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Department of Planning and Development

Creating strong neighborhoods with empowered residents.

Department of Planning and Development

What we do

The Department of Planning and Development works in collaboration with communities to promote, plan, preserve, and develop successful neighborhoods for all.

Reaching these goals requires city agencies to work together with residents, businesses, developers, advocates, funders, and each other. Planning and Development has a team of agencies that do just that. Our agencies include:

We also partner with the PHDC.

Together we are charting a vibrant future for our city.

Connect

Address
1515 Arch St.
13th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email planning@phila.gov
Phone
TTY: (215) 683-0286
Social

Announcements

New ZBA Fee Schedule in Effect as of August 1

New Zoning Board of Adjustment fees are effective on August 1, 2026. View the new fee schedule and other ZBA materials on the Zoning Board of Adjustment appeals materials page.

Zoning Board of Adjustment fees are established in Section A-907 of the Philadelphia Administrative Code. Applicants must pay a filing fee to appeal to the ZBA. The filing fee will be listed on your refusal or referral issued by L&I.

New Zoning Board of Adjustment fees came into effect on August 1, 2026.

The fee to appeal varies by property:

  • Existing one-or-two-family dwellings — $125
  • Proposed affordable housing projects* — $125
  • All other properties — $811
  • Administrative review — $265
  • Reposting of notices (continuance) — $177
  • Accelerated hearing — $995 per property (maximum of $2,985)
  • Accelerated hearing for proposed affordable housing projects* — $0
  • Leave to amend — $151

*Applies to applications for variances and special exceptions where the project described in the denied zoning permit meets the definition of an “Affordable Housing Project,” as defined in Section A-106 of the Philadelphia Administrative Code.

Philly Trails in a Photo Contest

This summer, teenagers and young adults in Philadelphia are invited to enter the Philly in a Photo Contest: Trails Edition. Philadelphia youth ages 12 to 22 are invited to enter a photo in the contest by September 1, 2026. Enter the contest by completing the Philly in a Photo Contest (Trails Edition) submission form. For more details and information, read this blog post.

Events

  • Aug
    14
    Historical Commission monthly meeting
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

    Historical Commission monthly meeting

    August 14, 2026
    9:00 am to 2:00 pm, 5 hours
    1515 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map
    The Historical Commission will hold its Friday, August 14, 2026 meeting in person at 1515 Arch Street, 18th Floor, Room 18-029. Applicants, property owners, and the public may attend the meeting in person at 1515 Arch Street, or remotely on the Zoom platform using your computer, tablet, smartphone, or telephone.

    The meeting agenda, applications, nomination materials, and recent meeting minutes are available on the Historical Commission's Public Meetings page. The Historical Commission will consider adopting the minutes of its most recent meeting at the upcoming meeting. The advisory committee minutes are not formally adopted, but are considered drafts until reviewed by the Historical Commission at the meeting.

    To watch the meeting live on Zoom using your computer, tablet, or smartphone, click on the following link on August 14.
    Link: August 14, 2026 meeting
    Meeting Password: 010480

    To listen to the meeting live on the telephone, call this number on August 14.
    Telephone Number: 267-831-0333
    Meeting ID: 871 6949 1289#
    Participant ID: #
    Meeting Password: 010480#

    To offer written comments prior to the meeting, send an email to preservation@phila.gov. Written comments received before noon one business day prior to the meeting will be forwarded to the Commission members.

    After the meeting, you can watch a recording of the meeting (and other earlier meetings) on the Recordings page of the Historical Commission's website.

    For more information on the meeting, see the FAQs for Historical Commission's Meeting.
  • Aug
    25
    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm
    Online via Zoom

    Historical Commission Architectural Committee meeting

    August 25, 2026
    9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 3 hours
    Online via Zoom
    map

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