BREAKING NEWS:
Construction in Philadelphia
The rules on construction in Philadelphia have been changing on a daily basis since March 19 th when Governor Wolf ordered “non-life-sustaining” businesses to shut down indefinitely in the attempt to rein in the spread of the coronavirus.  Construction activity has been categorized as a “non-life-sustaining activity”.  The deadline for construction work to stop originally was set for March 21 st. The deadline has been extended to Friday, March 27, 2020 at 5 p.m.  Pursuant to the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections’ website, the additional time is to avoid unnecessary property damage while taking into consideration public safety. 

·       Contractors must secure construction sites. In doing so, “contractors are directed to take proper measures to protect adjacent properties, remove or fasten items that are or could become loose, secure sites against trespass, and complete work necessary to protect and ensure the structural integrity of buildings under construction.” Residential properties that are occupied must be in a safe and habitable conditional by the deadline.
 
·       Routine maintenance and repair of existing buildings is permitted to continue.
 
·       Emergency repairs and replacements may continue. The work must be performed by a licensed contractor. Permits must be obtained within three (3) days of the emergency repair or replacement on the city’s newly implemented on-line system for permit applications—the eClipse system. 
 
·       Construction work on health care facilities is permitted to continue with strict procedures to protect the public.


Please contact Dawn M. Tancredi ( dmtancredi@zarwin.com ) at
Zarwin Baum Devito Kaplan Schaer & Toddy PC to answer any questions about your construction site or obtaining permits on the eClipse system.