§11-604. Encroachments Upon and Obstructions of the Streets.
(1) Building Permits. No structure listed in this Section
shall be erected unless a building permit has been
obtained.
[56] (2) Bulk
Windows.
[57] (a) No bulk window shall
be constructed which:
(.1) projects more than eighteen (18) inches
into the street;
(.2) projects closer than three (3) feet to the curb
line;
(.3) bears upon ground supports located within the
street.
(b) A bulk window shall not:
(.1) have a frontage in
excess of fifteen (15) feet;
(.2) be located within two (2) feet of
another bulk window;
(.3) be located within two (2) feet of a lot
line, party line, or fire division wall, or an interior partition required to
have a fire resistive rating.
(.4) be larger than the room to which it
is attached.
(3) Cellar Doors and
Steps.
[58] No cellar door or steps shall extend
closer than one foot to the curb line nor more than 4 feet 6 inches onto the
sidewalk of a street 50 feet or more wide, or a proportionately smaller distance
onto the sidewalk of a street less than 50 feet wide; provided that if this
portion of the sidewalk is, in the opinion of the Department of Streets,
necessary for pedestrian or vehicular traffic, such cellar door or steps shall
be removed at the expense of the owner of the premises.
(4) Fences and
Railings.
[59] No fence or railing shall extend
beyond the street line so as to reduce the width of the sidewalk to less than 16
feet where the width of the street is 100 feet or more; to less than 14 feet
where the width of the street is between 80 and 100 feet; to less than 12 feet
where the width of the street is between 50 and 60 feet; or to less than 8 feet
where the width of the street is less than 50 feet.
(a) The area
enclosed by fence or railing shall be graded to conform with the City Sidewalk
Grades as established by the Board of
Surveyors.
[60] (5) Porches and
Verandas.
[61] No porch or veranda shall project
beyond the street
line.
(6) Garages.
[62] No garage shall
project beyond the street line.
(7) Curb or Sidewalk Posts. Curb or
sidewalk posts may be installed if the Department of Streets determines that
such installations are necessary to prevent possible injury to pedestrians or
damage to property by motor vehicles coming upon the footway. Such installation
may be made provided such
posts:
[63] (a) extend 42 inches above
the footway grade, and 2 feet below such grades;
(b) are centered not
more than 10 feet apart;
(c) are centered on a line parallel with the
curb lines 18 inches back of the face of the curb; except on sidewalks eight (8)
feet in width or less, posts shall be centered on a line parallel with the curb
lines twelve (12) inches back of the face of the curb and in no event shall be
installed in front of existing steps;
(d) have an inside diameter of
six (6) inches, are filled with concrete and have a metal cap; except on
residential streets with sidewalks eight (8) feet in width or less, posts shall
have an inside diameter of four (4) inches, be filled with concrete and have a
metal cap;
(e) are not set within 2 feet of any inlet or manhole;
and
(f) are installed in accordance with any regulations issued by the
Department of Streets.
(8) Wheelchair
Elevators.
[64] (a) Permits:
(.1) No
person may install any device as defined in Section 11-601(9) in or upon any
sidewalk within the City of Philadelphia unless a permit has been obtained from
the Department of Licenses and Inspections with the approval of the Department
of Streets for such a period of time as they may deem necessary and
reasonable.
(.2) The Department of Licenses and Inspections shall make
regulations governing the erection and maintenance of wheelchair elevators,
designed to ensure that all such elevators will be:
(a.) structurally
safe;
(b.) not obstructive of pedestrian or other
travel;
(c.) consistent with public safety;
(d.) in
conformity with the general requirements of the Zoning Code, Housing Code,
Building Code, Streets Department, Electrical Code and Fire
Code.
(.3) No permit to erect or maintain wheelchair elevators shall
be granted in the City unless:
(a.) the provisions of this Section
and the regulations of the Department of Licenses and Inspections have been
complied with; and
(b.) the Art Commission has approved the
wheelchair elevator.
(b) Duties and Obligations:
(.1) The
Grantee shall, at his own cost or expense, maintain and perform all necessary
repairs to the device to ensure its safe operation.
(.2) The Grantee
shall repair all damage resulting from the installation of any such device,
including damage to the footway, base course and all other existing
appurtenances.
(.3) The Grantee shall furnish liability insurance
against any damage to property and any injury or claims for injury (including
death) to any person or persons arising out of the installation, operation,
maintenance, repair, construction and removal of any such device. All insurance
shall be in form, content and amount satisfactory to the City Solicitor and
shall name the City of Philadelphia as a named insured. All such policies of
insurance shall be endorsed to provide at least ten (10) days' written
notice to the City by the insurance carrier prior to any change in or
cancellation of the policies. Evidence of such insurance must be presented to
the City prior to the issuance of any permit.
(9) The Department of
Streets and the Department of Licenses and Inspections may issue regulations as
to the extent of the encroachments upon and obstructions of the streets for the
protection or facilitation of pedestrian traffic, but encroachments upon or
obstructions of the streets greater than those specified in this Section shall
not be permitted.
[65]