L&I proposes requirement to name licensed contractor before permit is issued

FixItPhilly Coalition/BIA Government Affairs 

Deputy Commissioner Mike Fink announced that L&I will be introducing a measure to hold building permits until an applicant identifies a licensed contractor. Mr. Fink indicated that the department may be implementing the new requirement as early as May 1 and asked the coalition if its members had any issues with the measure. BIA Philadelphia President David Perlman replied that he sees one drawback. “An applicant isn’t taking that proposal out to bid until the permit is issued,” Perlman said, “but there are too many contractors working in the city that are not licensed. If the pick-up date for the permit can be delayed instead, we would absolutely support it.”