Philadelphia has no dark-sky ordinance. Outdoor lighting in commercial districts governed by Zoning Code §14-706 performance standards (no direct glare onto adjacent property).
Philadelphia lacks an International Dark-Sky Association compliant ordinance. Phila Zoning §14-706(2) prohibits lighting that casts direct glare or creates nuisance on adjacent residential properties. Wissahickon Valley Park retains some darker skies but has no protected dark-sky status. Contact Philadelphia at (215) 686-1776 for enforcement.
Nuisance lighting complaints via 311 to L&I, fines 150-500 dollars if found to violate zoning performance standards.
Philadelphia County, PA
Philadelphia Code Title 12 prohibits parking recreational vehicles, trailers, and boats on city streets for more than 24 hours. No overnight on-street RV par...
Philadelphia County, PA
Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) enforces on-street parking under Phila Code Title 12. Residential Permit Parking program covers 35+ neighborhoods. Meter...
Philadelphia County, PA
Philadelphia County permits residential recreational fire pits with restrictions. Fires must be in approved containers, small in size, use clean dry wood onl...
Philadelphia County, PA
Philadelphia County prohibits the discharge of consumer fireworks within most of the city due to density restrictions. PA Act 43 of 2017 legalized consumer f...
Philadelphia County, PA
Philadelphia County requires property owners to maintain lots free of accumulated combustible vegetation, weeds, and debris under the Philadelphia Property M...
Philadelphia County, PA
Philadelphia County prohibits open burning of yard waste, leaves, trash, and construction debris under the Philadelphia Air Management Code. Only small recre...
See how Philadelphia County's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.