philadelphia permits Tag

Philadelphia Zoning has been guiding clients and projects through the Special Inspections Program required as per the Building Code.  Sometimes there is pushback, confusion, and questions regarding this program and how it affects a project, or wy and when it is needed.   What is the Philadelphia Special Inspections Program?   The special Inspections Program is a program designed to promote quality assurance in construction projects. It is designed...

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Understanding and figuring out the zoning of a property can be one of the most elusive feats, especially if you don't know where to look. There are free tools you can utilize to try to decipher the legal use, but it is usually unclear. There can be dozens and even hundreds of documents in the city's zoning archive, incomplete paper trails, and a slew of other...

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Going through the process to relocate lot lines for a lot consolidation or subdivision in Philadelphia has many steps. This post will walk you through the steps that you need to take and the associated estimated costs and timeline you can expect.     Step 1: Get a Survey & New Legal Description(s)   In order to start the process, you will need to have a civil engineer / land...

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Faced with Facade /fəˈsäd/ noun There are many obstacles to overcome when changing anything about buildings in the city of Philadelphia. Chances are, change comes with a permit attached to it. However, facade changes, in particular, may require more attention than your regular Building Permit. To avoid getting those annoying requests for additional information that end up costing time and money, make sure you know whether or not...

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The Official Word   “You need to get a Certificate of Occupancy if you’re planning to change the designated use or occupancy of a space.” -City of Philadelphia   As you may or may not know the Use of a space is regulated through Zoning. However, a Certificate of Occupancy is a form of Building Permit. Typically, when you change the Use of a space you are also renovating it...

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I cannot tell you how many of our clients run into issues with their General Contractor (or whatever party is in charge of applying-for and obtaining things on behalf of their client). Oftentimes, tracking down a physical building permit is more difficult than Nicholas cage's voyage in all of the National Treasure movies combined.   I am not saying that general contractors are bad people. I am...

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Zoning in Philadelphia is a strange enterprise.  The ideas behind it are simple, and the people working the desks downtown are generally helpful and clear.  But in practice, it can be quite confusing.  This little overview probably won’t make the strange details of zoning any less confusing, but it may give you a clearer picture of the overall structure of zoning complaints, requests, and applications...

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