How project reviews work
If you want to do work to a property that’s on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, you need approval from the Philadelphia Historical Commission. This process is called a project or design review.
Most reviews have to do with changes to a property’s exterior. The commission only has jurisdiction over building interiors that appear on the register.
The commission staff can often give their approval for your building permit application. However, the scope of work may sometimes exceed their authority to approve. In that case, they will refer your project to the Architectural Committee and Historical Commission for their consideration.
Learn about the commission’s public meetings and the applications currently under review.