GENERAL PROVISIONS

Philadelphia Code tit. 11, ch. 11-100

in effect

Philadelphia Code § 11-101 Definitions.

§ 11-101. Definitions. In this Title, the following definitions apply: (1) Block Party. A neighborhood celebration or event, sponsored by the residents of a block, that requires the temporary closure of the street of the block, or a portion thereof. (2) Cartway. The portion of a street reserved for vehicular use and contained between the curb lines. (3) Department. Department of Streets. (4) Facilities. Shall have the meaning provided in Chapter 11-700. (5) Non-Block Party Event. An event, other than a block party, including but not limited to, birthday celebrations, weddings, proms and serenades. (6) Right-of-Way. Shall have the meaning provided in Chapter 11-700, whether or not capitalized. (7) Underground wires. Shall have the meaning provided in Chapter 11-700 for Underground Facilities. (8) Roadway. The same as "cartway". (9) Sidewalk. That portion of a street contained between the street line and the nearest curb line and consisting of a paved footway and optional planting strips, the cross-section of which shall be determined by the Department. (10) Street. A strip of land or part thereof within the right-of-way, whether dedicated or not, intended or used for vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. (11) Street Lines. The lines of demarcation between public and private properties on plotted or legally opened streets, defining the land reserved for use as a street. Notes 1 | Amended, Bill No. 050065 (approved April 20, 2005); amended, Bill No. 150474 (approved June 30, 2015).

Philadelphia Code § 11-102 Surety Bonds for the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia.

§ 11-102. Surety Bonds for the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia. (1) Whenever the Law Department, pursuant to the provisions of this Title, shall require the filing of a bond, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 17-106, may file a bond without the execution of a corporation surety. This authorization shall apply only to those instances where the Redevelopment Authority certifies in writing that over fifty percent (50%) of the funding for the entire project is provided through City, State or Federal funds. In such cases, where the Redevelopment Authority elects not to provide corporate surety, it shall execute a bond in favor of the City in a form and content satisfactory to the Law Department. Notes 2 | Added, 1977 Ordinances, p. 350.

Philadelphia Code § 11-103 Facilities in the Right-of-Way.

§ 11-103. Facilities in the Right-of-Way. (1) No person shall own, construct, operate, maintain, or repair any Facilities in the Right-of-Way except in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 11-700. Except as provided otherwise in Chapter 11-700, the provisions of Chapters 11-500 and 11-600 shall not apply to the construction, operation, maintenance or repair of any Facilities in the Right-of-Way. Notes 3 | Added, Bill No. 050065 (approved April 20, 2005).

Philadelphia Code § 11-104 Curb Cuts.

§ 11-104. Curb Cuts. (1) Definitions. (a) City Street. A street on the City Plan, other than a State or Federal Highway. (b) Curb Cut. An alteration to the curb that facilitates vehicular access across a sidewalk to connect the roadway to any public or private property. (c) Transit Platform Area. Any area designated by the Department of Streets as a location for passengers to embark and disembark from a transit vehicle. (2) Prohibited Curb Cuts. 5 (a) Vehicular Access. No person shall construct or establish, within sixty-five (65) feet of any residential property, a curb cut for the purpose of vehicular or delivery truck access from a City Street to any lot zoned CA-2 under Section 14-402, where such lot measures six hundred twenty-five thousand (625,000) square feet or more in area, unless: (.1) such curb cut would provide the only vehicular access to and from an off-street parking area; or (.2) such curb cut would provide access only to authorized emergency vehicles as defined in Section 12-102 or to other vehicles used in providing public services, including but not limited to, vehicles used in providing water, gas, electric or telephone service. (.3) The distance from any residential property shall be determined by measuring from the point at which the center line of the driveway intersects with the property line of the Area Shopping Center District. (b) Transit Platform Areas. No person shall construct or establish a curb cut within an area designated by the Streets Department by regulation as a Transit Platform Area. Notes 4 | Added, Bill No. 070016-A (approved March 28, 2007); amended, Bill No. 200496 (approved November 10, 2020). 5 | Amended, Bill No. 120774-A (approved January 14, 2013).

Philadelphia Code § 11-105 Block Parties and Other Special Events.

§ 11-105. Block Parties and Other Special Events. (1) Permit Requirement. No block party or non-block party event shall take place on any street without a permit issued by the Department. (2) Application. No permit shall be issued to close a street for a block party or non-block party event unless the applicant submits a written application no less than six weeks prior to the event, on a form approved by the Department, accompanied by a petition of support. (a) For a street to be closed for a block party event, the petition of support shall be signed by seventy-five percent (75%) of the households, located on the block, including any condominiums and apartments. (b) For a street to be closed for a non-block party event, the petition of support shall be signed by ninety percent (90%) of the households, located on the block, including any condominiums and apartments. (c) Where the street to be closed is the only entrance to or exit from another street, such as a "T" street, a petition to close the "T" street, signed in accordance with subsection (a) or (b), as applicable, shall also be required. (d) Only one signature per household shall be accepted, and any person signing the petition must be at least 18 years of age and reside on the block. 7 (e) If any businesses are located on the block, the applicant shall notify the Right-of-Way Unit to ensure that the closing of the block does not affect the businesses. 8 (3) Application Fee. The fee for an application for a block party or non-block party event shall be established by regulation of the Department. If a permit is issued for such an event, and subsequently revoked through no fault of the applicant, the applicant shall be entitled to a refund. No permit shall be revoked within fourteen (14) days of the block party or non-block party event, except in the case of an emergency. For purposes of this subsection, an emergency shall include but not be limited to a natural gas leak, water main break, fire, downed electrical wires, loss of electricity or similar occurrence. (4) Permitted and Prohibited Activities. (a) Yellow caution tape may be used to block access to the street for a permitted block party or non-block party event, but vehicles shall not be used for that purpose. (b) The following shall be permitted access to the closed street: commercial vehicles for the purpose of making deliveries on the block; and vehicles of persons, including those with a physical disability, who must gain access to the street to conduct normal daily activities. (c) Organized gaming devices and gaming tables and the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. (d) Noise and music levels shall not violate any City Codes. (e) A permit shall be required from the Department of Licenses and Inspections if there will be a charge for admission to the block party or non-block party event, if there will be amusement rides or a carnival, or if the sale of merchandise or services will take place. (f) The holder of the permit shall be responsible for directing residents of the block in the proper disposal of all trash and recycling at the conclusion of the event, and the street must be clean and open to traffic by 8:30 p.m. (5) Regulations. The appropriate departments are authorized to promulgate such regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Section. Notes 6 | Added, Bill No. 150474 (approved June 30, 2015). 7 | Enrolled bill designated this as subsection (c); redesignated by Code editor. 8 | Enrolled bill designated this as subsection (d); redesignated by Code editor.

Philadelphia Code § 11-106 Supplementary Fees.

§ 11-106. Supplementary Fees. (1) Whenever the Department is authorized by this Title to establish fees for a permit or other activity by regulation, such authorization shall include the authority to establish supplementary inspection fees when the work or activity has been commenced without the permit first having been obtained. Notes 9 | Added, Bill No. 080163 (approved June 4, 2008); renumbered, Bill No. 150474 (approved June 30, 2015).

Philadelphia Code § 11-107 Public Health Emergency Closures of the Right-of-Way.

§ 11-107. Public Health Emergency Closures of the Right-of-Way. (1) The Streets Department is hereby authorized to establish by regulation procedures for application, implementation, and enforcement of permits for temporary Right-of-Way closure to protect public health, welfare and safety during a declared public health emergency, including for expansion of business uses that cannot operate in indoor environments or have limited indoor capacity and/or service due to the COVID-19 emergency, including closure of all of the street or limited portions, such as on-street parking spaces. Notes 10 | Added, Bill No. 200352 (approved June 26, 2020). Section 2 of Bill No. 200352 provides: "This Ordinance shall be effective immediately and shall remain in effect until December 31, 2020, unless further extended by ordinance." The effective date was extended until December 31, 2021, by Bill No. 200498 (approved December 1, 2020).

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-284015Fetched: 10/27/2026