Compliance guidance for independent landlords
Stay compliant, stay protected.
Navigate Philadelphia's complex licensing, inspection, and regulatory landscape with confidence and avoid costly mistakes
Philly Metro
guidance tuned to your region
Pre-1978
lead-safe certification required
Ongoing
compliance is never one-and-done
Your compliance checklist
Rental license current
Required before any tenant moves in
Lead-safe certification
Required for all pre-1978 properties
Don't let licenses lapse — fines and legal exposure add up fast.
What You Need to Know
Learn How to Stay Compliant in Philly
Philadelphia's rental regulations are among the strictest in the country. Get the licenses, inspections, and certifications right — and protect your investment from fines and legal exposure.
Rental license
A rental license is an absolute must and needs to be renewed annually. Several steps are required in order to get a license, depending on the property type. Apply through the Eclipse site - a City of Philadelphia website before you rent the unit.
Lead-safe certification
Required every 4 years for properties built before 1978. Understand the testing process, certification, and deadlines and hire a reliable technician to perform the testing.
L&I inspections
What the Department of Licenses & Inspections checks, how to prepare, and what happens if you fail.
Housing code
Become familiar with and adhere to Philadelphia Housing Code standards to avoid getting reported by tenants and neighbors for violations.
Tenant rights & obligations
Know your landlord obligations and your tenant's rights under Philly law — notice requirements, security deposits, and more.
Compliance calendar
Track every license, inspection, and certification expiration date so nothing lapses. Do not rely on the City to remind you.
Avoid These
Mistakes that cost landlords
! Renting without a license
Operating without a current rental license risks fines, legal exposure, and an unenforceable lease.
! Missing lead-safe deadlines
Pre-1978 properties need lead-safe certification. Missing the deadline can mean fines and a legal problem with tenants.
! Ignoring housing complaints
If a tenant files a complaint with the city, ignoring it turns a small issue into a court matter.
! Not tracking expiration dates
Licenses and inspections expire. Without a tracking system, you'll find out when it's too late.
! Assuming rules haven't changed
Philly updates rental regulations regularly. What was compliant last year may not be this year.
We Can Help
Guidance first, then the right pros
Tell us about your property
Share the property type, age, and current compliance status — what's done and what might be missing.
We review the submission
We identify the type of compliance assistance you are in need of and match you to the right experts and services.
Connect with a pro
Get matched with vetted pros who handle licensing, lead testing, inspections, and legal compliance.
Get the Right Pro for the Job
Don't gamble on who works on your rental.
We help you take the guesswork out of compliance. Real Landlording connects you with reliable pros who understand Philadelphia's rental regulations, licensing requirements, and inspection standards.
From landlords who stopped guessing
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Philadelphia, PA
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Philadelphia, PA
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Philadelphia, PA