Registered Community Organizations In Philadelphia, Evolving Regulations

When the City of Philadelphia approved its new Zoning Code in August 2012, it codified the role of neighborhood organizations. For many years, there was a practical expectation that property owners seeking zoning variances or comparable land use relief would present their plans to the neighborhood organization, which addressed items in the local neighborhood, and seek their support or nonopposition. This approach was necessitated by the practical requirement of securing approval from the local district city council person, and the consistent policy of city council members to confirm that a property owner had informed its neighbors of any new proposed project.

In the new Zoning Code of 2012, the role of neighborhood groups was confirmed in Section 14-303(11A) in a section that defined "Registered Community Organizations" (RCO), provided for their registration with the city's Planning Commission and specified requirements of meetings before RCOs in connection