L+I adds offices plus inspectors to meet demand of Philadelphia's real estate boom

For years, Philadelphia’s developers have complained and fretted about staffing at the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L+I). In 2017, the agency may finally be able to come close to giving them satisfaction.

After the Great Recession struck in 2008, the number of L+I inspectors shrank dramatically. Around 20 percent of the inspectorate was laid off. A few years later, Philadelphia’s real estate market went into its most sustained boom in decades, but the agency has been slow to refill its ranks.

Veterans who’ve been with the department since Reagan’s first term say they’ve never seen anything like this level of demand for their services, while developers have expressed frustration with delays related to inadequate staffing.

“There are many jobs all around the city that have the potential to be held up,” said Brian Emmons, head of the Building Industry Association (BIA). “It’s just because the inspector doesn’t have the ability, based on his workload and the demand right now, to be at certain jobs and to know they’ll be ready for inspection.”

L+I is well aware of the unprecedented demand for inspections. The agency is reacting to it by hiring more employees, which this year have finally recovered to pre-recession level and then some.

There are 18 more building inspectors in 2017 than there were last year and 17 additional code enforcement officials. Generally, building inspectors monitor new construction, whereas code enforcement inspectors respond to public concerns about the existing built environment.

L+I is also changing the way that their target areas will be apportioned, along with opening two new district offices.

Go to PlanPhilly.com for the budget changes that allowed for the additional staff.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal