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L&I Newsletter
March 2024
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Announcement / Engagement | |
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Informational training sessions
The following informational webinars and training courses are being offered to the public to assist stakeholders in navigating city processes and keeping them informed of code changes. Some training courses, as noted below, are being offered with continuing education credits. Customers can also sign-up for this and future webinars under the “Events” section of the L&I homepage (www.phila.gov/li).
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L&I Q&A Session - The Department of L&I will be hosting a 90-minute open Q&A session to address specific permit application questions for users with some experience using eCLIPSE. This session will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. via Zoom. Please register if you are interested in attending this training course.
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Part 2: Zoning Use Classification Webinar - L&I will provide detailed descriptions of the use classifications found in the zoning code as well as discuss nonconforming uses, accessory uses, the relationship between zoning and ownership/tenancy, and documenting historic uses. This session will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, via Zoom. Please register if you are interested in attending this training course. **Attendees can receive 1.5 hours of continuing education credits for this course. **
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Façade, Pier, Fire Escape Inspections and Certifications webinar - L&I will be conducting a 90-minute webinar on the requirements for maintenance certifications. During this session, we will cover our maintenance certification program, review eCLIPSE certification upload requirements, help troubleshoot some common issues, and more. We recommend all professionals who provide inspection and maintenance certification services attend this webinar. This session will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, via Zoom. Please register if you are interested in attending this information session. **Attendees can receive 1.5 hours of continuing education credits for this course. **
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Future Sessions – Thank you for your recommendations on additional webinar topics thus far. We want to know additional topics you would like us to cover in the future. If you have a suggestion, please complete this online form.
Note: Capacity is limited and to accommodate all stakeholders, we ask that you only register if you plan on attending the session and, if your circumstances change, please cancel your registration.
L&I job announcement
The Department of Licenses and Inspections is looking for qualified candidates to fill the following vacancy:
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Building Plan Engineers - The City is hiring Graduate Civil Engineers, which is the entry level position for L&I Building Plan Engineers. Employees in this position examine plans for the construction, reconstruction or renovation of building structures to ensure conformance with sound engineering principles and with existing ordinances and regulations. Employees may progress to the full performance position of Building Plans Examiner Engineer 1 within four years, through the Department’s training and mentoring program. For more information or to submit an application, click here.
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New plumbing code changes go into effect on April 1
Plumbing Code changes shall apply to all plumbing permit applications filed on or after April 1, 2024.
Please refer to the 2024 Plumbing Code Changes FAQ for a summary of changes and an explanation of each change.
Final Public Hearing on 2021 International Code Adoption
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is currently evaluating the 2021 International Codes in preparation for state-wide adoption in July 2025. The technical advisory committees have submitted recommendations on specific code sections to the PA UCC Review & Advisory Council for deliberation.
This is the last opportunity to voice opinions on recommendations before the Council deliberates. The final Virtual public hearings will be conducted on March 28, 2024.
You can learn more about the code adoption process and track progress through the Council’s website.
The following permit resources were recently updated/added to the website (www.phila.gov/li):
Zoning part 1 training webinar slides
The Department presented a training course focusing on zoning in the City of Philadelphia. This part 1 zoning training course covered zoning requirements including types of zoning permits and approvals, navigating the zoning code, the process of filing a zoning permit, the pre-requisite approval processes, and the process of zoning expiration and extensions. The slides used during the webinar are posted on the website.
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Annual Fire Protection System Certification Revisions
The Department is consolidating certification and deficiency forms to provide clarity and promote consistency in reporting defects. The revised form is intended to make reporting easier for contractors performing annual testing and inspection. Please take a moment to review the proposed format of the fire sprinkler/ standpipe form and provide any feedback through the online form by March 28, 2024.
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Expeditor licensing webinar slides
The Department presented a webinar regarding City regulations on permit and license applicants, expediter license applications, required and prohibited expediter conduct, and tips on submitting applications as an expediter. The slides used for this can be viewed on our website.
We need your help in improving the business license application
If you have used the online eCLIPSE portal to obtain a business license (rental, food, daycare, vending, high-rise, etc.), we’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can improve the application. You can help us better serve you by completing this short survey.
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Pre-construction site requirements training course slides
The department conducted a training course on February 15, 2024, about the administrative code requirements for construction sites, including the minimum site safety requirements, protection of adjacent property, and the basics of OSHA requirements. The slides used during this training course can be found on the L&I website on the “Resources” page.
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As part of the Department’s efforts toward meeting the growing construction and quality of life oversight needs throughout the city, the Audits & Investigations Unit will be undergoing significant changes. As part of these changes, AIU will now be overseeing short-term rental compliance headed by our newest team member Rasheedah Parlin.
Enforcement priorities
AIU would like to call your attention to the following enforcement priorities:
- Contractors and Subcontractors Information - In accordance with the Philadelphia Code Title 9-1004, contractors who hire a subcontractor to perform work authorized by their permit, must list the subcontractor on the permit in eCLIPSE within 3 days of the commencement of any work authorized by that permit, unless that permit is for a residential building of two dwelling units or less. If the Department establishes that a contractor has failed to do this, the contractor will be cited with a violation of 9-1004(8). That citation is accompanied by a $2,000 fine.
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Subcontracting - Subcontractors must always be licensed. They must carry a valid contractor or trade license (for trade work) whenever they are working. A subcontractor is any person or business hired to perform work authorized by a permit, who is not identified on that permit’s application as the prime (or responsible) contractor.
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Worker Certification - Every worker at a Philadelphia construction site must have OSHA-10 training and carry their card with them when they’re on the job. If a building more than 3 stories or 40 feet tall is being constructed or demolished, an OSHA-30 trained site safety supervisor must be on site whenever the site is active.
Violation data report
The Department issued $66,000 in license violation fines in February of 2024. Of that total, $20,000 in fines were issued for the use of unlicensed subcontractors or failure to adequately disclose subcontractor usage and $9,000 in fines were issued to contractors for using workers without the required OSHA training.
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Building certification update
Certain life safety systems, building components and structures are subject to periodic testing and inspection requirements, as outline in Code Bulletin A-2204 and on our website.
Beginning April 1, 2023, all certifications were to be submitted to the City by the licensed inspector through http://eclipse.phila.gov. Building owners and licensed inspectors may be subject to enforcement action if required certifications are not submitted by May 31, 2024.
You may verify that certifications have been successfully submitted to the City through atlas.phila.gov. Search for your property address and click on the “Licenses and Inspections” tab to find all Building Certifications submitted for the property.
Landlord gateway educational series training
The Landlord Gateway Program centralizes resources to help both current and prospective landlords navigate the City’s processes, requirements, and guidance through a single location. To help educate landlords and renters through these processes, the city is providing a landlord gateway education training series each month.
For more information and to register for one or more of these sessions, click here.
Free OSHA Safety Consultation
Employers can receive no-cost safety, health, and industrial hygiene evaluations by signing up for a program run by IUP’s Safety Sciences Department.
Through the PA OSHA Consultation Program, IUP consultants conduct occupational safety and health evaluations and work with business owners to address issues. The on-site visits are confidential since the program operates independently from OSHA's regulation enforcement.
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Back issues of the L&I Newsletters are available on the L&I website under Resources.
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