Renting out your condo sounds simple enough — post it, find a tenant, collect rent. But Philadelphia has a compliance process that you cannot sidestep.

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Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Start with your taxes. The city treats you like a business the moment you collect rent, so you need to open a Philadelphia tax account and register for the Business Income & Receipts Tax (BIRT) through the Philly Tax Center. From there, you get a Commercial Activity License (CAL) through the eCLIPSE portal. It’s free and takes maybe ten minutes, but nothing else happens without it.

Next — get a lead certification. As of mid 2022, the city won’t issue the rental license without it, no matter your zip code. Every rental property in Philadelphia, regardless of age, now requires a certified lead-safe or lead-free inspection. You’ll need to hire a certified tech for a visual inspection and dust wipe sampling, then upload the results to the city’s lead certification portal.

Once those two things are done, you can apply for your Rental License through eCLIPSE. You’ll link your Commercial Activity License, enter the property address, upload your deed or settlement sheet as proof of ownership, and pay the $63 fee.

Fees and ordinances change. Verify current requirements at phila.gov.

MARK WADE, Realtor®
37 Years of Center City Condo Experience
BHHS Fox and Roach Realtors
530 Walnut St. #480 | Philadelphia, PA 19106
Cell: 267-237-3404
Email: Mark@CenterCity.com