Philadelphia City Council approves transfer-tax change and dumpster-locking ordinance; housing reform bills recommitted after legal challenge

Philadelphia City Council on March 19 approved a package of zoning and tax measures and adopted a new ordinance requiring locking dumpsters across parts of the city, while sending two large tenant-protection bills back to committee after a legal challenge disrupted the final-passage calendar.

The council passed an ordinance amending Philadelphia’s realty transfer tax exclusions — described by members as the "generational wealth preservation" change — and approved an anti-litter measure that requires locking dumpsters in specified areas. Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson, who led floor remarks on the transfer-tax bill, said the amendment removes a longstanding obstacle for heirs. "If you inherited your family home with an outstanding mortgage of $100,000, you would need to pay $4,578 in transfer taxes before you can record the new deed," she said, arguing the change prevents tax bills from forcing families out of inherited homes.

The dumpster ordinance (bill 2550843-8A) passed on a recorded roll call; the chief clerk recorded unanimous votes in favor. Council members described the measure as a targeted public-health and nuisance-control step that local sanitation officials and neighborhoods requested.

At the same time, two expansive housing bills that were set for final passage — an amendment to property-licensing and owner-accountability rules (2550329-A) and a revised Landlord & Tenant code that would add "good cause" protections and other tenant rights (2550330-A) — were removed from the calendar and recommitted to the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless. "Yesterday two members of HAPCO filed an injunction to block this council from voting on the Safe Healthy Homes Act," Minority Whip Nicholas Oor said on the floor, calling the court filing "a bad-faith attempt to delay and to distract." He urged organizers and council offices to continue the work required to move the measures forward.

Public comment preceding the votes was dominated by housing concerns. Tenants, attorneys and housing advocates repeatedly pressed council to advance proactive inspections, stronger habitability standards and anti-retaliation protections. "The inspection program ensures that apartments and homes are automatically inspected to make sure they meet certain standards of living," said Miguel Delmau, who told the chamber he supports bill 2550329-A’s proactive inspection program. Tenants' attorneys described long delays in enforcement under the current system and urged the council to prioritize faster remedies.

Council members said they would continue negotiations and hearings. With bills recommitted, the committee will take up the measures again; council members signaled the intent to schedule additional hearings and to continue pairing oversight with legislative fixes.

Votes at a glance - Bill 2600021 (realty transfer tax amendment, "generational wealth preservation"): Passed (recorded vote). Key effect: clarifies transfer-tax exclusions to ease transfer of inherited homes when an estate cannot fully pay an outstanding mortgage. Introduced by Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson. - Bill 2550843-8A (require locking dumpsters / anti-litter rules): Passed, recorded vote 14–0. - Bills 2550329-A (property licenses & owner accountability) and 2550330-A (Landlord & Tenant / good-cause protections): Removed from final-passage calendar; recommitted to the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless for further consideration after an injunction was filed. - Multiple zoning and technical bills (e.g., 2600022, 2600055, 2600073, 2600074): Passed on final reading (recorded votes noted in the roll calls).

What’s next Council members said additional committee hearings and negotiations are expected for the housing bills before any final votes. The public-comment record and the injunction filed by outside parties were both cited by members as reasons to hold more hearings and continue outreach to stakeholders.

Who said what - Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson, sponsor of the transfer-tax change, described the bill as a step to protect families from losing inherited housing due to tax bills. - Minority Whip Nicholas Oor called the injunction a "bad-faith attempt" to delay the Safe & Healthy Homes Act and urged continued work to pass tenant protections. - Miguel Delmau, a public commenter, urged passage of proactive inspections and cited his experience with neglected housing conditions.

The council adjourned and said it will reconvene on March 26, 2026.