Breaking: L&I releases new permit requirements for contractors

Merry Christmas, contractors. Starting next week, you'll need to submit a tax clearance form and certificate of insurance to the Department of Licenses and Inspections before receiving a permit for any type of construction or demolition work in Philadelphia.

The Department announced the new rules in a press release Monday afternoon. L&I has been working on the new requirements since the summer, said spokeswoman Rebecca Swanson. Additional information was provided in a code bulletin on the Department's website.

"These new requirements strengthen the Department's oversight of contractors doing business in the City of Philadelphia and helps us further ensure public safety around construction and demolition sites," said L&I Commissioner Carlton Williams, in the press release.

Tax Clearance forms can be obtained on the Dept. of Revenue website. Certificates of Insurance must be obtained from the contractor's insurer. The requirements go into effect January 1st, 2014.

Additionally, the Department reminded contractors that, under legislation introduced by Councilman Bobby Henon, they will now be required to post license numbers at job sites and on correspondence. They must also post permits and issuance certificates at job sites.

Contact Jared Brey on Twitter @jaredbrey or jbrey@planphilly.com.

PlanPhilly.com is dedicated to covering design, planning and development issues in Philadelphia. The news website is a project of PennPraxis, the clinical arm of the School of Design of the University of Pennsylvania. It is funded by the William Penn Foundation.