Seeking insight on zoning in Philadelphia

[Jonathan Gomez]

I am in the process of searching for my first investment property. I do not know much about zoning. I am currently looking at a property that is set up like a duplex, without the zoning being changed accordingly. This property was renovated and rehabilitated within the past 2 years. Is the fact that it's not zoned as a duplex a big problem? Is it reasonable for me to use that fact as a negotiating point to get them to zone it properly before I consider investing in it? What have some of you experienced as a result of owning rental property that wasn't zoned correctly?

[Account Closed]

L&I is Philadelphia License and Inspections Department

You can look up what you can do by-right in RM-1 using this zoning reference guide

https://www.phila.gov/media/20190305124635/Philadelphia-Zoning-Code_Quick-Reference-Manual.pdf

Use atlas.phila.gov and enter in the property address. Go to the 'License & Inspections' section and see if there are any zoning permit documents related to the use of the property. You can also look up neighboring properties to see if they have any use variances. The 'Zoning' section will tell you who the registered community organization would be if you needed a variance.

Even from there if there is no use variance many times the ZBA would consider that the conversion of a long standing "illegal" duplex would be a significant hardship for the owner and grant the use. This can also depend on the neighbors and RCO involved with the variance.