CLS provides limited legal advice to homeowners who have outstanding housing code violations from the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). CLS does not generally provide legal representation in these cases.
How We Can Help
What to Bring
Before you call, please gather any relevant paperwork you have about your code enforcement issue with L&I.
Where To Get Help
Community Legal Services
Center City Office
1424 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia PA 19102
Mondays and Wednesdays 9am-12pm
North Philadelphia Office
1410 W. Erie Ave (Broad and Erie)
Philadelphia PA 19140
Mondays and Wednesdays 8:30am-11:30am
Community Legal Services
215-981-3700
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9am-12pm
About Licenses and Inspections
If you get notice of a violation, it is important not to ignore it. It is usually useful to communicate with L&I to understand what is needed to correct the violation. L&I often allows additional time to resolve the problem as long as they know you are working on it.
If the City files a code violation case in Municipal Court, you must attend the hearing unless you are certain that the case has been resolved. Be sure to be there on time. Otherwise, a decision could be entered against you by default and you could be held responsible for fines or fees. Cases filed in Common Pleas Court are more complicated and usually require a lawyer to file a written response in a format that complies with court rules.
If you do not speak English, L&I is required to communicate with you in your own language.
If you need assistance to make the repairs required by L&I, there are several programs that provide home repair grants or low-interest loans to low-income homeowners. Unfortunately, waiting lists can be very long. For more information, see Home Repair.