In late February, Eighth District Councilmember Cindy Bass introduced a bill that would further crack down on “nuisance businesses” — those that deter the health, safety, and welfare of a community — in the district.
Officially deemed Bill #250123, looks to amend Section 6-503 of The Philadelphia Code, which manages the issuance, revocation, and suspension of business licenses and permits. If passed, the bill would establish new grounds for suspending business licenses.
Those specifically at-risk for suspension (meaning temporary until changes are made) would include businesses that:
- Fail to comply with applicable state regulations or licensing requirements, like staying open beyond appropriate hours or selling drug paraphernalia
- Have a layout that is significantly different from the floor plan originally approved without authorization, like building a wall without notifying the city.
Councilperson Bass says these businesses with such violations increase the safety and health risk for surrounding communities…