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, new construction and additions only.

2,224
Appealed permits
81%
…with a unit count
17,370
Units in those projects
2,342
Units where a C.O. is recorded

These are units in the projects at each step, as the permit or appeal describes them. They are not net new homes: a duplex conversion counts as two. Only appealed permits are shown, because the unit count comes from the appeal and is missing for most other zoning permits. A few large projects hold a big share of the units, so read the permit count beside each total.

ZONING PATHPERMITBUILDING PERMITCERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCYAppealed: granted → Zoning permit issued: 11,094Appealed: granted → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 747Appealed: denied → Zoning permit issued: 131Appealed: denied → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 894Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Zoning permit issued: 272Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 2,597Appealed: awaiting decision → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 1,635Zoning permit issued → Building permit (confirmed): 4,679Zoning permit issued → Building permit (inferred): 1,917Zoning permit issued → No linked record: 4,901Building permit (confirmed) → C.O. recorded: 1,865Building permit (confirmed) → No C.O. recorded yet: 2,814Building permit (inferred) → C.O. recorded: 477Building permit (inferred) → No C.O. recorded yet: 1,440Appealed: granted11,841 units (68%) · 1,343 permitsAppealed: denied1,025 units (6%) · 144 permitsAppealed: withdrawn or dismissed2,869 units (17%) · 169 permitsAppealed: awaiting decision1,635 units (9%) · 156 permitsZoning permit issued11,497 units (66%) · 1,300 permitsNot issued (denied, expired or cancelled)5,873 units (34%) · 512 permitsBuilding permit (confirmed)4,679 units (27%) · 675 permitsBuilding permit (inferred)1,917 units (11%) · 130 permitsNo linked record4,901 units (28%) · 495 permitsC.O. recorded2,342 units (13%) · 322 permitsNo C.O. recorded yet4,254 units (24%) · 483 permits
Units in projects at each step
Appealed: granted11841 units, 1343 permits
Appealed: denied1025 units, 144 permits
Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed2869 units, 169 permits
Appealed: awaiting decision1635 units, 156 permits
Zoning permit issued11497 units, 1300 permits
Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)5873 units, 512 permits
Building permit (confirmed)4679 units, 675 permits
Building permit (inferred)1917 units, 130 permits
No linked record4901 units, 495 permits
C.O. recorded2342 units, 322 permits
No C.O. recorded yet4254 units, 483 permits

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: Appeal pending

Most recent 40 of 103
  • 843 N 42ND 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
  • 2709 LATONA ST
    2 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
  • 3737 N 15TH ST
    3 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 18 W EVERGREEN AVE
    1 unit · District 8 · 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
  • 1300 MARKET ST
    622 units · 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
  • 9547 BUSTLETON AVE
    4 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
  • 1616-22 MCKEAN ST
    District 2 · 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
  • 2015 FRANKFORD AVE
    10 units · District 1 · 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
  • 2851 DISSTON ST
    3 units · District 6 · 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
  • 2638 E CLEARFIELD ST
    2 units · District 1 · 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
  • 3813 FOLSOM ST
    3 units · District 3 · 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
  • 510-28 S 8TH ST
    20 units · 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
  • 910 W HUNTINGDON ST
    3 units · District 5 · 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
  • 2104 N 20TH ST
    3 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-09-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1608-34 SANSOM ST
    District 2 · 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
  • 6327 LANCASTER AVE
    1 unit · District 4 · last activity 2026-08-25
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1260 N DOVER ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-08-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 213-19 POPLAR ST
    38 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-08-18
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4283 VIOLA ST
    18 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-08-17
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 811 N 42ND ST
    3 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-08-12
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2005 S 4TH ST
    6 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-08-11
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 801 S 9TH ST
    55 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-08-11
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3451 WELLINGTON ST
    2 units · District 6 · last activity 2026-08-05
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 908 S 46TH ST
    2 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-08-01
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 9249R E ROOSEVELT BLVD
    2 units · District 6 · last activity 2026-07-24
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 867 N 50TH ST
    2 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-07-18
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 6215R-23 GERMANTOWN AVE
    10 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-07-15
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 676 N 15TH ST
    3 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-07-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 331 E ROOSEVELT BLVD
    3 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-07-14
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5728 FLORENCE AVE
    2 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-07-13
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1221 W WINGOHOCKING ST
    5 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-07-10
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2230 SPRUCE ST
    District 2 · last activity 2026-07-10
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 842 N 4TH ST
    1 unit · District 5 · last activity 2026-07-06
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 6103 LANSDOWNE AVE
    2 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-07-03
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 7200 STATE RD
    3 units · District 6 · last activity 2026-06-30
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3725 N 16TH ST
    2 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-06-29
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 205-15 CUTHBERT ST
    29 units · last activity 2026-06-29
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1550 N 26TH ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-06-25
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4841 FAIRMOUNT AVE
    2 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-06-24
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: no record
    4. Construction: no record
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1013 MIFFLIN ST
    2 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-06-23
    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.
Permit Pipeline | ZBA Watch