of the meeting on the Recordings page of the Historical Commission’s website.

    For more information on the remote meeting, see the FAQs for Committee on Historic Designation's Remote Meeting.
  • 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
  • Nov
    14
    Historical Commission monthly meeting
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

    Historical Commission monthly meeting

    November 14, 2025
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm, 5 hours
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map

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