Posted: | September 18, 2017 01:55 PM |
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From: | Senator John P. Sabatina, Jr. |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Legislation Requiring a Certificate of Occupancy Prior to the Installation of Additional Electric Meters in Cities of the First Class |
Soon, I plan to introduce legislation that will amend the Public Utilities Act (Title 66), requiring property owners in Philadelphia, who wish to add an additional electric meter to their property, to first provide the utility company with a certificate of occupancy issued by the Philadelphia Department of Licensees and Inspections. This additional measure will help verify that all local zoning requirements are being met, and above all, would help disrupt the ongoing problem of single-family dwellings being illegally transformed into multi-family dwellings for rental housing. In many cases, renters are often unaware they are residing in illegal dwellings, run by absentee landlords who have not secured city approval. Issues of overcrowding and unsafe living conditions also are of significant concern, as too often, these illegal subdivisions ignore city building and fire codes. Therefore, in my effort to prevent unsafe housing practices for residents in Cities of the First Class, I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as SB937