Philadelphia adopts the IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 through Subcode EC, with Philadelphia amendments adding the Cool Roof Law (A-3010), enhanced commissioning, and the Philadelphia High Performance Building Manual for projects receiving city funding or air rights bonuses.
Philadelphia's energy code package layers on top of national models. Subcode EC of Title 4-100 adopts the latest IECC for residential and ASHRAE 90.1 for commercial, with city-specific amendments including the Cool Roof Law (Section A-3010) and enhanced commissioning thresholds for buildings over 50,000 square feet. The Philadelphia High Performance Building Manual is mandatory for projects receiving city funding, leases, tax-credit subsidies, or air-rights bonuses; it requires LEED Silver-equivalent performance, third-party commissioning, and post-occupancy energy reporting. Building Energy Performance Policy (Code 9-3402) requires existing large buildings to benchmark, tune up every five years, and disclose performance publicly. Bill 230754 (2024) tightened residential insulation and air-tightness standards.
Failing to meet adopted IECC/ASHRAE provisions or High Performance Building Manual conditions blocks certificate of occupancy. L&I issues stop-work orders and fines from 500 to 5,000 dollars; missed BEPP benchmarking carries 300 dollars per day until filed.
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Council Resolution 190620 (2019) declared a climate emergency and committed the city to carbon neutrality by 2050. The Office of Sustainability ...
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Code Chapter 17-1300 and Mayor's Executive Order 1-15 require city departments to weight environmental impact in purchasing. The Office of Susta...
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Code Section A-3010 (Cool Roof Law) requires high-reflectance white or coated roofs on most low-slope roof replacements over 200 square feet. Ma...
See how Philadelphia's green building code rules stack up against other locations.
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