Philadelphia rental license process

Philadelphia rental licensing is best viewed as a short workflow with a few "hard blockers": tax account + CAL/Activity license, lead certification (or exemption), lawful occupancy, and violation status—then the Rental License filing through L&I's eCLIPSE system. We handle each step for you.

Confirm the Rental Requires a Philadelphia Rental License

Same day (admin review)

We determine the unit type and whether an exemption applies (e.g., certain owner-occupied scenarios).

Set Up / Verify Philadelphia Tax Account Compliance

Varies (can be days+ depending on verification)

We ensure licensing is tied to having an open/compliant tax account, and in some cases filing BIRT depending on owner occupancy/unit count.

Obtain CAL (or Activity License Number)

CAL issued immediately; Activity License Number processed within ~5 business days

We obtain the Commercial Activity License or Activity License Number, which must be obtained/associated before submitting the rental license application in eCLIPSE.

Lead-Safe / Lead-Free Certification (or Exemption)

Varies widely (scheduling and remediation can extend this)

We coordinate lead certification, which is required for many rentals and is explicitly linked to rental license issuance/renewal and leasing. For pre-1978 properties, this typically involves lead-safe certification or exemption documentation.

Confirm Lawful Occupancy + Resolve Open Violations

If violations exist, this is often the longest path item

We ensure the property's legal occupancy is documented and that violations aren't blocking issuance. Open violations can block key steps like Suitability Certificates and licensing.

Apply for the Rental License via L&I (eCLIPSE)

Depends on review; many delays come from missing blockers above

We submit proof of ownership, agent details (if required), lead documentation/exemption, and attestations through Philadelphia's eCLIPSE portal.

Maintain Compliance: Suitability Certificates for Tenants

Ongoing

We help ensure you provide a Certificate of Rental Suitability at the start of each tenancy (obtained through eCLIPSE, no fee, must be issued no more than 60 days prior to tenancy start).

Overall timeline

Fast path (no issues): Often ~1-3 weeks end-to-end if the owner already has tax/CAL setup and lead status is clear. Typical: Several weeks due to lead certification, tax verification, or violation cleanup. Slow path: 1-3+ months when violations, occupancy legalization questions, or lead remediation are involved.

Ready to get started?

We'll handle the entire Philadelphia rental license process for you.

Get Started