The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) issues licenses for businesses in the city. Use these materials to apply for licenses related to rental and property businesses, such as the Rental License.
Do not mail business license applications to L&I. Instead, you can apply for business licenses:
Rental License
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental license application PDF | Use this application to rent out a residential property in the City. | January 31, 2024 | |||
| Rental license supplemental information form PDF | This supplemental form must be submitted with a new rental license application. | February 1, 2024 | |||
| Affidavit of continuous use PDF | If no rental license has been issued within the past three years for an existing use, this affidavit of continuous use must be submitted with a rental license application. | November 9, 2022 | |||
| Affidavit of non-rental PDF | If a property owner rents a unit occupied by a family member and no rent is collected, they must sign an affidavit of non-rental. | November 9, 2022 | |||
| Rental license proof of use and occupancy information sheet PDF | This information sheet summarizes the documentation required to show proof that the residential occupancy is legal. | February 14, 2023 |
Limited Lodging licenses
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited lodging operator license application PDF | Use this application to apply for a limited lodging operator license. | August 28, 2023 | |||
| Limited lodging and hotel booking agent license application PDF | Use this application to apply for a limited lodging and hotels booking agent license. | November 14, 2022 | |||
| Limited lodging hotels booking agent transaction history information sheet PDF | This document provides information about submitting the transaction history report to the department. | December 8, 2023 | |||
| Virtual inspections for limited lodging operator license information sheet PDF | This document provides information about the required virtual inspections for new limited lodging operator license applications and license renewals. | March 20, 2025 |
Residential Property Wholesaler License
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential property wholesaler license application PDF | Use this form to apply for a residential property wholesaler license. | November 14, 2022 | |||
| Residential property wholesaler license supplemental information form PDF | Use this form to identify all corporations that the responsible person has an equity interest in when you apply for a residential property wholesaler license. | November 14, 2022 | |||
| Residential property wholesaler license limits and conditions PDF | Limits and conditions that apply to residential property wholesalers in Philadelphia. | January 20, 2021 | |||
| Disclosure to homeowners with solicitation to purchase PDF | Residential property wholesalers must provide this disclosure to the homeowner before presenting an offer to purchase a residential property. | April 8, 2021 |
Other property licenses
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-rise license application PDF | Application to license high-rise buildings in the city. | November 14, 2022 | |||
| Vacant residential / commercial property license application PDF | Application to license a vacant residential property, a vacant commercial property, or a vacant pier in the City. | November 14, 2022 | |||
| Vacant commercial property bond PDF | Form to post a bond to cover the City's potential cost of correcting code violations or resolving unsafe or dangerous conditions. | September 17, 2024 | |||
| Letter of Credit Sample PDF | This sample letter of credit is an acceptable alternative where a bond is required. | October 11, 2024 |