Licenses and Inspections

---

Licenses and Inspections Standards
This information is provided by the City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections.

The City of Philadelphia, on behalf of all its citizens, has set minimum health, safety, and maintenance standards for houses and apartments. Keeping the housing in our city up to the standards involves a partnership between tenant, landlord and the city. All three must work together to provide decent housing for everyone.

The information in this guidebook applies to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is based on the code of General Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia, particularly Title 4, the Building Construction and Occupancy Code.

"Partners for Good Housing" outlines the responsibilities of owners, tenants and landlords for maintaining houses and apartments in a safe and clean condition.

1. WHO NEEDS A RESIDENTIAL LICENSE

General

Anyone who offers a dwelling unit or rooming unit for rent must obtain proper licenses from the Department of Licenses and Inspections. There are three categories of such licenses that the department issues and each has somewhat different requirements. The three categories include Residential Rental, Multiple-Family Dwelling, and Rooming House. The requirements for each are discussed below.

THE OWNER OF ANY RENTAL DWELLING UNIT OR ROOMING UNIT CANNOT LEGALLY COLLECT RENT WITHOUT HAVING THE REQUIRED LICENSES. AN OWNER CANNOT PROCEED WITH AN EVICTION WITHOUT THE REQUIRED LICENSES.

Residential Rental Licenses

A Residential Rental License issued by the Department of Licenses and inspections is required of any person who offers a one-family dwelling, two-family dwelling (duplex) or a rooming unit in either of these, for rent.

• Owners who rent out a single family dwelling must have a Residential Rental License, a Business Privilege License and a Business Tax Number.
• Owners of two-family dwellings must have a Residential Rental License, a Business Privilege License, Business Tax Number and Zoning approval, even if the owner occupies one of the units.
• Only one Business Privilege License and one Business Tax Number is required, no matter how many rental properties a person has. The Business Privilege License fee is a one time fee.
• Each time a dwelling unit is rented to a new tenant, the owner must give the tenant a written statement certifying that the rental unit is licensed, and listing the license number.

Multiple-Family Dwelling Licenses

A Multiple-Family Dwelling License issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections is required of any person who operates a multiple-family dwelling (three or more dwelling units), whether rental, cooperative or condominium.

• Owners of multiple-family dwellings must have a Multiple-Family Dwelling License, a Business Privilege License, a Business Tax Number and Zoning approval.
• Only one Business Privilege license and one Business Tax Number is required of one person, no matter how many properties a person has. The Business Privilege License fee is a one time fee.
• Each time a dwelling unit is rented to a new tenant, the owner must give the tenant a written statement certifying that the rental unit is licensed, and listing the license number.
• The owner of a multiple-family dwelling is required to name a managing agent over the age of eighteen years to receive service of notices, orders of summonses issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections.

The managing agent is required to have a residence or a regularly attended business office within the City of Philadelphia. If the owner meets these qualifications, he or she may be designated the managing agent.

ROOMING HOUSE LICENSES

A Rooming House License issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections is required of any person who operates a rooming house, dormitory or hotel.

• Owners of rooming houses, dormitories and hotels must have a Rooming House License, a Business Privilege License, a Business Tax Number and Zoning approval.
• Only one Business Privilege License and one Business Tax Number is requested of one person, no matter how many rental properties a person has. The Business Privilege License fee is a one time fee.
• Each time a rooming unit is rented to a new tenant, the owner must give the tenant a written statement certifying that the rental unit is licensed, and listing the license number.
• The owner of a rooming house, dormitory or hotel is required to name a managing agent over the age of eighteen years to receive service of notices, orders or summonses issued by the Department of Licenses and inspections. The managing agent is required to have a residence or a regularly attended business office within the City of Philadelphia. If the owner meets these qualifications, he or she may be designated the managing agent.

2. FIRE PREVENTION

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• In the City of Philadelphia, the Department of License and Inspections is responsible for enforcing both the Property maintenance Code and the Fire Prevention code. Inspections of residential structures are conducted by the Department's Housing and Fire Inspectors.
• Tenants, landlords and homeowners each have the duty to keep hallways, stairways, fire escapes and exits clear at all times. Storage of any kind under stairways is prohibited unless the space is separated from the stair by fire resistance rated construction.
• Rubbish and garbage is not allowed to accumulate inside buildings in any location, including storage rooms.
• Permitted amounts of paints and flammable liquids (including insecticides containing flammable materials) must be stored in a room separated from all other parts of the building by one hour fire resistance rated construction. Information about permitted amounts of flammable liquid is available from the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Call 686-2534 or 686-2535.
• At least one fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2-A:10-B:C is required in the public corridors or stairwells at each floor level of unsprinklered buildings. In buildings of three stories or less and having a single stairway, one such extinguisher is allowed, provided it is placed approximately equidistant from all dwelling units in the building.

As an alternative, if there are concerns for vandalism, theft, etc., a 2-A:10-B:C fire extinguisher can be mounted in each dwelling unit in the building.

• Except for one- and two-family dwellings, lighting is required in common corridors, stairways, and the exit discharge (exterior) to provide a light level of one foot-candle at the floor. This lighting must be on a circuit independent of any dwelling unit. In buildings that have more than one exit stair, this lighting must have an emergency power source.
• In buildings that are required to have more than one exit stair (including fire escapes), exit signs are required to identify the means of egress from each floor. These signs are required to be illuminated by both the normal and emergency power sources.
• In existing buildings that have more than one exit stair, the stairs must be enclosed and separated from the corridor by fire resistant construction. In non-high-rise buildings doors in these enclosures must be one-hour fire rated self-closing doors or 1 3/4-inch thick solid core wood self-closing doors.
• In buildings that have only one exit stair, the doors from the apartments must be of the type specified in the paragraph above.

FIRE ALARM REQUIREMENTS

IT IS THE OWNER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPLY, INSTALL AND MAINTAIN ALL REQUIRED FIRE ALARM EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING DETECTORS. THE OWNER MUST ALSO TEST DETECTORS IN COMMON HALLWAYS, STAIRWAYS, BASEMENTS AND OTHER AREAS COMMON TO MORE THAN ONE TENANT. THE OWNER IS REQUIRED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY DETECTOR THAT IS NOT OPERATING AT THE TIME OF TESTING.

IT IS THE TENANT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO TEST ALL DETECTORS LOCATED WITHIN THEIR DWELLING UNIT. THESE SHOULD BE TESTED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, AND THE OWNER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING OF ANY DEFECTS IN THE OPERATION OF ANY DETECTOR, EXCEPT THE TENANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF BATTERIES IN BATTERY-OPERATED SMOKE DETECTORS IN ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS.

ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS

• Owners of one- and two-family dwellings, including owner occupied one-family dwellings are required to install electric or battery powered smoke detectors as follows:

• In existing one- and two-family dwellings, the detectors are permitted to be battery-powered and interconnection is not required between the several detectors in a dwelling unit. A permit is not required to install battery-powered detectors.

• In new one- and two-family dwellings (newly built or newly established in an existing building), the detectors are required to be powered by the primary alternating current (AC) power source in the building. The power must be supplied from an unswitched portion of the branch circuit or from a dedicated branch circuit. Interconnection of the several detectors installed in new dwellings is required such that the actuation of one detector will actuate all the alarms in the dwelling. An electrical permit (plans are required to be submitted with the application) is required to be obtained by a licensed electrical contractor from the department of licenses and Inspections prior to installation of these detectors.

• The smoke detectors are required to be labeled for "Household fire Warning" in accordance with UL 217. These are referred to as single- or multiple-station smoke detectors.

• Smoke detectors must be installed in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on each story of the house including basements. In new dwelling units, they are also required in the bedrooms.

• Discretion should be used to place the detector as near the bedroom(s) as practicable without having it activated by normal cooking activity or steam from bathrooms.

• In split level dwellings without doors between adjacent levels, a smoke detector is only required on the upper level, provided there is less than one full story between levels.

• Annual certification of detectors in one- and two-family dwellings is not required, however upon the sale of the property, the seller is required to certify in writing to the buyer that the required smoke detectors have been installed and are in proper operating condition.

• Manual fire alarm boxes (break-glass or pull stations) are not required in the exits that serve one- or two-family dwellings.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE ALARMS IN MULTIPLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS AND ROOMING HOUSES

• Household Fire Warning type detectors are required within the dwelling units of buildings that are not sprinklered throughout, in the same fashion as described above for one- and two-family dwellings, except that battery-powered detectors are not accepted for any of the required detectors. These detectors should not be connected to the building’s automatic fire alarm system as their purpose is to sound their self-contained alarm only in the dwelling unit where they are activated.

• In existing high-rise buildings that are not sprinklered throughout, a detector is required in each bedroom in addition to the ones in the vicinity of the bedrooms. Interconnection of the detectors within a single dwelling unit is required where the sound level of any detector is less than 15 dBA above the ambient noise level in any occupied space within the dwelling unit with intervening doors closed.

• An automatic fire alarm system is required in unsprinklered buildings in all areas that are accessible to more than one tenant (common areas) such as stairways, corridors, storage areas, laundry room, basements, etc. the detectors are required to be labeled for system use. In some cases household fire warning detectors (the type approved for use within dwelling units) have been installed in these areas. They are not system detectors and must be replaced with labeled system detectors.

• Automatic fire detection is required to be smoke detectors unless normal operations in the space produce products of combustion that would activate smoke detectors. These spaces include boiler or furnace rooms, garages, laundry rooms, etc. In these spaces only, heat detectors are recommended and accepted in lieu of moke detectors.

• The sounding devices (bells, horns, whoop tones, etc.) of the fire alarm system have to be loud enough to be heard in all parts of the building. The required level of audibility is 70 dBA (decibels) in each sleeping room. It may be necessary to locate sounding devices within the apartments in order to achieve the required sound level.

• Visible alarms (strobe lights are only required when the building houses the hearing impaired.

• A fire alarm panel is required to supervise all fire alarm systems for proper continuous operation, to receive signals from the devices, to activate the sounding devices, and to provide back-up power in the event of the primary power failure. The manual boxes, system smoke and heat detectors, and sounding devices are connected to the panel. Note that the single- and multiple-station smoke detectors located within the dwelling unit are not connected to the panel.

• In existing buildings, connection of the fire alarm system to a central station is only required for high-rise buildings. In new buildings or newly established residential uses, buildings of five stories or more require fire alarm connection to a central station.
  

• AN ELECTRICAL PERMIT IS REQUIRED TO BE OBTAINED BY A LICENSED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSES AND INSPECTIONS PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF BOTH THE HOUSEHOLD FIRE WARNING DETECTORS WITHIN DWELLING UNITS AND THE AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM. (PLANS ARE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED WITH THE PERMIT APPLICATION)
  

• All fire alarm systems are required to be inspected, tested and certified by a licensed electrical contractor upon installation and annually thereafter.

• Any reduction in fire protection (fire alarm, fire sprinkler, or standpipe system) of any duration for any reason, must be reported to the Fire Department at 922-6000.

The Fire Department must be notified IMMEDIATELY through 911 of the activation of any fire alarm, excluding the household fire warning detectors that are installed in the dwelling units.


FIRE ALARM REQUIREMENTS UNIQUE TO BUILDINGS THAT REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE EXIT STAIR

• The fire alarm panel is required to have at least one zone per floor.

• A manual fire alarm box (break-glass or pull station) is required at each door from the corridor to building exit stair on each floor. At each box, a sign shall be affixed stating "IN CASE OF FIRE: SOUND ALARM AND CALL 911."

FIRE ALARM REQUIREMENTS UNIQUE TO "SMALL" APARTMENT BUILDINGS

These buildings do not exceed three stories and have only one exit stairway or two exit stairways that are both visible from all points within a maximum 20 foot long vestibule or corridor between the stairs.

• The fire alarm panel is permitted to have a minimum of one zone that incorporates all of the system devices in the building.

• A manual fire alarm box (break glass or pull station) is required only at the exit door from the stairway to the outside, not on each floor. At the box, a sign shall be affixed stating "IN CASE OF FIRE: SOUND ALARM AND CALL 911."


FIRE ALARM REQUIREMENTS UNIQUE TO BUILDINGS THAT HAVE RESIDENTIAL USES ABOVE NON-RESIDENTIAL USES

• An automatic electrically powered fire alarm system with smoke detection is required in the non-residential use unless it is sprinklered throughout.

• Where the non-residential use is a drinking and/or dining establishment, heat detectors are permitted in lieu of smoke detectors in the kitchen, in patron areas where smoking is permitted, and in patron areas where skillet or sizzling type entrees such as fajitas are served. All other detectors in the non-residential use are required to be smoke detectors.

• The sounding devices are required to be located in the nonresidential use and typically in the stairway or hallways in multiple-family dwellings above. Where the use above the non-residential use is a single-family or two-family use where there is no common hallway or stairway serving all floors, sounding devices will be required in the dwelling unit9s). The sounding devices are required to be activated by the manual fire alarm boxes and all detectors, except those inside the dwelling units.

• Manual fire alarm boxes must be located at the exits from the non-residential use, but be connected to sounding devices throughout the building. Manual fire alarm boxes are not required in the exits from the residential use if it is a one- or two-family dwelling.

• The residential portion of the building is required to have the automatic fire alarm system as determined by the classification of the residential use.

3. BASIC EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES THAT MUST BE PROVIDED AND MAINTAINED

BATHROOM EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

• It is the responsibility of the landlord to provide inside each rented house or apartment the following:
• A flush toilet in a room that gives privacy
• A lavatory basin located in the same room as the water closet or in close proximity to the water closet room door.
• A bathtub or shower in a room that gives privacy. This room may be the same as the room with the toilet or a separate room.
• An electric light fixture in each bathroom.
• A window or an approved ventilating system in each bathroom. The window must be operable and must face to the outdoors. The ventilating system must be capable of changing the air content of the room at least six times per hour.
• All bathroom equipment must be kept in good working condition. The bathroom floor must have a good surface for easy cleaning, and must be substantially impervious to water.
• The tenant must keep the bathroom and bathroom equipment clean and sanitary, and must use the equipment properly.

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES


• The landlord must provide a kitchen sink within each rental house or apartment. The sink must be in good condition. The tenant must keep the sink clean and use it properly.
• The landlord must provide cooking equipment in each rented house or apartment.
• The cooking equipment must be properly installed , work safely and effectively, and be maintained in good working condition.
• The tenant must use the cooking equipment properly and must keep it clean and sanitary.
  
  PORTABLE COOKING EQUIPMENT THAT USES FLAME IS PROHIBITED. COOKING EQUIPMENT THAT USES GASOLINE OR KEROSENE FUEL IS PROHIBITED.
WATER AND SEWAGE SYSTEM

• The landlord must provide running water and facilities for hot water. Hot water must be heated at not less than 110 degrees and not more than 125 degrees. And must flow at the rate of at least one gallon per minute at each required lavatory, sink, bathtub, shower, and laundry facility.
• All plumbing equipment must be connected to the city water and sewage systems unless the city gives permission to use a private system.

HEATING SYSTEM AND THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE HEAT


• The landlord must provide a central heating system or an approved separate permanent heating system for each rental house or apartment. Heating equipment must be safe, properly installed and adequate to heat the dwelling unit to 68 degrees at all times that the outside temperature is at or above 10 degrees.
• In buildings with two or more apartments, the landlord must supply heat at a temperature of 68 degrees for each apartment from October 1 through April 30 and during May and September when the outside temperature falls below 60 degrees.
• The landlord does not have to supply heat if the tenant is provided with separate heating equipment solely under the control of the tenant of that apartment.
• Approved portable Kerosene heaters are only legal in one- and two- family dwellings provided they comply with the Fire Prevention Code.

ELECTRICITY, NATURAL LIGHT AND VENTILATION


• Each rental rooming unit and apartment must be equipped with electricity, have adequate natural light and provisions for ventilation.
• Natural light must be available in every room by one or more windows facing directly to the outdoors. The tenant must be able to open the windows in order to provide ventilation, unless there is a safe ventilating system capable of changing the air content of the room at least six times per hour. A skylight may be used as a required window.
• Every room must have at least two electrical outlets; one of these outlets may be a ceiling light fixture. Every bathroom, water closet compartment, laundry room, furnace room interior stairs and public hall must have at least one light fixture.
• Every public hall and stairway in buildings with three or more apartments must be lit by an electric fixture at all times.
• Every public hall and stairway in two family dwellings must have a lighting system that can be easily turned on and off when needed.
• Emergency lighting is required in hallways and stairways in buildings with two or more exits.

4. KEEPING HOMES, APARTMENTS AND YARDS CLEAN AND SANITARY

GARBAGE AND TRASH

• The tenant and the homeowner must place all garbage and trash in storage containers or in disposal equipment, such as incinerators. They must place their own containers out for city collection. Trash must not be put out before 7:00 P.M. the evening before trash is collected.
• In buildings with two or more apartments, the landlord must provide a common storage area for trash and garbage containers, or common disposal equipment, such as an incinerator. The landlord must see to it that all shared containers are placed out for collection. The tenant must be careful not to spill garbage and trash in halls or on stairways.
• Garbage must be placed in leak-proof containers with tight-fitting lids. Combustible waste must be placed in covered containers or in sturdy bags that are securely tied. Newspapers and magazines should be tied in bundles.
• All containers must be kept clean and sanitary.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF YARDS AND FENCES


• The landlord and the homeowner must see to it that their yards drain properly.
• The tenant must keep the yard clean and sanitary if only the tenant has access to the yard. If the yard is shared by other occupants, the landlord is responsible.
• Fences must be kept in good repair by the homeowner or landlord.

INSECTS AND RODENTS


• In one-family houses the tenant or homeowner must keep the house clean and sanitary. It is the occupant’s responsibility to have insects, rodents or other pests exterminated.
• Where there are two or more apartments in a building, the landlord must keep all shared or public areas of the buildings cleaned and sanitary,
• The tenant must have any insects, rodents, or other pests exterminated if the tenant’s apartment is the only one infested. Otherwise, it is the responsibility of the landlord to have such pests exterminated.

REPAIRS


• The landlord or homeowner is responsible for all repairs that are necessary to keep the building and all apartments in the building in good condition.
• All foundations, walls, roofs, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, stairs and porches must be safe, weather-tight, and rodent-proof.
• All interior doors, cabinets, shelves and other supplied equipment must be kept in sound condition and in good repair.
• Exterior wood or metal surfaces must be painted or covered with protective coating to prevent deterioration. Exterior walls must be pointed and cracks sealed to keep them weather-tight and waterproof.
• All plumbing and heating equipment must be properly installed, must be kept in good mechanical condition, and must be free from leaks and stoppages.
  
  THE CITY HOLDS THE LANDLORD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS REQUIRED BY LAW REGARDLESS OF ANY AGREEMENT OR LEASE BETWEEN THE TENANT AND LANDLORD.
LEAD PAINT


Lead paint shall not be permitted to remain on interior surfaces of any dwelling, rooming house, dwelling unit, or rooming unit occupied by children when the Department of Public Health determines that its presence creates a health hazard.

5. HOW THE HOUSING CODE IS ENFORCED



The city enforces the Building Construction and Occupancy Code laws by sending inspectors to look at housing conditions. The Department of Licenses and Inspections is authorized and directed by law to make such inspections at reasonable times. Inspectors must show proper identification.. The inspector will secure a warrant from a court if the owner or tenant refuses to allow access.

When a violation is found, L & I notifies the responsible person, either the landlord, the tenant, or the homeowner. That person is told to correct the violation within a certain period of time.

At the end of that time, there is a re-inspection. If the person has not corrected the violation, L & I lists the case for a hearing before the Municipal Court and the person is notified of the date to appear. The Municipal Court is empowered to fine the guilty party.

The Department is also authorized to correct any violations which are public nuisances or hazardous, if the violations are not corrected. The city charges the cost of the corrections to the violator, and with the approval of the Law Department, can collect the cost by liens on the property.

The Department may also purchase and supply heat to tenants on an emergency basis between October and May when the heat does not meet the minimum requirements of the law.

DESIGNATION OF DWELLING "UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION"


When the Department finds that any dwelling is a serious hazard to the health or safety of the occupants or to the public because it is unsanitary, vermin infested or lacking in the required facilities and equipment, the department can designate the dwelling as "UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION."

Any dwelling designated as unfit shall be vacated within a reasonable time specified by the Department and shall not be used for human habitation until the hazard has been eliminated and the Department has removed the designation and given written approval for occupancy.

Persons who must vacate and unfit dwelling can request help in finding housing. Contact the Office of Services for the Homeless and Adults, 1340 Cherry St., 686-7150.

6.SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEMS

UNSAFE OR IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS BUILDINGS


When a neighborhood has buildings that are a serious hazard to the health or safety of the people living in them or to the public, a complaint may be filed with the Department of Licenses and Inspections and the building will be inspected. The department may order the building to be vacated, boarded up, made safe by repairs, or demolished.

VACANT HOUSES


Owners are responsible for keeping all openings in vacant buildings sealed and the premises clear and free of debris. If the owner fails to do this, the Department may arrange to clean and seal the building and bill the owner for the costs. The Department may also consider a dilapidated vacant building as "unsafe" and order it demolished. When a vacant building is demolished, the Department requires the contractor to maintain the structural and weather integrity of any adjoining party walls.

ZONING


Sometimes neighborhoods are harmed by conversions of houses into apartments or by undesirable commercial or industrial uses.

The city has a Zoning Ordinance that protects neighborhoods from these conversions and harmful intrusions.

In cases where a variance is required for a new zoning use, a Zoning Notice must be posted on the property indicating a public hearing on the proposed issue.

Citizens who believe that there is a zoning violation in their neighborhood should file a complaint with the Department of Licenses and Inspections.





COMPLAINT HOT-LINE
686-2463


7. HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT OR AN APPEAL

COMPLAINTS

If the landlord is not carrying out his responsibilities, the tenant should tell the landlord what is wrong. If the landlord fails to act, the tenant should report the problem to the Department of Licenses and Inspections, Services and Operations, by calling 686-2463.

When making a complaint the person must give his or her name and/or address, as well as the address of the problem property and the nature of the complaint. An inspection will be conducted.

If an inspector is unable to get in, he or she will leave a card; the recipient is required to call the number on the card to arrange for an inspection.

The department does not divulge the identity of a complaint, and will not accept anonymous complaints.

APPEALS


Any person who believes that the Department has erred in some action that has been taken, or wishes to obtain a variance from the requirements of the Building Construction and Occupancy Code may appeal to the Appeals Boards Administrator in the Concourse Level, Municipal Services Building, 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, within thirty days of receiving a violation notice. Call 626-2427 for more information.

8. CONSUMER RESOURCES DIRECTORY

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSES AND INSPECTIONS

Complaints and Inspection Requests Utility Shut-off Drainage Complaints Dangerous Buildings Vacant Houses/Lots	686-2463
Heat Complaints	686-2590
License Information	686-2491
Zoning Information	686-2435
Housing Code Information	685-3868
Permits	686-2572
Board of License and Insp. Review	686-2427
Zoning Board of Adjustment	686-2429

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Air Pollution and Noise pollution	823-7500
Animal Control Complaints (SPCA)	426-6300
Insect Control	685-9713
Rat Control	686-9719
Unsanitary Food Stores, Restaurants	823-7495
Lead Poison Information	978-2788

DEPARTMENT OF STREETS

Trash Pick-up, Street Cleaning	686-5560
Missing Street Lights (PECO ENERGY)	697-8844
Other Street Lighting Problems (Streets Dept.)	686-5515

FAIR HOUSING COMMISSION

• Unfair Rent Increases & Eviction - 686-3237
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION

• Discrimination Complaints - 686-4692
INFORMATION

"First Call For Help" (Referral Services)	568-3750
Mayor's Action Center	686-3000
Community Legal Services	893-5300
Lawyer Referral & Information	238-1701
Tenant Action Group (TAG)	575-0700
Munucipal Court	686-7957
Small Claims Court	686-7987

EMERGENCY

Fire, Police, Medical	911
Suicide & Crisis Intervenction	686-4420

HOT LINES

Abused Women/English (Women Against Abuse)	739-9999
Abused Women/Spanish (Women Against Abuse)	235-9992
Child Abuse (PA Dept. of Public Welfare)	10800-932-0313
Child Abuse (Phila. Dept. of Human Services)	686-6100
Emergency Shelter - Youth 12-18 (Youth Emergency Services 24hrs)	787-0633
Emergency Shelter - Women/Families (Elizabeth Shirley house 3PM-7AM)	568-5111
Emergency Shelter - Single Men (Ridge Avenue Shelter 3PM-7AM)	236-0909
Emergency Shelter (Off of Emergency Shelter/Services 7AM-3PM)	686-7150
Senior Citizen Help Line (Phila. Corporation for Aging)	765-9040
Poison Information (Poison Control Center)	386-2100

---

Last modified: 2011-12-20 15:03:35