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.

2,229
Appealed permits
81%
…with a unit count
17,388
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: 11,104Appealed: granted → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 777Appealed: denied → Zoning permit issued: 132Appealed: denied → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 893Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Zoning permit issued: 272Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 2,599Appealed: awaiting decision → Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled): 1,611Zoning permit issued → Building permit (confirmed): 4,685Zoning permit issued → Building permit (inferred): 1,981Zoning permit issued → No linked record: 4,842Building permit (confirmed) → C.O. recorded: 1,865Building permit (confirmed) → No C.O. recorded yet: 2,820Building permit (inferred) → C.O. recorded: 477Building permit (inferred) → No C.O. recorded yet: 1,504Appealed: granted11,881 units (68%) · 1,346 permitsAppealed: denied1,025 units (6%) · 144 permitsAppealed: withdrawn or dismissed2,871 units (17%) · 170 permitsAppealed: awaiting decision1,611 units (9%) · 155 permitsZoning permit issued11,508 units (66%) · 1,304 permitsNot issued (denied, expired or cancelled)5,880 units (34%) · 511 permitsBuilding permit (confirmed)4,685 units (27%) · 677 permitsBuilding permit (inferred)1,981 units (11%) · 132 permitsNo linked record4,842 units (28%) · 495 permitsC.O. recorded2,342 units (13%) · 322 permitsNo C.O. recorded yet4,324 units (25%) · 487 permits
Units in projects at each step
Appealed: granted11881 units, 1346 permits
Appealed: denied1025 units, 144 permits
Appealed: withdrawn or dismissed2871 units, 170 permits
Appealed: awaiting decision1611 units, 155 permits
Zoning permit issued11508 units, 1304 permits
Not issued (denied, expired or cancelled)5880 units, 511 permits
Building permit (confirmed)4685 units, 677 permits
Building permit (inferred)1981 units, 132 permits
No linked record4842 units, 495 permits
C.O. recorded2342 units, 322 permits
No C.O. recorded yet4324 units, 487 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.

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

Projects at: Under construction

Most recent 40 of 572
  • 2443 N 11TH ST
    101 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-24
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 4024 RIDGE AVE
    6 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-23
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1113 LEOPARD ST
    3 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-23
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1727 N LAMBERT ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-23
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1729 N LAMBERT ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-23
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 7200 SOMMERS RD
    3 units · District 9 · last activity 2026-10-23
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3922 MELON ST
    3 units · District 3 · last activity 2026-10-23
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 8000-02 LYONS AVE
    18 units · District 2 · last activity 2026-10-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5427 WAYNE AVE
    1 unit · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5334 W GIRARD AVE
    2 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 838 S HOWARD ST
    2 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-22
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2327-83 COTTMAN AVE
    1 unit · District 6 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1333 S 9TH ST
    3 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 539 JACKSON ST
    3 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 541 JACKSON ST
    3 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1401 S PATTON ST
    2 units · District 2 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1840 S CAMAC ST
    6 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5285 JEFFERSON ST
    2 units · District 4 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2244 MARGARET ST
    2 units · District 6 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5136 WAYNE AVE
    5 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-21
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2938 W FLORA ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-21
    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 2026-10-20
    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 2026-10-20
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2334 GERMANTOWN AVE
    3 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-20
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2672 BRADDOCK ST
    3 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-20
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2506 N 16TH ST
    3 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-20
    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 2026-10-20
    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 2026-10-20
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 11 QUEEN ST
    1 unit · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-20
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 537 SANGER ST
    1 unit · District 9 · last activity 2026-10-20
    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 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 2401 N 2ND ST
    102 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 537 JACKSON ST
    3 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5416-26 LENA ST
    23 units · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 237 E GIRARD AVE
    1 unit · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 128 E PHIL ELLENA ST
    1 unit · District 8 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 3110 ARAMINGO AVE
    2 units · District 1 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 1248 N 18TH ST
    2 units · District 5 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 5400 VALLEY ST
    2 units · District 7 · last activity 2026-10-19
    1. Zoning: reached
    2. Appeal: reached
    3. Building permit: reached
    4. Construction: reached
    5. C.O.: no record
  • 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

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.