Every landlord renting residential property in Philadelphia needs a Rental License — no exceptions for a single unit or a rowhome you only rent to a cousin. Here is the complete, ordered checklist of what the City of Philadelphia requires before you hand over keys.
1. Philadelphia Tax ID (BIRT account) — Register for a City of Philadelphia tax account through the Philadelphia Tax Center before applying for anything else. It is free and takes a few days.
2. Commercial Activity License (CAL) — Required before you can get a Rental License. Apply online through the City’s eCLIPSE portal. No fee, one-time.
3. Rental License — Apply through eCLIPSE. Requires a valid CAL, no outstanding L&I violations on the property, and (for buildings built before 1978) a lead-safe or lead-free certification. Licensed annually per property.
4. Certificate of Rental Suitability — Required before every new tenancy, not just once. Issued through eCLIPSE within days of your license and confirms the property has no open code violations. You must give a copy to the tenant at or before move-in.
5. Partners in Good Housing handbook — The city requires you to give every tenant a copy of the current "Partners in Good Housing" guide along with the Certificate of Rental Suitability.
6. Lead-safe certification — For any unit built before 1978 (most of Philadelphia’s housing stock), a lead-safe or lead-free certificate is required to get or renew a Rental License. See our dedicated page below.
Applying for the Rental License before resolving open L&I violations — the application stalls until they’re cleared.
Forgetting the Certificate of Rental Suitability for a new tenancy — it is per-tenancy, not per-property.
Assuming an owner-occupied duplex is exempt — renting any unit requires the license.
Skipping the city tax account step and wondering why eCLIPSE won’t let you proceed.
CAL: free. Rental License: an annual fee per property (check eCLIPSE for the current schedule — it has changed in recent years). Lead inspection: varies by inspector, typically a few hundred dollars per unit.
Yes — Philadelphia requires a Rental License for any residential rental, including a single unit in a home you own.
A per-tenancy certificate issued via eCLIPSE confirming the property is licensed and has no open code violations. You must give it to the tenant at move-in.
If your tax accounts, CAL, and lead cert are in order, the license itself is typically issued quickly through eCLIPSE — the prep steps are what take time.
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Manage your property free on 10DoorsThis template is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant law changes and local ordinances may impose additional requirements — verify current state and local rules before serving any notice. Last reviewed September 2026.