In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) and the Board of Licenses and Inspection Review (BLIR) have taken proactive steps to help mitigate potential community spread by suspending certain filing deadlines.

As of March 17, 2020, all deadlines for filing appeals to the ZBA and to BLIR that fall between March 13, 2020 and March 31, 2020 have been suspended. The deadline to file an appeal will be extended for two weeks where the original deadline would have fallen within the aforementioned period. The chair of the ZBA and the chair of the BLIR have the discretion to further suspend the respective appeal filing deadlines and extend the time for filing appeals. Any such extension will be posted on either the ZBA’s website or the BLIR’s website, as applicable.

If an emergency warrants immediate consideration by the BLIR, the BLIR may use its discretion in hearing such an appeal. An applicant requesting an emergency hearing must submit an Emergency Hearing Appeal Form to the BLIR. Upon filing, the BLIR will determine if the appeal should be heard at an emergency session. If it is determined that an emergency session is necessary to hear the appeal, the BLIR will schedule a hearing to take place by telephone.

Although the Municipal Services Building Concourse and district offices of the Department of Licenses and Inspections are closed to the public, applications for new licenses and permits can be applied for using eCLIPSE. Inspections can also be scheduled using eCLIPSE.

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