Localmedium impact · 4/10substantive090297

Council sought to relax Philadelphia's plumbing code to permit ABS and PVC pipes under ground.

Official:Amending Subcode "P" (The Philadelphia Plumbing Code) of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code ("The Philadelphia Building Construction And Occupancy Code") by providing for the underground use of ABS plastic pipe and PVC plastic pipe, under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Clarke

Introduced: April 16, 2009

: Committee on Licenses and Inspections

housing infrastructure zoning

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 allows homeowners and builders to use ABS plastic pipe and PVC plastic pipe underground in Philadelphia, under certain conditions.

What This Bill Does

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

Allows ABS and PVC plastic pipe to be used underground in Philadelphia, specifically for exterior waste piping.
Exempts the installation of ABS and PVC plastic piping from certain rules in the Philadelphia Plumbing Code, except for rules required by the International Code Council's International Plumbing Code.
Permits the use of ABS and PVC plastic pipe for underground and exterior waste piping to the extent permitted by the International Code Council's International Plumbing Code.
Adds a new section (P-201.1) to the Philadelphia Plumbing Code allowing the use of ABS and PVC plastic piping for specified purposes, and a new subsection (P-201.2) exempting the installation of ABS and PVC plastic piping from certain rules.