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City Council Advances Bill to Limit Building Heights in Residential Zones Across Philadelphia

Official:Amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by providing for height limits in districts zoned "R-15," under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Clarke

Introduced: May 11, 2006

: Committee on Rules

building heightshousing 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 would set height limits for buildings in residential areas zoned R-15 under specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

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

Sets a building height limit of 35 feet for buildings in residential areas zoned R-15, with an additional 1 foot of height allowed for each single-family dwelling unit and duplex.
Sets a building height limit of 50 feet for multiple dwelling units in residential areas zoned R-15.
Sets a building height limit of 35 feet for other types of buildings in residential areas zoned R-15, with an additional 1 foot of height allowed for each single-family dwelling unit and duplex.
Amends the Philadelphia Code, Title 14, Chapter 14-200, to establish the above height limits for residential areas zoned R-15.