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Philadelphia Historical Commission

What we do

As part of the Department of Planning and Development, the Philadelphia Historical Commission protects the City’s historic resources. Together with its advisory committees, the commission:

The commission staff reviews building permit applications and nominations to the register. When needed, they forward applications to the appropriate committee. The staff:

  • Approves over 90% of building permit applications without referral to a committee.
  • Informs the public about the commission’s rules and processes.
  • Gives advice on preservation techniques.
  • Helps the public research the history of their properties.

Connect

Address
1515 Arch St.
13th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email preservation@phila.gov
Phone
TTY: (215) 683-0286
Social

Get updates from the Historical Commission

Sign up to receive email updates from the Historical Commission.

Events

  • Jan
    21
    Historical Commission Committee on Historic Designation meeting
    9:30 am to 2:00 pm
    Zoom

    Historical Commission Committee on Historic Designation meeting

    January 21, 2026
    9:30 am to 2:00 pm, 5 hours
    Zoom
    map
    The Committee on Historic Designation will hold its January 21, 2026 meeting remotely using the Zoom Webinar platform. You can watch, listen, and comment using a computer, tablet, smartphone, or telephone.

    The meeting agenda and nomination materials for the Committee on Historic Designation meeting are available on the Historical Commission's Public Meetings page.

    To watch/listen to and speak during the remote Committee on Historic Designation meeting live on Zoom using your computer, tablet, or smartphone, click on the following link on January 21:
    Link: January 21, 2026 Meeting
    Passcode: 556165

    To listen to and speak during the remote Committee on Historic Designation meeting live on the telephone, call the following telephone number on January 21:
    Telephone Number: 267-831-0333
    Webinar ID: 859 2460 6645#
    Participant ID: #
    Passcode: 556165#

    To email comments, send them to preservation@phila.gov by noon the day before the meeting.

    After the meeting, you can watch a recording of the meeting on the Recordings page of the Historical Commission’s website.

    For more information on the remote meeting, see the FAQs for Committee on Historic Designation's Remote Meeting.
  • Jan
    27
    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm
    Online via Zoom

    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting

    January 27, 2026
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 3 hours
    Online via Zoom
    map
  • Feb
    13
    Historical Commission monthly meeting
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

    Historical Commission monthly meeting

    February 13, 2026
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm, 5 hours
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map

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