Public Health Rules in Philadelphia, PA (2026)
5 verified public health rules for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Restaurant Grade Cards
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health Office of Food Protection inspects every food facility annually under Phila. Code §6-300 and PA Food Code Chapter 46. Philadelphia does not use A/B/C letter grades; results are pass, fail, or closure. Inspections post on phila.gov.
Philly inspects but does not letter-grade; pass-fail posting
Some RestrictionsRodent Control
Philadelphia Code §10-103 makes property owners and occupants responsible for keeping premises free of rats and conditions that harbor them. PDPH Vector Control investigates complaints, places municipal bait, and refers chronic cases to L&I for code enforcement orders.
Owners must abate rats; PHL Vector Control inspects
Some RestrictionsBed-Bug Rules
Philadelphia Code §10-721 (2014) makes landlords disclose bed-bug infestation history before lease signing and pay for licensed extermination. Tenants must report suspected bugs within four days and cooperate with inspection. Repeat building infestations trigger PDPH and L&I enforcement.
Philly Code §10-721 requires bed-bug disclosure and treatment
Some RestrictionsSyringe Disposal
Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act and 25 Pa. Code §284 ban home-generated needles in regular trash. Philadelphia Department of Public Health runs the SHARP collection program with drop-off sites and free containers. Mail-back kits and pharmacy take-back also accept household sharps.
Sharps banned from trash; PDPH SHARP collection sites
Heavy RestrictionsFood Handler Certification
Pennsylvania Food Code 7 Pa. Code §46.504 requires every retail food establishment to employ at least one ANSI-accredited Certified Food Protection Manager. PDPH accepts ServSafe and other approved exams. No separate Philadelphia food-handler card is required for line workers.
PA Food Code requires Certified Food Protection Manager onsite
Some Restrictions7 Pa. Code §§ 46.2, 46.4 (Food Code – Scope; Adoption of Model Food Code)
§ 46.4. Adoption of Model Food Code. The provisions, terms, procedures, appendices and standards in the current edition of the Model Food Code are adopted to the extent they do not conflict with one or more of the following: (1) The Retail Food Facility Safety Act. (2) The Food Safety Act. (3) This chapter. § 46.2. Scope. This chapter establishes definitions; sets standards for management and p...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Philadelphia city rules.
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