The Renters' Access Act supports fair access to housing by creating uniform screening criteria for applicants' rental and credit history. Landlords should follow these guidelines when they screen prospective tenants. The full law appears in Sections 9-1108 (3) and (4) and Section 9-810 of the Philadelphia Code.
The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) doles out these licenses. It's a code violation to rent without a license in Philadelphia. Thus, anyone who does so will be subject to a $300 daily fine.
A rental license in Philadelphia is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually for as long as the property is rented to residential tenants. Landlords can apply for a rental license online using the City of Philadelphia's eCLIPSE system.
No person, firm, or corporation managing, conducting, owning or operating a dwelling or dwelling unit shall rent, lease, let out or permit to be occupied or shall re-rent the same without first obtaining a certificate of occupancy from the Borough, as set forth by the same procedure as in §§ 101-2 and 101-7.
If your landlord does not have a rental license, it is illegal for them to collect rent from you. To find out if your landlord has a rental license, use the city's Atlas tool and search for your address: .
First, the city can fine you $300 per day for every day your property has been rented without a license. For example, if the tenant has been living there for a year, you're looking at 365 days of fines – that's 365 times $300, which can add up very quickly.
In Pennsylvania, there is no statewide requirement for landlords to have a rental license.