SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION

Philadelphia Code tit. 4, pt. P, ch. 1

in effect

Philadelphia Code § P-101 GENERAL

SECTION P-101 GENERAL P-101.1 Title. These provisions together with those provisions of the International Plumbing Code which are not hereby amended shall be known as the “Philadelphia Plumbing Code” or “this code”. P-101.2 Scope. The provisions of the Philadelphia Plumbing Code shall apply to the erection, installation, alteration, repairs, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of plumbing systems within the City of Philadelphia. This code shall regulate nonflammable medical gas, inhalation anesthetic, vacuum piping, nonmedical oxygen systems and sanitary and condensate vacuum collection systems. The installation of fuel gas distribution piping and equipment, fuel-gas-fired water heaters and water heater venting systems shall be regulated by the Philadelphia Fuel Gas Code (Subcode G). Detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories high with separate means of egress and their accessory structures shall comply with this code. P-101.2.1 Jurisdiction outside of property lines. All plumbing systems within a structure or on a premises and extending to the curb line of the street shall be regulated by this code unless stated otherwise herein. Plumbing systems located beyond the curb line of the street and connecting to the public main or public sewer shall be regulated by the Philadelphia Water Department. P-101.3 Intent. The purpose of this code is to establish the minimum requirements to provide a reasonable level of safety, public health and general welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance or use of plumbing equipment and systems. P-101.4 Administrative provisions. This Chapter contains those provisions that are unique to the administration of this code. All other administrative provisions applicable to this code are as set forth in the Philadelphia Administrative Code (Subcode A). P-101.5 Appendices. The International Plumbing Code Appendix E is hereby adopted to provide acceptable methods for the sizing of water service and water distribution piping by a designer.

Philadelphia Code § P-102 INSPECTIONS AND TESTING

SECTION P-102 INSPECTIONS AND TESTING P-102.1 Inspections. In addition to the inspections specified in Chapter 4 of the Administrative Code, the code official shall be authorized to make or require other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this code and other laws that are enforced. P-102.1.1 Evaluation and follow-up inspection services. Prior to the approval of a closed, prefabricated plumbing system and the issuance of a plumbing permit, the code official shall require the submittal of an evaluation report on each prefabricated plumbing system indicating the complete details of the plumbing system, including a description of the system and its components, the basis on which the plumbing system is being evaluated, test results and similar information, and other data as necessary for the code official to determine conformance to this code. Exception: Manufactured housing pursuant to the Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Authorization Act (35 P.S. §§ 1656.1 - 1656.9) and industrialized housing and industrialized commercial buildings pursuant to the Industrialized Housing Act (35 P.S. §§ 1651.1 - 1651.12) respectively. P-102.1.1.1 Evaluation service. The code official shall consider the evaluation report of an approved Special Inspection Agency, registered in accordance with Section 9-1306 of The Philadelphia Code, for determining adequacy and conformance to this code. P-102.1.1.2 Follow-up inspection. Except where ready access is provided to all plumbing systems, service equipment and accessories for complete inspection at the site without disassembly or dismantling, the code official shall be authorized to accept the inspection reports of an independent, approved inspection agency to conduct such inspections. The inspection agency shall furnish the code official with the follow-up inspection manual and a report of inspections on request, and the plumbing system shall have an identifying label permanently affixed to the system indicating that factory inspections have been performed. P-102.1.1.3 Test and inspection records. Required test and inspection records shall be available to the code official at all times during the fabrication of the plumbing system and the erection of the building, or such records as the code official designates shall be filed. P-102.2 Special inspections. Special inspections of alternative engineered design plumbing systems shall be conducted in accordance with Sections P-102.2.1 and P-102.2.2. P-102.2.1 Periodic inspection. The registered design professional or designated inspector shall periodically inspect and observe the alternative engineered design to determine that the installation is in accordance with the approved construction documents. Discrepancies shall be brought to the immediate attention of the Registered Master Plumber for correction. Records shall be kept of all inspections. P-102.2.2 Written report. The registered design professional shall submit a final report in writing to the code official upon completion of the installation, certifying that the alternative engineered design conforms to the approved construction documents. A certificate of approval for the plumbing permit shall not be issued until this written certification has been submitted. P-102.3 Testing. Plumbing work and systems shall be tested as required in Section 312 and in accordance with Sections P-102.3.1 through P-102.3.3. Tests shall be made by the Registered Master Plumber or his designee and observed by the code official. P-102.3.1 New, altered, extended or repaired systems. New plumbing systems and parts of existing systems that have been altered, extended or repaired shall be tested as prescribed herein to disclose leaks and defects, except that testing is not required in the following cases: 1. In any case that does not include addition to, replacement, alteration or relocation of any water supply, drainage or vent piping. 2. In any case where plumbing equipment is set up temporarily for exhibition purposes. P-102.3.2 Equipment, material and labor for tests. Equipment, material and labor required for testing a plumbing system or part thereof shall be furnished by the Registered Master Plumber. P-102.3.3 Reinspection and testing. Where any work or installation does not pass any initial test or inspection, the necessary corrections shall be made to comply with this code. The work or installation shall then be resubmitted to the code official for inspection and testing. P-102.4 Approval. After the prescribed tests and inspections indicate that the work complies in all respects with this code, a certificate of approval shall be issued by the code official. P-102.5 Temporary connection. The code official shall have the authority to authorize the temporary connection of the building or system to the utility source for the purpose of testing plumbing systems or for use under a temporary certificate of occupancy.

Philadelphia Code § P-103 PERMITS AND LICENSES

SECTION P-103 PERMITS AND LICENSES P-103.1 License required. No person shall install plumbing, water, drain or waste piping, or fixtures unless properly licensed pursuant to Title 9 Section 9-1003. P-103.1.1 Plumbing work by unlicensed persons. No person shall hire an unlicensed person to perform plumbing work requiring a plumbing permit. Any person who has had plumbing work performed by an unlicensed person must have a Registered Master Plumber inspect such work and, if necessary, correct the installation. Permits must be secured for the unlicensed work and associated inspection activity and for any additional plumbing work performed as a result of the inspection. P-103.2 Plumbing permits required. A plumbing permit is required to install, enlarge, alter, repair or replace any plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code subject to the general permit exceptions of Section A-301.1 of the Administrative Code. Exceptions: 1. A plumbing permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration, enlargement, repair or replacement of special piping and storage systems regulated by Chapter 12 of this code. Such installations shall require a building permit except where subject to the exclusions or exemptions provided in the Administrative Code. 2. A plumbing permit shall not be required for the activities listed in Section A-301.2.4 of the Administrative Code. P-103.2.1 Water service and water distribution permits. A plumbing permit shall be required for the installation, repair or replacement of the water service distribution pipe located between the curb stop and the water distribution pipe of the structure. A permit from the Water Department shall be required for the installation, repair or replacement of the water service pipe from the curb stop to the public water main. P-103.2.2 Lateral permits. A permit from the Water Department shall be required for the installation, repair or replacement of laterals from the building (house) trap to the public sewer. P-103.3 Permit applications. Applications for plumbing permits shall be submitted in accordance with the Administrative Code. P-103.3.1 By whom application is made. The department shall accept plumbing permit applications from the owner or lessee of the building or structure, or agent of either; by the registered design professional employed in connection with the proposed work; by the Registered Master Plumber responsible for the work; or other licensed person authorized to apply for permits pursuant to the Philadelphia Administrative Code, so long as the Registered Master Plumber responsible for the work is identified and provides confirmation of responsibility prior to the issuance of the plumbing permit. P-103.4 Permit holder. The owner shall retain the right to change the Registered Master Plumber associated with a permit to a new Registered Master Plumber. The changing of plumbing contractors shall not require the issuance of a new permit, where the owner identifies a new Registered Master Plumber to complete the work under such plumbing permit. P-103.4.1 Multiple Registered Master Plumbers. The Department reserves the right to issue a single plumbing permit for work to be performed by multiple Registered Master Plumbers, provided that the owner is responsible for final compliance in the event of a dispute between the named Registered Master Plumbers. P-103.4.2 Responsibility. All Registered Master Plumbers identified on a permit shall be responsible for compliance with this code in the performance of their work. No other Registered Master Plumber shall perform work related to the permit except as a subcontractor or employee.

Philadelphia Code § P-104 TEMPORARY EQUIPMENT, SYSTEMS AND USES

SECTION P-104 TEMPORARY EQUIPMENT, SYSTEMS AND USES P-104.1 General. The code official is authorized to issue a plumbing permit for temporary equipment, systems and uses. Such permits shall be limited as to time of service but shall not be permitted for more than 180 days. The code official is authorized to grant extensions for demonstrated cause. P-104.2 Conformance. Temporary equipment, systems and uses shall conform to the accessibility and sanitary requirements of this code as necessary to ensure the public health, safety and general welfare. P-104.3 Temporary utilities. The code official is authorized to give permission to temporarily supply utilities before an installation has been fully completed and the final certificate of approval has been issued. P-104.4 Termination of approval. The code official is authorized to terminate such permit for temporary equipment, systems or uses and to order the temporary equipment, systems or uses to be discontinued.

Philadelphia Code § P-105 REGULATIONS

SECTION P-105 REGULATIONS P-105.1 Authorization. The Department is authorized to promulgate technical regulations, and to amend existing such regulations as it deems necessary or appropriate from time to time, governing the manner in which plumbing work is to be performed and the materials that are to be used. Such regulations shall meet the standards set forth in Section P-105.1.1. P-105.1.1 Standards of plumbing regulations. In developing or amending the technical regulations governing plumbing installations, the Department shall develop regulations based upon the model plumbing codes enacted through the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, Act 45 of 1999, as amended (the “UCC”); to include: 1. The development of any necessary local exceptions to such model plumbing codes, provided that such amendments would equal or exceed the minimum requirements of the UCC and remain subject to the following standards imposed by the UCC: a. That certain clear and convincing local climatic, geologic, topographic or public health and safety circumstances or conditions justify the exception; b. the exception shall be adequate for the purpose intended and shall meet a standard of performance equal to or greater than that prescribed by the UCC; and c. the exception would not diminish or threaten the health, safety and welfare of the public. 2. National standards that eliminate to the greatest extent possible the use of lead in the installation of plumbing materials both to protect the soil from contamination and to meet the requirements of the Federal Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act. 3. National standards that allow for methods and materials which promote sustainability and conservation in the City’s built environment. 4. Regulations that allow for alterations to existing plumbing systems installed under prior or current plumbing codes and standards, pursuant to updated plumbing codes enacted by the UCC. P-105.2 Publishing of errata. When errors are found in the development and format of the technical provisions of this code after publication, the Department of Licenses and Inspections is authorized to publish errata to clarify and correct such errors.

Philadelphia Code § P-106 PLUMBING ADVISORY BOARD

SECTION P-106 PLUMBING ADVISORY BOARD P-106.1 Establishment. The Plumbing Advisory Board is established in the Department of Licenses and Inspections, with such duties as may be determined by the Mayor by Executive Order. P-106.2 Composition. The Board shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor and shall be chaired by one such appointed member as designated by the Mayor. The Board shall consist of: four members who are registered master plumbers; one member who is a design professional licensed or registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania experienced in the design of plumbing systems; one member who shall represent the development community; and one member who shall represent the sustainability community. The Board shall also include the following non-voting ex-officio members: one member from the Department of Licenses and Inspections; one member from the Street Department; and one member from the Water Department, each of whom shall be appointed by their respective Commissioners. In the event a vacancy occurs with one of the members appointed by the Mayor, the remainder of the Board may recommend a replacement.

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/0-0-0-270616Fetched: 10/27/2026