Property Maintenance in Philadelphia, PA (2026)
3 verified property maintenance rules for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Property Blight
Code officials condemn structures found unsafe, unfit for occupancy, or unlawful, and can block owners from collecting rent on unfit dwellings.
Philadelphia Condemns Unsafe, Unfit Buildings
Significant RestrictionsPhiladelphia Property Maintenance Code § PM-108.1; § PM-109.1.1
When a structure, equipment, or shared retaining wall is found by the code official to be unsafe, or when a structure is found unfit for human occupancy, or is found unlawful, such structure shall be condemned pursuant to the provisions of this code. ... Where a dwelling is designated as unfit for human habitation but does not present an immediate hazard to safety, evacuation will not be requir...
Vacant Lot Maintenance
Owners of vacant lots in Philadelphia must hire a licensed pest control company for a yearly inspection and rat remediation, then file certification of the work with the city within seven days of completion.
Philadelphia Vacant Lots Need Yearly Rat Control
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia Property Maintenance Code § PM-309.6
PM-309.6 Vacant lots. The owner of a vacant lot is required to perform yearly inspections and rat remediation by a licensed pest control company. Certification of each inspection and remediation must be filed with the department within seven days of completion. Exception: Side yards or lots that are continuously maintained as a garden are not subject to this requirement.
Snow & Sidewalk Clearing
Philadelphia property owners, agents and tenants have six hours after snow stops falling to clear a 36-inch path on every sidewalk abutting the building, dropping to 12 inches only where the pavement itself is under three feet wide. Multifamily buildings put the duty on the owner or agent rather than individual tenants, and shoveled snow can't be piled back into the street; violators face a $50 stipulated payment or a court fine of up to $1,000.
Philadelphia Sidewalk Snow Clearing Deadline
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code § 10-720(1)
(1) The owner, agent and tenants of any building or premises shall clear a path of not less than 36 inches in width on all sidewalks abutting the building or premises within 6 hours after the snow has ceased to fall. The path shall be thoroughly cleared of snow and ice. Where the width of any pavement measured from the property line to the curb is less than 3 feet, the path cleared may be only ...