Certificate of Rental Suitability; Required Tenant Documents.
Philadelphia Code § 9-3903
in effect§ 9-3903. Certificate of Rental Suitability; Required Tenant Documents.
{ Section 9-3903 - Delayed Amendment }
(1) Required.
(a) The owner of any property for which a rental license is required shall, at the inception of each tenancy, provide to the tenant a Certificate of Rental Suitability that was issued by the Department no more than sixty days prior to the inception of the tenancy. The owner shall at the same time provide the tenant a copy of the owner’s attestation to the suitability of the dwelling unit as received by the Department pursuant to subsection 9-3903(2)(b)(.3), a copy of the “City of Philadelphia Partners in Good Housing Handbook” issued by the Department or such other document as the Department shall require, and a link to the “How to Register” page on the City Commissioners’ website. The Certificate of Rental Suitability may be for either an individual dwelling unit, or for the entire building in which the unit is located. 1329.4
(b) Exception. The provisions of subsection 9-3903(1)(a) shall not apply with respect to any rental to a tenant who is a member of the owner's family.
(2) Application and Issuance.
(a) Applications for a Certificate of Rental Suitability shall be made on forms provided by the Department.
(b) The Department shall issue a Certificate of Rental Suitability only after it determines that:
(.1) The owner of the property has obtained all required licenses with respect to the property, including a rental license.
(.2) There are no outstanding violation notices under this Code with respect to the property, except with respect to violations for which there is a pending appeal of which the owner has notified the Department in a manner prescribed by the Department.
Exception: The Department of Licenses and Inspections may promulgate regulations regarding conditions under which Certificates of Rental Suitability may be issued, despite violations of Section PM-108.1.3 (Unsafe shared retaining walls). 1330
(.3) The owner of the premises to be leased acknowledges the obligation to provide a fit and habitable property and states that: (1) all fire protection and smoke detection equipment for the premises are present and in proper operating order in accordance with all applicable requirements of The Philadelphia Code and regulations and standards adopted thereunder; (2) the operating systems are working properly to provide a fit and habitable condition; and (3) the owner will continue to maintain all fire protection and smoke detection equipment for the premises in accordance with all applicable requirements of The Philadelphia Code and regulations and standards adopted thereunder, will continue to maintain the operating systems in proper working order, and will continue to maintain the property in a fit and habitable condition.
(c) The Certificate shall set forth the applicable rental license number for the property, the date of the last inspection conducted by the Department (where applicable) and the applicable zoning designation, and shall set out the process by which a tenant may request a further inspection of the property by the Department.
(d) Failure by the owner to correct code violations covered by subsection (2)(b)(.3) within thirty (30) days of receiving a notice of violation, or sooner as indicated by the Department, shall be considered to be noncompliance with this Section.
(3) Fee.
(a) The owner of the property shall not be required to pay a fee.
Notes
Section 9-3903 - Delayed Amendment | This secton has been amended by Bill No. 250329-AA (approved May 7, 2026), effective November 1, 2026.
1329.4 | Amended, Bill No. 250774 (approved October 29, 2025), effective November 28, 2025.
1330 | Added, Bill No. 230647 (approved December 13, 2023).
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/0-0-0-280318Fetched: 10/27/2026