Localmedium impact · 6/10substantive170928

City Council Moves to Tighten Controls on Commercial Businesses in Residential Neighborhoods Across Philadelphia

Official:Amending Section 9-627 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Commercial Establishments on Residential Blockfaces," by revising requirements and making related changes, under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Oh

Introduced: October 26, 2017

: Committee on Licenses and Inspections

commercial establishmentspublic safety zoning

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 proposes to revise regulations on commercial establishments in residential areas, aiming to reduce crime and promote safety.

What This Bill Does

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

Revise the definition of "block" in Section 9-627 of The Philadelphia Code, which currently defines a "block" as "one side of a street that does not extend beyond any intersection with another street."
Require commercial establishments on predominantly residential blockfaces to reduce their nighttime operating hours.
Add a definition of "commercial establishment" to Section 9-627.
Revise the legislative findings and purpose sections to reflect the new requirements and changes.