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 2021, all types.

32,141
Zoning permit applications
19%
Refused at first review
5,652
Appealed to the ZBA
76%
Appeals granted (of decided)
51%
Issued permits with a confirmed or inferred building permit
ZONING PATHPERMITBUILDING PERMITCERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCYBy right → Zoning permit issued: 25,208By right → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 799Refused, no appeal found → Zoning permit issued: 75Refused, no appeal found → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 407Appealed: granted → Zoning permit issued: 3,596Appealed: granted → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 174Appealed: denied → Zoning permit issued: 38Appealed: denied → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 351Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Zoning permit issued: 13Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 812Appealed: awaiting decision → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 668Zoning permit issued → Building permit (confirmed): 13,782Zoning permit issued → Building permit (inferred): 1,053Zoning permit issued → No linked record: 14,095Building permit (confirmed) → C.O. recorded: 4,801Building permit (confirmed) → No C.O. recorded yet: 8,981Building permit (inferred) → C.O. recorded: 400Building permit (inferred) → No C.O. recorded yet: 653By right26,007 (81%)Refused, no appeal found482 (1%)Appealed: granted3,770 (12%)Appealed: denied389 (1%)Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed825 (3%)Appealed: awaiting decision668 (2%)Zoning permit issued28,930 (90%)Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)3,211 (10%)Building permit (confirmed)13,782 (43%)Building permit (inferred)1,053 (3%)No linked record14,095 (44%)C.O. recorded5,201 (16%)No C.O. recorded yet9,634 (30%)
Permit counts at each step
By right26007
Refused, no appeal found482
Appealed: granted3770
Appealed: denied389
Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed825
Appealed: awaiting decision668
Zoning permit issued28930
Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)3211
Building permit (confirmed)13782
Building permit (inferred)1053
No linked record14095
C.O. recorded5201
No C.O. recorded yet9634

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
104
Appeal pending
113
Building permit
571
Under construction
689
Stalled

Projects at: Zoning review

Most recent 40 of 339
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 2244 MARGARET ST
    2 units · District 6 · 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
  • 3252 MILLER ST
    2 units · District 6 · 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
  • 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
  • 2255 S HEMBERGER ST
    2 units · District 2 · 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
  • 1827 KINSEY ST
    5 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
  • 7315 W PASSYUNK AVE
    1 unit · District 2 · 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
  • 2313 N 11TH ST
    20 units · 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
  • 1122 MCCLELLAN 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
  • 1330 W ROCKLAND ST
    8 units · 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
  • 1802 KENDRICK ST
    2 units · District 10 · 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

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.