Localmedium impact · 5/10substantive170087

Council proposed stricter sidewalk permits for public furniture and fixtures in Philadelphia.

Official:Amending Chapter 10-611 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Behavior," by providing certain requirements for obtaining a permit to place street furniture, planters, benches and other fixtures on the public sidewalk, all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Blackwell

Introduced: February 2, 2017

: Committee on Streets and Services

housing neighborhood procurement

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2016–2019 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 anyone placing furniture, planters, or other fixtures on public sidewalks to get a permit from the Department of Licenses and Inspections first.

What This Bill Does

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

A permit from the Department of Licenses and Inspections is required to place or maintain any bench, planter, fixture, or other street furniture on the public sidewalk.
The Department of Licenses and Inspections must obtain a letter of support from the District Council person representing the area where the street furniture will be located before issuing a permit.
The Department of Licenses and Inspections must issue regulations setting forth standards for permit issuance, including ensuring that street furniture does not obstruct free passage and is maintained to promote a safe and attractive sidewalk environment.
A penalty will be imposed on individuals who violate the permit requirement, with details on penalties outlined in subsection (8).