City of Philadelphia - File #: 170827

• File #: 170827
• Version: 1
• Type: Bill
• Status: LAPSED
• File created: 9/28/2017
• In control: Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless
• Title: Amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity," Chapter 10-800, "Safety," by adding a new Section 10-840, "Squatters," establishing and clarifying procedures to remove squatters from real property, all under certain terms and conditions.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Oh
• Indexes: SQUATTERS
• Code sections: 10-800 - Safety, Title 10 - REGULATION OF INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT AND ACTIVITY

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
2/15/2018	1	Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless	HEARING NOTICES SENT
2/15/2018	1	Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless	Cancellation of Scheduled Public Hearing
11/6/2017	0	Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless	HEARING NOTICES SENT
11/6/2017	0	Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless	HEARING HELD
11/6/2017	0	Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless	AMENDED
11/6/2017	1	Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless	RECESSED
10/11/2017	0	CITY COUNCIL	Re-Referred
9/28/2017	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Referred	Pass

Title
Amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity," Chapter 10-800, "Safety," by adding a new Section 10-840, "Squatters," establishing and clarifying procedures to remove squatters from real property, all under certain terms and conditions.

Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1. Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

TITLE 10. REGULATION OF INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT AND ACTIVITY.

* * *

CHAPTER 10-800. SAFETY

* * *
§ 10-840. Squatters.

(1) Legislative Findings.

(a) Any person who occupies the real property of another person without right; title, including by twenty-one (21) years of adverse possession of the real property under 42 PA.C.S. §5530; payment of rent; permission of the actual current owner of said real property; or any other interaction with the current real owner of said real property that would indicate a relationship other than that of a trespasser upon said real property; in other words a "squatter," is creating a condition that could erupt in violence endangering lives and promoting the prospect of injuries to persons and damage to properties, all of which poses a serious risk to the public health, safety and welfare.

(b) Squatters are trespassers and have no rights to occupy real property as against the rights of the current owner of said real property.

(c) Police are sometimes reluctant to remove squatters from real property because of confusion that Philadelphia may have a "squatters' rights law."

(d) Philadelphia does not have a "squatters' rights law."

(e) There is also confusion about whether squatters are tenants. They are not, and have none of the rights of tenants.

(f) As a matter of practical departure, not rights, squatters should be allowed time to remove their belongings and f...