Enacted in June of 2024, the Consumer Protection Ordinance aims to protect Philadelphia residents from predatory business practices such as fraud, unfair methods of competition, and deceptive marketing.  The Law Department is tasked with enforcing the Consumer Protection Ordinance and taking legal action against violators on behalf of affected residents.  

Examples of predatory conduct that violate the CPO include: 

• Contractors who take payment but provide no service; 

• Businesses that falsely or deceptively advertise goods and services;  and 

• Landlords that fail to provide housing consistent with promises made in their marketing or leases.  

Under the CPO, the Law Department is authorized to monitor, investigate and enforce complaints regarding unfair and deceptive business practices that harm Philadelphians. The Ordinance also gives the Law Department subpoena power to conduct investigations of potential bad actors. Investigations assist the City in identifying violations and taking appropriate action against repeat offenders.  

To remediate the harms caused by their actions and prevent further harm to consumers, the Law Department seeks injunctions, penalties, and restitution through courts, applied to companies violating the ordinance. The law also applies retroactively to bad conduct for up to 6 years, provided it also violated state law. 

Making a Complaint 

Complaints may be submitted to consumer.protection@phila.gov and depending on the allegations and evidence, may qualify for investigation and enforcement action by the Law Department. Investigations related to enforcement may be long and complex, and in some instances, it may take years to effectively prosecute a consumer case against a bad actor.  

Complaints regarding conduct that may have violated Philadelphia’s CPO may be filed by submitting a complaint to consumer.protection@phila.gov.  

The CPO is an enforcement tool used by the City, through the Law Department, to protect Philadelphia residents. While there is no private right of action under the CPO, all Pennsylvania residents have the right to bring suit under Pennsylvania’s primary consumer protection law, the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL) and other legal remedies as permitted by the law.