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.
Philadelphia became one of the first US cities with a dedicated bed-bug ordinance when Phila. Code §10-721 took effect in 2014. Landlords must disclose any bed-bug treatment history for the unit and the building before lease signing. Once a tenant reports suspected bed bugs in writing, the landlord has roughly thirty days to engage a licensed pest control operator and pay for treatment, unless the landlord proves tenant fault. Tenants must report within four days of suspecting bugs and cooperate with inspection and prep. The ordinance authorizes PDPH and L&I to cite landlords who fail to remediate, with fines and possible designation as substandard housing under §PM-108. Multi-unit buildings with repeat infestations face building-wide inspection.
Landlord noncompliance is a Class III §10-721 violation with fines from $100 to $300 per day plus possible substandard-housing designation. Tenant interference with treatment can shift cost responsibility back to the tenant. Repeat building infestations may trigger receivership.
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See how Philadelphia's bed-bug rules rules stack up against other locations.
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