Philadelphia: Rental License and lead certification
Philadelphia requires a Rental License to rent out dwelling, rooming or sleeping units, with one license per building. Any property built before March 1978 must be certified lead-safe or lead-free (City of Philadelphia). Lead-safe certificates completed since February 2020 last four years (Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes Program).
Read the full Philadelphia checklist
Rental licensing in other Pennsylvania towns
Several Pennsylvania cities run their own rental registration, licensing or inspection programs. A few we hear about often:
- Allentown requires rental unit registration and inspections, with an annual license fee per unit (City of Allentown).
- Bethlehem licenses and inspects rental units through its housing inspections office (City of Bethlehem).
- Pittsburgh launched a residential rental permit program, with enforcement starting after June 1, 2025 (City of Pittsburgh).
Own in another town? Check its code enforcement or housing office. We're adding a town-by-town series to the hub.
The insurance questions we hear most from Pennsylvania owners
- "The renovation's done and the apartments are full. Am I still on the construction policy?" If tenants moved in, the policy should change with them.
- "The building's been empty for a year while we finish it." That's vacancy-clause territory. See the vacancy guide.
- "My commercial tenant has its own insurance." Ask for a certificate of insurance listing you, and put the requirement in the lease.
- "I bought it in an LLC." Then the LLC should be the named insured. See the LLC guide.
Questions PA owners ask us
Does Pennsylvania require a statewide rental license?
Rental licensing in Pennsylvania is mostly handled by cities and towns, so the rules depend on where the property is. Philadelphia, Allentown, Bethlehem and Pittsburgh all run their own programs.
How long is a Philadelphia lead-safe certificate good for?
Lead-safe certificates completed after February 1, 2020 are valid for four years. Lead-free certificates don't expire.
I own a building with a store and apartments. What kind of policy do I need?
Usually a commercial policy that covers the building and your liability, with the commercial tenant carrying its own insurance and listing you as an additional insured. We'll help you sort out the details.
Does CanDo work with Pennsylvania landlords?
Yes. We work with rental owners across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Educational, not legal advice. Local rules vary by city and township; confirm with your local code or licensing office.
You can do it. We can help.