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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

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Events

  • Mar
    18
    Historical Commission Committee on Historic Designation meeting
    9:30 am to 2:00 pm
    Zoom

    Historical Commission Committee on Historic Designation meeting

    March 18, 2026
    9:30 am to 2:00 pm, 5 hours
    Zoom
    map
    The Committee on Historic Designation will hold its March 18, 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 March 18:
    Link: March 18, 2026 Meeting
    Passcode: 546999

    To listen to and speak during the remote Committee on Historic Designation meeting live on the telephone, call the following telephone number on March 18:
    Telephone Number: 267-831-0333
    Webinar ID: 881 0923 0626#
    Participant ID: #
    Passcode: 546999#

    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.
  • Mar
    24
    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm
    Online via Zoom

    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting

    March 24, 2026
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 3 hours
    Online via Zoom
    map
    The Architectural Committee will hold its March 24, 2026 meeting remotely using the Zoom Webinar platform. The public may participate in the meeting in three ways: live with a computer, tablet, or smartphone; live with a telephone; and in advance by email.

    The meeting agenda and application materials for the Architectural Committee meeting are available on the Historical Commission's Public Meetings page.

    To watch the meeting live on Zoom using your computer, tablet, or smartphone, click on the following link on March 24:
    Link: Architectural Committee meeting, March 24
    Passcode: 114618

    To listen to the meeting live on the telephone, call this number on March 24:
    Telephone Number: 267-831-0333
    Webinar ID: 889 3056 9730#
    Participant ID: #
    Passcode: 114618#

    To offer written comments prior to the meeting, send an email to preservation@phila.gov by noon on March 23.

    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 Remote Meeting.
  • Apr
    10
    Historical Commission monthly meeting
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

    Historical Commission monthly meeting

    April 10, 2026
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm, 5 hours
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map

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