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Commercial Property Owners Must Now Seek Extra Approval from City for Major Changes Ahead

Official:Amending Section 14-305 of The Philadelphia Code, relating to "C-4" commercial and "C-5" commercial districts, by requiring that prior to the issuance of certain permits, a Zoning Board of Adjustment Certificate be obtained.

Sponsor: Councilmember Clarke

Introduced: April 1, 2004

: Committee on Rules

commercial districts government zoning

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2004–2007 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill requires property owners in certain commercial districts to obtain a Zoning Board of Adjustment Certificate before issuing certain permits. This means that property owners will need extra approval for changes or uses in these areas.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Requires property owners in "C-4" and "C-5" commercial districts to obtain a Zoning Board of Adjustment Certificate before issuing certain permits.
Adds a requirement for a Certificate in Section 14-305 of The Philadelphia Code, which relates to "C-4" commercial and "C-5" commercial districts.
Applies this new requirement to the uses permitted in these districts, specifically those listed in subsection (b), which are permitted subject to all use qualifications and a Zoning Board of Adjustment Certificate.
Imposes an additional step in the permitting process for property owners in these districts, requiring them to obtain extra approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment before issuing certain permits.