Philly’s Construction Safety Problem

When you see a home renovation or major construction project happening in your neighborhood, you assume that work is done safely. But that’s not always the case in Philly. An ongoing investigation by The Philadelphia Inquirer has found that unsafe construction work can go unchecked, causing damage to homes and neighboring properties, and in the worst cases, building collapses. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Samantha Melamed, investigative reporter with The Philadelphia Inquirer, about why Philly rowhomes are uniquely vulnerable during certain renovations, and how to protect yourself from shoddy work.

Start at the beginning of the “Crumbling City” series here.

How to report unsafe construction work: 

• For work without a permit, or beyond the scope of the permit, call 311 or visit phila.gov/departments/philly311/
• For work before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m., call 215-685-7580 or email dphams_service_requests@phila.gov
• For dust and noise complaints, call 215-685-7580 or emails dphams_service_requests@phila.gov
• For work on a weekend, email weekendworkLI@phila.gov, or call 911.
• To report property damage by city demolition contractors and others, contact L&I’s Emergency Response Unit at 215-686-2583 or 215-685-3055.

Additional resources:

• Information for Homeowners When Construction Starts Next Door from Community Legal Services
• Construction Activity Next Door FAQ from the Department of Licenses and Inspections

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