Philadelphia landlord guides
Key Philadelphia rental requirements, in plain English: what they are, what they cost, practical next steps, and what can happen if they are missed. Each guide links the official sources behind it.
Skip the reading: see what the City's records show for your address
See your matched property, rental-license status and recorded expiration date, plus separate counts for what the City's records call for, what needs your answer, what needs a professional, and which City sources didn't answer. The free preview includes the check time; Compliance Watch adds the full record details and next steps.
Licenses and renewals
The Philadelphia rental license, explained
Who needs a Philadelphia rental license, what it costs ($69/unit in 2026), how to apply in eCLIPSE, and what happens if you rent without one.
For ownersReviewed
How to renew a Philadelphia rental license (and what blocks it)
How Philadelphia rental license renewal works: open violations, tax debt, lapsed lead certificates, fees, and the 60-day late-fee threshold.
For ownersReviewed
How to look up a Philadelphia rental license by address
Check a Philadelphia property's rental-license status with our address preview. Compliance Watch adds detailed records, next steps and owner monitoring.
For owners and rentersReviewed
Commercial Activity License vs. Activity License Number: which one your rental needs
How the Commercial Activity License works for Philadelphia landlords: the free Activity License Number alternative, and the rental license it gates.
For ownersReviewed
Certificates of occupancy, legal units, and proof of occupancy for Philadelphia rentals
Philadelphia buildings with 2+ rental units must prove legal occupancy: a certificate of occupancy, a recent prior license, or a zoning permit plus affidavit.
For ownersReviewed
Violations and inspections
Philadelphia L&I violations: look them up, read them, clear them
How Philadelphia landlords can look up L&I violations by address, read open vs. resolved status, and clear notices before they block license renewal or a CRS.
For owners and rentersReviewed
A tenant filed an L&I complaint on your property: what happens next
A tenant filed an L&I complaint on your Philadelphia rental. Here is the actual inspection, notice, and correction timeline, and what it does to your license.
For owners and rentersReviewed
Before and during a tenancy
Philadelphia lead paint law for rentals: lead-safe certificate rules
Philadelphia lead-certification rules for pre-March-1978 Targeted Housing, statutory exclusions, City exemptions, filing duties, and certificate timing.
For owners and rentersReviewed
Certificate of Rental Suitability in Philadelphia: what it is and how to get one
What Philadelphia's Certificate of Rental Suitability is, its tenancy-start issuance window, required documents, and conflicting renewal guidance.
For owners and rentersReviewed
Philadelphia eviction filing records: what to organize for legal review
Records Philadelphia rental owners should organize for counsel before an eviction filing, with current-law, exception, and future-effective labels.
For ownersReviewed
The Safe Healthy Homes Act: what Philadelphia landlords should do before November 1, 2026
The Safe Healthy Homes Act bills state a November 1, 2026 effective date. What may change for landlords and why current status requires verification.
For ownersReviewed
Starting out, buying, or owning from afar
How to legally rent out your house in Philadelphia: the full order of operations
How to rent out your house in Philadelphia: the order of operations (tax accounts, activity license, lead certification, rental license, and lease paperwork).
For ownersReviewed
Buying a rental property in Philadelphia: the compliance checks to run before you close
Buying a rental property in Philadelphia? The rental license does not transfer. Check violations, taxes, lead status, and unit count before you close.
For ownersReviewed
Owning a Philadelphia rental from out of town: every rule that applies to you
Own a Philadelphia rental but live elsewhere, even the suburbs? Here is the Local Agent and Managing Agent stack the City requires you to keep on file.
For ownersReviewed
Rules change. Records change. Keep one property current.
A guide tells you what the rule is today. The free check tells you where your address stands today. Compliance Watch keeps it that way: re-reading City records on a schedule, keeping your answers and documents together, and telling you before a renewal date passes.