City of Philadelphia - File #: 160787

• File #: 160787
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 9/15/2016
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 9/15/2016
• Title: Calling on the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to amend the Act of November 10, 1999, known as the "Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" to exempt Cities of the First Class and further allow for Cities of the First Class to adopt their own Construction Codes.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Taubenberger, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Squilla

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
9/15/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar - Rules Suspended	Pass
9/15/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Calling on the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to amend the Act of November 10, 1999, known as the "Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" to exempt Cities of the First Class and further allow for Cities of the First Class to adopt their own Construction Codes.

Body
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Construction Code Act has not been updated to a modern code since 2009; and

WHEREAS, The reason for this relates to issues and debates surrounding residential construction of detached and semi-detached homes; and

WHEREAS, Construction within the City of Philadelphia is primarily commercial with most of its residential construction regulated under commercial building codes because of height and density factors; and

WHEREAS, The failure to modernize the building code for the City of Philadelphia is seen as an increased risk to safety and hazard mitigation by the insurance industry and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

WHEREAS, Confusion surrounding the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code delays the approval of development projects which negatively impacts jobs and tax revenues. Confusion wastes resources that are better applied to focus on building safety; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia stands as a major metropolitan area with booming commercial development that requires application of a clear set of modern construction standards; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia demands the greatest energy efficiencies offered by modern codes for the sustainability of the City; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia requires unique and specific modifications of national codes to control public safety in its dense urban environment as evidenced by City Council's numerous changes regarding demolitions and public protections; and

WHEREAS, Prior to the UCC, Philadelphia maintained a modern building code with responsible amendments that were responsive to its citizens and enforced by a fully trained and certified staff at the Department of Licenses & ...