Not many citizens (including myself) are aware of where the ordinances are that are out there which control blighted, vacant and abandoned property. The specific local laws are all contained in Title 4 of the Philadelphia Code, all inside part PM (Property Maintenance).
The most specific sections relative to blight is all in Chapter 3 (3XX series) of the PM code. Here we link it for you for your viewing pleasure:
301 – General
302 – Exterior Property Areas
303 – Interior Property Areas
304 – Exterior Structure
305 – Interior Structure
306 – Vacant Premises [If you're a blight fighter, this is definitely worth your time reading!]
307 – Unsafe and Unfit Structures and Equipment
308 – Imminently Dangerous Structures [Important read!]
309 – Emergency Nuisance Abatement Program [Also known as "Clean and Seal"]
310 – Temporary Construction
311 – Graffitti
312 – Overhanging or Encroaching Trees
313 – Private Parking Lots
Yes–even Darrell Clarke’s curious provision for Satellite TV dishes is in there, along with rat and rodent infestation, broken doors and windows (which the Act 90 Property Tour is all about), roofline damage, short dumping and many, many other blight code provisions.
What Act 90 does - The provisions in Commonwealth SB900 (aka “Act 90″) grant new powers to municipalities like Philadelphia for enforcement of its property maintenance code.
By combining the powers granted in Act 90 along with the new changes in 4-PM301-313, Philadelphia has new (and powerful) legal weapons to go after blighted property. Another way of putting it is that there are now fewer excuses to point at the law books to blame for the exacerbation of blight and the inaction of doing anything about it.
If you’re fighting a blight or nuisance issue in your neighborhood, reading the Code can help you determine what powers the City can use to control a problem in your neighborhood.