Philadelphia ZBA Fee Increases Take Effect August 1, 2026

Philadelphia ZBA Fee Increases Take Effect August 1, 2026: What Property Owners and Developers Need to Know

If you are planning a zoning application, variance request, special exception, or an appeal against the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) in Philadelphia, your project costs may soon increase.

Effective August 1, 2026, the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) will implement a new fee schedule that significantly raises filing fees for many zoning matters. Developers, property owners, architects, engineers, and other design professionals should review upcoming projects now to account for these higher application costs.

Key ZBA Fee Increases

Under the new fee schedule:

-  Most non-residential zoning applications and L&I appeals will increase to $811 per property.

-  Accelerated hearing requests will increase to $995 per property.

-  Reposting fees for continuances will increase to $177 per continuance.

-  A new leave-to-amend fee of $151 will be imposed when applicants seek to modify a pending application.

 Notably, the City will continue to offer reduced filing fees for certain projects:

-  Existing one- and two-family dwellings will remain eligible for a $125 application fee.

-  Qualifying affordable housing projects will also continue to benefit from the reduced $125 fee.

Why These Changes Matter

While filing fees often represent a relatively small portion of a project's overall budget, they can become significant when multiple properties, appeals, amendments, or continuances are involved. Applicants who delay filing until after August 1 may see increased upfront costs and should adjust project budgets accordingly.

For developers pursuing time-sensitive projects, the higher fees for accelerated hearings and application amendments make it even more important to ensure submissions are complete and strategically planned from the outset.

Planning Ahead

If you anticipate filing a zoning application or pursuing an appeal before the ZBA, now is an ideal time to:

• Review project schedules and anticipated filing dates.
• Budget for the increased application and hearing fees.
• Confirm that applications are complete before filing to avoid unnecessary amendment costs.
• Coordinate with legal counsel and design professionals early in the entitlement process.

Bottom Line

The ZBA's new fee schedule takes effect August 1, 2026, and many applicants will face substantially higher filing costs. Property owners, developers, and design professionals should evaluate current and upcoming projects now to minimize surprises and ensure their budgets accurately reflect the increased fees.

Have questions about your project? Please reach out to Alan Nochumson on our zoning team.

This article was prepared by a licensed Pennsylvania attorney at Nochumson P.C., a Philadelphia-based law firm with extensive experience in all thing's real estate, litigation, land use and zoning, and business counseling.