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 2023, new construction and additions only.

6,791
Zoning permit applications
18%
Refused at first review
1,158
Appealed to the ZBA
84%
Appeals granted (of decided)
67%
Issued permits with a confirmed or inferred building permit
ZONING PATHPERMITBUILDING PERMITCERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCYBy right → Zoning permit issued: 5,460By right → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 90Refused, no appeal found → Zoning permit issued: 20Refused, no appeal found → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 63Appealed: granted → Zoning permit issued: 773Appealed: granted → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 48Appealed: denied → Zoning permit issued: 7Appealed: denied → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 60Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Zoning permit issued: 2Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 82Appealed: awaiting decision → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 186Zoning permit issued → Building permit (confirmed): 3,762Zoning permit issued → Building permit (inferred): 432Zoning permit issued → No linked record: 2,068Building permit (confirmed) → C.O. recorded: 973Building permit (confirmed) → No C.O. recorded yet: 2,789Building permit (inferred) → C.O. recorded: 110Building permit (inferred) → No C.O. recorded yet: 322By right5,550 (82%)Refused, no appeal found83 (1%)Appealed: granted821 (12%)Appealed: denied67 (1%)Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed84 (1%)Appealed: awaiting decision186 (3%)Zoning permit issued6,262 (92%)Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)529 (8%)Building permit (confirmed)3,762 (55%)Building permit (inferred)432 (6%)No linked record2,068 (30%)C.O. recorded1,083 (16%)No C.O. recorded yet3,111 (46%)
Permit counts at each step
By right5550
Refused, no appeal found83
Appealed: granted821
Appealed: denied67
Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed84
Appealed: awaiting decision186
Zoning permit issued6262
Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)529
Building permit (confirmed)3762
Building permit (inferred)432
No linked record2068
C.O. recorded1083
No C.O. recorded yet3111

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.

137
Zoning review
43
Appeal pending
80
Building permit
554
Under construction
381
Stalled

Projects at: Zoning review

Most recent 40 of 137
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 2225 MASCHER ST
    29 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-01
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1021 W HORTTER ST
    1 unit · District 4 · last activity 2026-09-30
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 905 S SCHELL ST
    1 unit · District 1 · last activity 2026-09-29
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 423-27 E ASHMEAD ST
    1 unit · District 8 · last activity 2026-09-29
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 6100 WISSAHICKON AVE
    16 units · District 4, 8 · last activity 2026-09-29
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 949 S 3RD ST
    2 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-09-28
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4652 TORRESDALE AVE
    1 unit · District 7 · last activity 2026-09-28
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2903 FRANKFORD AVE
    5 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-09-28
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2361 N LEITHGOW ST
    1 unit · District 7 · last activity 2026-09-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2363 N LEITHGOW ST
    1 unit · District 7 · last activity 2026-09-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2365 N LEITHGOW ST
    1 unit · District 7 · last activity 2026-09-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5499 QUENTIN ST
    3 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-09-18
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1936 N 32ND ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-09-17
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1700 68TH AVE
    3 units · District 9 · last activity 2026-09-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4420 N 15TH ST
    1 unit · District 8 · last activity 2026-09-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 119 LEVERING ST
    1 unit · last activity 2026-09-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5514 LANSDOWNE AVE
    2 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-09-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 948 N LEITHGOW ST
    1 unit · District 5 · last activity 2026-09-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4005 BROWN ST
    2 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-09-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2618 N 17TH ST
    3 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-09-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3190 S 17TH ST
    1 unit · District 2 · last activity 2026-09-11
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2639 BAINBRIDGE ST
    District 2 · last activity 2026-09-11
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1523 N BAILEY ST
    7 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-09-10
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3418 N 17TH ST
    16 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-09-09
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4562 STILES ST
    2 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-09-08
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1300-50 N 10TH ST
    116 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-09-03
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5753 JEFFERSON ST
    1 unit · District 4 · last activity 2026-09-03
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5221 WISSAHICKON AVE
    3 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-09-03
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3734 N 16TH ST
    2 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-09-03
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1648 CADWALLADER ST
    2 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-09-03
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1311 S 47TH ST
    3 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-09-03
    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.