How to Check if Your Philadelphia Landlord Has a Rental License

The Law: Philadelphia Code §9-3902

Philadelphia Code §9-3902(1) requires every person or entity that rents residential property in Philadelphia to obtain a Rental License from the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). This requirement applies to all residential rentals — single units, multi-family buildings, row homes, and apartments.

The requirement is not a formality. A rental license certifies that the property has been inspected and meets minimum habitability standards. When a landlord operates without a license, it means no inspection has been completed — and in Philadelphia, courts have used the absence of a license as grounds to:

• Bar the landlord from collecting rent during the unlicensed period
• Dismiss eviction complaints filed by the unlicensed landlord
• Award damages to tenants who paid rent while the license was expired

Bill 250331 of the Safe Healthy Homes Act (enacted March 2026) strengthens these consequences and makes the license requirement even more central to eviction defense proceedings. Bills 250329 and 250330, which further expand these provisions, remain in committee.

How to Look Up Your Landlord's Rental License

Philadelphia makes license data publicly available through the Atlas system — the city's property and license database. Here is the exact process:

Alternative: The L&I License Lookup

You can also search directly through the L&I online permit/license portal at licenses.phila.gov. Search by address or by the owner name or business name. L&I can also be reached directly at 215-686-2400 to request a license verification for a specific address.

If you suspect your landlord is operating without a license, you can also file a complaint with L&I directly. This complaint is a protected action under Philadelphia Code §9-3903 — your landlord cannot retaliate against you for making it.

What If My Landlord Has an Expired License?

An expired license is treated the same as no license under §9-3902(1). The landlord was required to renew before expiration. Operating with an expired license is a violation of the Philadelphia Code.

If you are in eviction proceedings and discover your landlord's license expired before or during your tenancy, document it immediately. The periods of expiration may affect your landlord's ability to enforce lease provisions or collect rent for those periods. Raise this as a defense in your Municipal Court hearing and in any appeal.

What About LLC Landlords?

Many Philadelphia landlords operate through LLCs. The rental license must be held by the LLC (not the individual behind it). When checking Atlas or L&I, search for the LLC name associated with your lease, not the individual's name. Your lease agreement, your rent receipts, or the demand notice should identify the LLC name.

If the LLC on your lease is different from the LLC on the license, or if there is no license associated with the LLC at all, that is worth documenting and raising with your attorney or at your Municipal Court hearing.