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.

15,060
Zoning permit applications
18%
Refused at first review
2,649
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: 11,794By right → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 487Refused, no appeal found → Zoning permit issued: 48Refused, no appeal found → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 82Appealed: granted → Zoning permit issued: 1,871Appealed: granted → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 102Appealed: denied → Zoning permit issued: 26Appealed: denied → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 180Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Zoning permit issued: 9Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 247Appealed: awaiting decision → Zoning permit issued: 3Appealed: awaiting decision → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 211Zoning permit issued → Building permit (confirmed): 8,793Zoning permit issued → Building permit (inferred): 1,499Zoning permit issued → No linked record: 3,459Building permit (confirmed) → C.O. recorded: 3,589Building permit (confirmed) → No C.O. recorded yet: 5,204Building permit (inferred) → C.O. recorded: 655Building permit (inferred) → No C.O. recorded yet: 844By right12,281 (82%)Refused, no appeal found130 (1%)Appealed: granted1,973 (13%)Appealed: denied206 (1%)Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed256 (2%)Appealed: awaiting decision214 (1%)Zoning permit issued13,751 (91%)Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)1,309 (9%)Building permit (confirmed)8,793 (58%)Building permit (inferred)1,499 (10%)No linked record3,459 (23%)C.O. recorded4,244 (28%)No C.O. recorded yet6,048 (40%)
Permit counts at each step
By right12281
Refused, no appeal found130
Appealed: granted1973
Appealed: denied206
Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed256
Appealed: awaiting decision214
Zoning permit issued13751
Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)1309
Building permit (confirmed)8793
Building permit (inferred)1499
No linked record3459
C.O. recorded4244
No C.O. recorded yet6048

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.

343
Zoning review
95
Appeal pending
113
Building permit
572
Under construction
691
Stalled

Projects at: Zoning review

Most recent 40 of 343
  • 1469 N 57TH ST
    2 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-24
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 422 SOUTH ST
    2 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2618 N 22ND ST
    District 5 · last activity 2026-10-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 301 W SOMERSET ST
    2 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 648-50 N 40TH ST
    24 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5947 N 13TH ST
    2 units · District 9 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1754 S HICKS ST
    District 2 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1117 N 40TH ST
    3 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 896 N 41ST ST
    30 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-20
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 828 RITNER ST
    2 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-20
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3612 N 5TH ST
    4 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-20
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 828 S 8TH ST
    7 units · last activity 2026-10-20
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2712 N 16TH ST
    2 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3801 FAIRMOUNT AVE
    3 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2037 N CARLISLE ST
    3 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-16
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 645 W VENANGO ST
    1 unit · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-16
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 7110 MOUNT AIRY TER
    1 unit · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3401 TAMPA ST
    2 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2922R-24 S FELTON ST
    2 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2318 S BROAD ST
    5 units · District 2 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 541 E WISTER ST
    47 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1724 ARLINGTON ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1402 WHARTON ST
    3 units · District 2 · last activity 2026-10-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 559 N 63RD ST
    3 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-12
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3001 HELLERMAN ST
    2 units · District 6 · last activity 2026-10-11
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1306 CALLOWHILL ST
    District 1 · last activity 2026-10-09
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2441 ASPEN ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-09
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1151 S 19TH ST
    1 unit · District 2 · last activity 2026-10-08
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 163 CONARROE ST
    20 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-07
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4175 MANTUA AVE
    3 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-07
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2725 W BERKS ST
    1 unit · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-07
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 9545 BUSTLETON AVE
    3 units · District 10 · last activity 2026-10-07
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4419 BAKER ST
    3 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-07
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 521 W SUSQUEHANNA AVE
    33 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-07
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1801 RITNER ST
    2 units · District 2 · last activity 2026-10-06
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3804 N 18TH ST
    2 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-05
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2450 N 29TH ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-05
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2609 E ALLEGHENY AVE
    2 units · District 6 · last activity 2026-10-04
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2027 S 5TH ST
    2 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-02
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4623 N FRONT ST
    2 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-02
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    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.