Short answer
The sources we reviewed do not say open L&I violations bar a sale, but violations stay open until fixed or an appeal succeeds, and the city can charge correction costs and place liens on the property. Liens must be dealt with at closing, and a buyer will price in the work. Check your violation notices and ask your title company.
What the city can do
Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections can issue violation notices requiring repairs. The city says it can charge the cost of corrections to the violator and, with Law Department approval, collect the cost through liens on the property. For structurally dangerous buildings, vacant properties open to trespass and some hazardous conditions, L&I is authorized to correct the unsafe condition itself.
A violation remains open unless it is complied with or an appeal is upheld.
The city also lists different violation and order types, so read the notice to see which kind you have and what it demands.
What it means at closing
A title search will show liens that have been recorded. Liens have to be paid or resolved for the buyer to get clean title, usually out of the seller's proceeds. Not every open violation has become a lien yet, so check L&I's records for your address and read every notice you received.
Pennsylvania's Seller Disclosure Law has a subject for legal issues affecting title or use of the property. Disclose violations you know of.
Fix, sell or both
If the repairs are modest, fixing them and getting the violation closed can protect your price. If they are large, the house may sell better as-is to a buyer who will do the work. Either way, get written repair estimates, and ask the buyer whether they will take on the violation.
If the house is a rental, an outstanding violation also blocks a rental license, because the city requires no outstanding L&I violations to get or renew one.
If you fix some items and not others, document which ones are done. Photographs and receipts help show L&I and the buyer what changed.
New owners and records
When a property with open violations is sold, the new owner has to show ownership to deal with L&I, using a recorded deed, a settlement sheet signed by both parties or the OPA record. Tell the buyer about every open notice before the agreement is signed, not after.
This answer does not describe deadlines for fixing a given violation because those are set in each notice.
A buyer or title company may also ask for a letter or record from L&I showing the status. Request it early, since agencies take time to respond.
Where Kaizen fits
Kaizen Home Buyers buys as-is and does not ask sellers to repair violations first. We make a cash offer within 24 hours, typically close in 14 to 30 days or on your date, and charge no agent commission. Call 267-329-0084 and send us your notices. If the violations are minor and you have time, a repaired listing may bring more.