Code Violations · Philadelphia, PA

Selling a Philadelphia House With L&I Code Violations

A notice from Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections can sit on a rowhome for years. The owner falls behind, an heir inherits it, or the repair bids come in higher than anyone planned. L&I's guidance is direct. You must either fix every violation listed in the notice and pay any fees, or file an appeal. If you do neither, the property stays in violation status. The city's eCLIPSE system, which also takes inspection requests, is a place to start looking for the open items.

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Older rowhouse awaiting a documented municipal repair review

Our offer is cash and as-is, so the repair list stays with us. There is no agent commission, an offer arrives within 24 hours, and closing runs 14 to 30 days or lands on the date you set. A sale does not make the notice go away by itself. What it can do is move the house to a buyer who plans the repairs, while you skip the contractor search and the showings.

What’s different in Philadelphia

What L&I expects after a notice

Once corrections are made, the owner must schedule a compliance inspection through the district office, by calling (215) 255-4040 or through the eCLIPSE system. L&I also says permit fees are doubled when you resolve a violation through a permit. For questions, call 311, or (215) 686-8686 from outside the city. Keep every notice, case number and inspection result in one folder before you talk to a buyer. Ask for the date of the last inspection and the exact item numbers, so a contractor prices only what the city cited.

Old brick rowhomes and historic review

Philadelphia's older housing is block after block of pre-1940 brick rowhomes. A violation for a cornice, facade or window can be harder than it sounds if the house is on the Philadelphia Register. The city says exterior alteration, construction or demolition on those properties needs Historical Commission approval before work begins, while ordinary maintenance is treated differently. Confirm that first. Attached houses share roofs and party walls, so scope any repair with the neighbor's wall in mind.

Charges that show up at closing

The L&I page explains how to clear a violation. It does not say what happens when the house is sold. Pennsylvania's Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law lets qualifying municipal claims attach to property, so a title search can turn up unpaid city charges. Ask L&I for a written answer on your address, and ask the title company which items it sees. An as-is contract does not bind the city. Keep receipts and sign-offs for every corrected item. Closed paperwork is your proof when a buyer or title company asks.

Checklist before you sell

Every L&I notice, with case or violation numbers
Open or expired permit records for the address
Any appeal filing and its outcome
Contractor bids or photos of the cited work
The deed and the names of every owner
Who lives in or controls the house today
Whether the house is on the Philadelphia Register

How Kaizen can help

Send the notices with the address. We use them to estimate what the cited work, permits and re-inspection could cost, then fold that into one cash number. You do not have to hire a contractor first, and doing repairs only to receive an offer is not required. Clear photos of the cited areas and any contractor bid help us narrow the range quickly.

If anything looks unsafe, follow the city's directions before anyone goes inside. We can start from records and exterior photos and set a closing date once the title picture is clear. Call or text Kaizen Home Buyers at 267-329-0084.

Code Violations in Philadelphia: questions

Can I sell a Philadelphia house that has open violations?

Often yes, but the notice, the title search and the buyer's funding all matter. The city's page does not address sales, so ask L&I for a written answer on your case before you promise a date. Do not advertise it as permitted until you have that answer.

Do permit fees really double?

The L&I page says permit fees are doubled when you resolve a violation through a permit. Ask your contractor to price the doubled fee into any bid.

Should I fix things before asking for an offer?

Not for Kaizen. Confirm with L&I what the inspector will accept before spending money, because work that does not match the notice can be wasted.

Who do I call at L&I?

Call 311, or (215) 686-8686 from outside Philadelphia. To book a compliance inspection, call (215) 255-4040 or use eCLIPSE.

Keep reading

We buy houses in Philadelphia Code Violations: full guide How to Sell an Inherited House in Philadelphia County (Probate Guide)Facing Foreclosure in Philadelphia County: Diversion Program and Sheriff Sale Guide Selling an Inherited House in Philadelphia Selling a Philadelphia House With Back Property Taxes Facing Foreclosure on a Philadelphia Home: Your Options

Sources

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm details with the office or a professional.

Kaizen process steps (Kaizen Home Buyers, 2026-10-23)
City service-area content (Kaizen Home Buyers, 2026-06-30)
Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law, Section 3 (Pennsylvania General Assembly, 2026-07)
Researching Your Pennsylvania House: Deeds (State Library of Pennsylvania, 2026-07)
Get approval for work to a historic property (City of Philadelphia, 2026-07)
Philadelphia Rowhouse Manual: A Practical Guide for Homeowners (Philadelphia City Planning Commission, 2019-05-21)
Resolve a Code Violation at Your Property (City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections, 2026-10)

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