| The Department of Licenses and Inspections refers all building and demolition permit applications for properties on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places to the Historical Commission for its review. The Department will not issue a permit without the Commission's approval. The Commission welcomes consultation with applicants before the formal filing of a permit application. |
|
This process usually begins with the submission of a permit application at the Department
of Licenses and Inspection in the Public Service Concourse of the Municipal
Services Building, 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. The Historical Commission
also has blank permit application forms.
Usually, plans accompany a permit application; however, some interior demolition work does not require plans. For projects that do require drawings, include elevations, sections and floor plans for review. In addition, the Commission needs photographs showing the property's current condition. The Department requires a permit application and three (3) sets of drawings, the Commission one (1) set of drawings with the permit application. |
| The Historical Commission reviews all work that requires a permit or that may change the exterior appearance of a property. This includes, for example, roofing, masonry cleaning, pointing and painting, window and sash replacement, and window boxes. As a matter of policy, the Commission does not regulate the painting of exterior trim. The staff approves permit applications for interior work that does not affect the exterior appearance of a building upon submission. |
| In addition to the language of the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance, the Historical Commission employs The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings in his review of permit applications. The federal government, the states and many municipalities have adopted The Secretary's Standards. |