L&I NEWSLETTER
December 2020
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L&I Annual Report Card Evaluation
The City of Philadelphia recognizes the importance of collecting user feedback to better improve customer experience and internal processes. At L&I we have completed our 3rd annual Report Card evaluation to understand from experienced professionals how L+I is performing as a whole and what process improvement opportunities exist for the Department.
Each year, we provide a survey to organizations and associations in the Philadelphia region who represent a large proportion of the industry that does business with L&I. The questions are grouped into report card topics and the average is calculated based on response received for all questions in that topic. Each topic is assigned a letter grade of A, B, C, D or F to understand what areas need the most work. Below you will find our year to year Report Card results:
Outcomes
After reviewing and discussing results with organization stakeholders, the Department has determined the following initiatives over the next year to address concerns heard through our Report Card initiative:
- Continue Report Card Program, Focus Groups, regular solicited feedback.
- Continuous improvement of eCLIPSE.
- Mobile inspections for internal staff.
- Inquiry resolution process improvements and ticketing:
- Consolidation of online forms
- Reduce response time
- Chat
- Permit Wizard.
- Examiner Appointments.
- Continue regular Lunch N Learn Sessions, webinars, training sessions:
- Provide alternate times to accommodate different schedules
- Additional website content:
- Short videos for online application support
- FAQs
- More frequent newsletter.
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Register for L&I eCLIPSE Webinars
Sign up today! L&I is continuing to offer bi-monthly public webinars about the online permitting system (eCLIPSE), electronic plans (e-Plans) and zoning. The next scheduled webinars are in January. Customers can sign up for the webinars online under the ‘Events’ section of the L&I homepage.
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Construction Permit Expiration for Projects: Code Bulletin A2001 provides information on construction permit expiration and additional requirements.
Changes to Work Site Signage
Bill No 200417 enacted on November 12, 2020 amended the Administrative code requiring L&I to collect the names of natural persons associated with permit applications. L&I will enforce the requirement of the natural person(s) to be named on the work site signage for all new permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2021.
Coming soon - Contracts Required for Electrical Permit Fee Calculations
As a reminder, starting on January 1, 2021, an executed contract must be submitted with all new electrical permit applications prior to the generation of a billing statement. The contract cost must include the cost of all electrical equipment, material, labor, overhead, and profit and shall be used to determine permit fee in accordance with Section A- 903.2 of the Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code. If the construction cost identified on the contract includes work that is not covered by the permit application, an explanation and detailed estimate of equipment, material, labor, overhead, and profit for the work that is covered by the permit must be provided. The cost associated with solar electric or photovoltaic systems may exclude the cost of arrays or inverters in accordance with Section A-903.2.1.
The contract is not required at application; however, it must be provided prior to calculation of permit fee and generation of billing statement.
Coming Soon: Submit your subcontractors' names to L&I
As a reminder, starting on January 1, 2021, Philadelphia contractors and trade licensees will be required to submit the names of each subcontractor that works under their permits to L&I using eCLIPSE, within three (3) days of that subcontractor starting work. This requirement will not apply to the construction of one- or two family residential buildings.
Failure to comply may result in license violations, fines, and Stop Work Orders.
Refer to the How-To Guide for step-by-step instructions to add a subcontractor to your permit via eCLIPSE.
Tax Abatement and Construction Tax Bills Passed
by City Council
On December 10, 2020, City Council passed the following three bills:
Bill No. 200556 assesses a 1% tax on residential construction and improvements. The tax would go into effect on January 1, 2022.
Bill No. 200653 changes the real estate tax exemption schedule for improvements to commercial properties from a 100% exemption for 10 years to a 90% exemption for 10 years. The change would apply to applications for the exemption made after December 31, 2021.
Bill No. 200366 delays a previously-enacted change to the abatement for new residential construction by a year. Previously the change was going to start on January 1, 2021; under this bill it would start January 1, 2022.
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Applications for the residential abatement applied for on or before December 31, 2021 would enjoy 100% exemption for 10 years.
- For applications received after that date, only the first year's assessable amount of construction costs would be 100% exempt from tax. Every year following, the exemption would decrease by 10%, until the abatement terminated after the 10th year.
Mayor Kenney has not signed any of these bills. The bills are still being evaluated by the Administration.
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Renew Your Lapsed License Today
to Avoid Late Charges
Over 16,000 emails and 4,000 mailings were sent out to Business and Trade License holders with expired licenses. if your business or trade license renewal is more than 60 days past-due, please renew your license as soon as possible to avoid additional charges. A delinquency fee of 1.5% per month will be charged to all licenses that are more than 60 days past due, beginning February 1, 2021.
Temporary Sidewalk Cafe and Streetery Licenses to Stay in Effect Through December 31, 2021.
Regulations to carry out a recently enacted outdoor dining bill are now being finalized. Under the regulation, temporary sidewalk café and streetery licenses issued in 2020 will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2021.
If your outdoor dining area extends in front of a neighbor’s property, however, you must obtain the neighbor’s permission to allow the extension to remain for another year and inform L&I by submitting an amendment to outdoor dining.
More details will be available at Covid-19 Guidance once the regulations are in force.
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Building Maintenance Inspections |
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Dampers and Smoke Control Reminder
The periodic certification of dampers in select occupancies and of smoke control systems is now enforced by L&I. All certifications for qualifying systems are due by January 1, 2021. Please review the fire protection certifications for more information on regulated occupancies and official forms.
Refer to the how-to guide on step by step instructions for uploading certifications.
For questions related to Damper inspections, complete the online form.
Landlords Must Provide Bedbug Information and Abatement Under Ordinance Effective January 1, 2021.
Landlords entering into leases that commence January 2021 and later will be required to provide a bedbug informational brochure to tenants. You will be able to find the brochure under “Resources” on the L&I website. The landlord must also develop a written bedbug control plan.
When a tenant reports that there are bedbugs in a rental unit, the landlord must have the unit inspected by a pest control professional within 10 days. If there are bedbugs present, the landlord must hire a pest control professional to treat the unit until the bedbugs are gone and must provide monitoring for 12 months. Additional information will be available shortly on the City website.
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Back issues of the L&I Newsletter are available on the L&I website under Resources.
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