ZBA Watch

From zoning application to certificate of occupancy.

Where zoning permits go: refused or not, whether the ZBA hears an appeal, and how many reach a building permit and a certificate of occupancy.

Measure
PermitsUnits (appealed only)
Units are known only for appealed permits.
Cohort: year applied
2020 on2021 on2023 on
Building-permit links barely exist before 2020.
Permit type
New constructionAll zoning permits
Change-of-use permits never need a building permit.
Pipeline activity (hop tiles)
12 months24 months5 years

Flow: where a group of permits ended up

Permits applied for since 2020, new construction and additions only.

14,995
Zoning permit applications
18%
Refused at first review
2,644
Appealed to the ZBA
81%
Appeals granted (of decided)
75%
Issued permits with a confirmed or inferred building permit
ZONING PATHPERMITBUILDING PERMITCERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCYBy right → Zoning permit issued: 11,735By right → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 486Refused, no appeal found → Zoning permit issued: 48Refused, no appeal found → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 82Appealed: granted → Zoning permit issued: 1,866Appealed: granted → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 103Appealed: denied → Zoning permit issued: 25Appealed: denied → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 181Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Zoning permit issued: 9Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 246Appealed: awaiting decision → Zoning permit issued: 3Appealed: awaiting decision → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 211Zoning permit issued → Building permit (confirmed): 8,751Zoning permit issued → Building permit (inferred): 1,496Zoning permit issued → No linked record: 3,439Building permit (confirmed) → C.O. recorded: 3,572Building permit (confirmed) → No C.O. recorded yet: 5,179Building permit (inferred) → C.O. recorded: 656Building permit (inferred) → No C.O. recorded yet: 840By right12,221 (82%)Refused, no appeal found130 (1%)Appealed: granted1,969 (13%)Appealed: denied206 (1%)Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed255 (2%)Appealed: awaiting decision214 (1%)Zoning permit issued13,686 (91%)Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)1,309 (9%)Building permit (confirmed)8,751 (58%)Building permit (inferred)1,496 (10%)No linked record3,439 (23%)C.O. recorded4,228 (28%)No C.O. recorded yet6,019 (40%)
Permit counts at each step
By right12221
Refused, no appeal found130
Appealed: granted1969
Appealed: denied206
Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed255
Appealed: awaiting decision214
Zoning permit issued13686
Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)1309
Building permit (confirmed)8751
Building permit (inferred)1496
No linked record3439
C.O. recorded4228
No C.O. recorded yet6019

Census: where housing projects with an appeal sit now

Housing projects with a ZBA appeal on record and activity in the last 24 months, counted at the furthest hop they have reached. This is a snapshot, not a share of the group above, so don't read it as attrition.

339
Zoning review
103
Appeal pending
113
Building permit
571
Under construction
688
Stalled

Projects at: Under construction

Most recent 40 of 571
  • 2124 E LEHIGH AVE
    3 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-18
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5162 D ST
    2 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-16
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5243 OXFORD AVE
    1 unit · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-16
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 488 BYBERRY RD
    1 unit · District 10 · last activity 2026-10-16
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4242 W STILES ST
    2 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-16
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2550 E MONMOUTH ST
    1 unit · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-16
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4401 HOLDEN ST
    327 units · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1382 RIDGE AVE
    3 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 8575 TORRESDALE AVE
    1 unit · District 6 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4908 WALNUT ST
    3 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 517 BAINBRIDGE ST
    2 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1941 CALLOWHILL ST
    3 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1665 N 56TH ST
    2 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 30 N 23RD ST
    District 5 · last activity 2026-10-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2121 E ALLEGHENY AVE
    76 units · District 6 · last activity 2026-10-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 141 E SPRINGER ST
    1 unit · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3301 N 22ND ST
    2 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 7789 CRAIG ST
    1 unit · District 6 · last activity 2026-10-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1589 E HEWSON ST
    1 unit · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1001 S BROAD ST
    1111 units · District 2 · last activity 2026-10-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1225 CONSTITUTION AVE
    346 units · District 2 · last activity 2026-10-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3739 N 16TH ST
    3 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1200-08 S BROAD ST
    53 units · District 2 · last activity 2026-10-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1933 W GEORGE ST
    1 unit · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 8410 PROSPECT AVE
    1 unit · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1931 W GEORGE ST
    1 unit · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 208-10 REX AVE
    5 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-12
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3921 RIDGE AVE
    3 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-12
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 223 DURAND ST
    1 unit · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-12
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3757 N 18TH ST
    4 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-09
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4167 MANTUA AVE
    4 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-09
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 203-09 DIAMOND ST
    8 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-09
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 7078 LINCOLN DR
    30 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-08
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 162 W BERKS ST
    152 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-08
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2312 GERMANTOWN AVE
    3 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-08
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1357 DYRE ST
    3 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-08
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2307 N 11TH ST
    5 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-08
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3151 STAMFORD ST
    1 unit · District 6 · last activity 2026-10-08
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3220 RHETT RD
    2 units · District 10 · last activity 2026-10-08
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 821-25 N 13TH ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-07
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record

Filled dot: reached. Open ring: no record found, which is not the same as a project failing.

How we read these numbers

  • Confirmed building permits name the zoning permit's job directly. Inferred ones are a later new-construction permit on the same parcel. No linked record means we found neither. It does not mean the project failed.
  • Appeals are matched to the permit they contest. Permits are counted once, even when recorded on more than one parcel.
  • Cohorts start in 2020 because links from zoning permits to building permits barely exist before then.
  • Counts by council district use the appeal's district where there is one, otherwise the parcel's.
Permit Pipeline | ZBA Watch