City of Philadelphia

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Department of Licenses and Inspections

Rental and property licenses

The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) issues rental and property licenses in the City of Philadelphia. Licenses are generally renewed on a regular basis and require a renewal fee.

What kind of license do I need?

Rental License

The Rental License is the most common type of property license.

You need a Rental License to rent dwelling, rooming, or sleeping units to tenants in Philadelphia. That includes residential dwellings and units, rooms in a home, dormitories, and certain visitor accommodations.

A Rental License is a type of business license. All businesses that operate in the city need to:

  • Register for an Activity License, or
  • Get a Commercial Activity License.

Landlords in Philadelphia need to follow certain requirements in addition to obtaining a Rental License. Learn how to rent your property long-term.

Still have questions? See the Rental License FAQ.

Common rental and property situations

In most cases, you will need a Rental License to operate your rental property. However, there are some situations where a different license or approval is needed. Here are some common examples:

To rent out … You’ll need a …
  • Residential dwellings.
  • Rooming or boarding houses.
  • Assisted living facilities.
  • Dormitories.
  • Hotels, motels, hostels, bed-and-breakfasts, and other short-term rentals of properties without a primary resident (i.e. visitor accommodations).
  • Certain other properties.
 Rental License
A unit to a family member, without collecting rent. Notarized affidavit of non-rental
Your primary residence or a room in it for 30 days or less (e.g. using a short-term rental platform like AirBnB) Limited Lodging Operator License

Activity licenses

Get an Activity License Number

How to get a license number for non-commercial activity in the City.

Get a Commercial Activity License

How to get a license to do business in Philadelphia.

License types

Get a Rental License

How to get or renew a license to rent out a property.

Get a Limited Lodging Operator License

How to get a limited lodging operator license to rent your primary residence or a room in it for periods of 30 consecutive days or less.

Get a Limited Lodging and Hotels Booking Agent License

How to get a limited lodging and hotels booking agent license to make reservations or collect payment for hotel accommodations.

Get a Residential Property Wholesaler License

How to get a residential property wholesaler license if you intend to buy residential properties solely for resale.

Get a High-Rise License

How to get a license to own a high-rise.

Get a Vacant Residential Property License

How to get a license for your vacant residential lot or property.

Get a Vacant Commercial Property License

How to get a license for a vacant commercial property.

More information about renting your property

Rent your property (long-term)

Landlords must follow certain requirements to rent property in Philadelphia.

Rent your property (short-term)

Property owners must follow certain requirements to rent their property short-term (such as an Airbnb).

Frequently asked questions

Still have questions? See these FAQs:


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