What we do
The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) helps people comply with building safety standards and other code requirements. Contractors, business and property owners, landlords, and tenants are all served by L&I.
As part of our mission, we:
- Inspect construction projects so they meet construction and fire codes.
- Inspect higher-risk properties for compliance with fire codes.
- Respond to complaints regarding many code violations.
- Inspect, monitor, seal, and demolish vacant and/or dangerous buildings.
- Review plans and issue permits according to building, zoning, plumbing, and electrical codes.
- Issue trade and business licenses.
- Help landlords and tenants understand their responsibilities.
Connect
| Address |
1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
11th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102 |
|---|---|
|
Phone:
311
|
Announcements
New energy requirements for new construction and additions begin April 1
All permit applications for new construction and additions filed on or after April 1, 2021, must include the following:
- A separate energy compliance plan depicting the full building thermal envelope. The plan must provide the necessary detail to confirm compliance with applicable Energy Code provisions, including:
- Insulation.
- Continuous air barrier.
- Window/door schedule with fenestration rating and areas.
- Projects utilizing the prescriptive method complying with the Philadelphia Energy Conservation Code requires a COMcheck or REScheck Compliance Certificate signed by the design professional.
- Mechanical and/or Lighting Compliance Certificates must also be provided where a mechanical or lighting system is selected as an additional energy efficiency package.
Note: The requirements for compliance certificates do not apply to projects utilizing the PA Alternative Residential Energy Provisions.
Make an online appointment for help with renewing your rental license.
You can schedule an online meeting with L&I representatives to get help with your rental license renewal or guide you through the process of submitting a new rental license application. All online meetings will be conducted over Zoom. Rental license meetings will be held for a limited time, beginning February 16, 2021.
To sign-up for an online rental license help appointment, click here.
Note: The day before your scheduled appointment, you will receive an email from L&I with the Zoom link.
Update on façade inspection requirements
Under a regulation originally intended to go into effect this month, when an engineer’s inspection finds that a façade is generally safe but in need of repairs, the repairs must be completed within six months. However, after receiving extensive feedback and in light of the pandemic, L&I is deferring enforcement of the six month limit with respect to façade inspections until June 1, 2021.
This means, until June 1, 2021, the required façade inspections must still be performed, but the results should be submitted to L&I on this earlier version of the Summary Report Form and in accordance with the instructions on the form.
Refer to the letter that was recently sent out to Philadelphia homeowners for more details. For step by step instructions on submitting façade inspection reports through our online portal, refer to the how-to guide.
If you have questions, please contact facadereports@phila.gov.
