Locallow impact · 3/10substantive090264

City Seeks Payment Before Granting Special Rights Privileges in Philadelphia Ordinance Process Now Requires Upfront Fee of Three Hundred Dollars

Official:Amending Section 21-501 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Special Rights, Privileges and Franchises," by revising the fee relating to special ordinances and requiring that such fee be paid prior to introduction or adoption of such ordinances, all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember DiCicco

Introduced: April 2, 2009

: Committee on Streets and Services

finance government planning

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2008–2011 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 people who want special rights, privileges, or franchises from the city to pay a $300 fee before the City Council can consider their request.

What This Bill Does

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

The fee for special ordinances is increased from $200 to $300.
The fee must be paid prior to the introduction or adoption of the ordinance.
The person requesting the special right, privilege, or franchise must pay the fee into the city treasury.
The Department of Streets must certify that the fee has been paid before the Council can consider the request.