Development Services FAQs

Yes! Our office does offer pre-application meetings, which are entirely optional for applicants – except for Stormwater Grants applicants, for which they are mandatory.

To request a pre-application meeting for Stormwater projects, including retrofits (grant-funded), you can submit a Private Development Services Pre-Application Meeting Request form via your user dashboard on the PWD Plan Review portal.

All developments proposing 5,000 square feet or more of earth disturbance must submit a project application (aka the “ERSA” or “SPR” application) through the PWD Plan Review portal.

An overall project concept can be submitted under one ERSA application. You may submit your technical plans in phases, but each phase will require a separate ERSA application. Phasing plans should be discussed with your reviewer by contacting PWD.PlanReview@phila.gov or 215-685-6387.

Yes, for projects submitted in phases, each phase must be compliant with PWD’s Stormwater Regulations.

To discuss compliance options contact PWD.PlanReview@phila.gov or 215-685-6387.

Yes, but you must submit a separate ERSA for demolition.

Your project’s submission process will depend on the extent to which the current project overlaps with the drainage area of the existing stormwater management infrastructure, though most new projects will be reviewed as a Field Change to the original project. Please email PWD.PlanReview@phila.gov for clarification on the appropriate submission type, as needed.

Field change submissions should be made via PWD’s Stormwater Plan Review portal. If you are not a member of the organization that submitted the original Post-Construction Stormwater Management Plan (PCSMP), you must first add the project to your account’s Imported Stormwater Projects portfolio via the “Import Project” option. Be aware that the project’s Stormwater Tracking Number is required for importing. Once in your portfolio, field changes, record drawings, and/or related documents can be uploaded for that project.

Please note that, when a new project impacts upon the drainage area of a previously regulated project, the applicant must show that the original project remains in compliance as well. For further guidance on regulatory requirements and submissions, email PWD.PlanReview@phila.gov.

Yes, in fact! PWD offers incentives for developers who go “above and beyond” the stormwater management regulations. To learn more about the incentives for new and redevelopment projects with voluntary retrofit components, contact PWD’s Stormwater Incentives team at 215-685-6070 or PWD.StormwaterCredits@phila.gov.

To check the review status of a Stormwater Plan, as well as current review times, visit https://www.pwdplanreview.org/apply/application/app_status. If you have other questions or concerns about the status of your Stormwater Plan, email PWD.PlanReview@phila.gov.

Conceptual Stormwater Plan Approvals expire after two (2) years. PCSMP Approvals also expire after two (2) years unless there is an active Building Permit attached to the project.

Yes, review by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is required to receive a NPDES permit before any form of earth disturbance can begin for a project, including demolition, whose total on-site earth disturbance is more than an acre.

The O&M Agreement must be signed by the Property Owner or other valid signatory. The following business titles are acceptable for each business entity:

Yes, we do! Stormwater Connect is our web app that matches vendors with property owners considering stormwater retrofits.

Any questions about our Stormwater Grants and Credits incentive programs, including Stormwater Connect, should be directed to PWD’s Stormwater Incentives team at 215-685-6070 or PWD.StormwaterCredits@phila.gov.

PWD periodically inspects all stormwater management facilities that were installed via grant funding, installed to comply with the Stormwater Regulations, and/or receive certain stormwater credits. There will be contact information to schedule the inspection.

Learn more via PWD’s Stormwater Maintenance page.

PWD’s Utility Plan Review looks for water and sewer availability, utility conflicts, Right-of-Way (ROW) conflicts, connection location and size, and other potential issues.

Learn more about Utility Plan Review →

Yes! Our office does offer pre-application meetings, which are entirely optional for applicants – except for Stormwater Grants applicants, for which they are mandatory.

To request a pre-application meeting for Utility projects, you can email questions and pre-application meeting requests to PWDUR@phila.gov

Current review times for Utility Plan Reviews can be found here: https://www.pwdplanreview.org/apply/application/app_status/.

Detailed status information for Utility Plan submissions is not currently available online, but you can email PWDUR@phila.gov for status updates.

The Utility Plan Approval stamp has a three-year expiration date. This extension applies retroactively to all projects. Thus, a plan approved 6/1/2021 is now valid until 6/1/2024, regardless of the expiration date on the stamp.

Because all Utility Plan approvals are valid for three (3) years, no further extensions are granted, regardless of the disclaimer on the stamp.

PWD completes its eCLIPSE permit sign-offs within five (5) business days of the plan’s approval. If your permit has not received a sign-off after five (5) business days, email pwd_devservices@phila.gov with the project address and eCLIPSE permit number for assistance.

The Philadelphia Water Department now inserts Certificate of Occupancy (CO) holds within eCLIPSE for building permit applications that trigger PWD’s Stormwater Management Review. PWD resolves this hold after compliance has been confirmed for the project and its associated permit including, though not limited to, the following:

1. Resolution of all construction violations
2. Payment of all review and inspection fees
3. Obtainment of a Post-Constructions Stormwater Management (PCSM) Final Inspection Report
4. Execution and recording of an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Agreement
5. Submission and acceptance of a compliant Record Drawing

The Final CO will not be issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) until PWD’s hold has been resolved. Please note that Temporary COs may also be held for projects that employ stormwater-related zoning bonuses. For additional information about this policy, please visit PWD’s Certificate of Occupancy Hold Policy webpage.

Note that PWD will also continue to insert holds on any issued permits with violation concerns. This procedure can be reviewed in the Stormwater Management Guidance Manual’s new Appendix M. PCSMP Closeout. Questions about this procedure should be directed to Stormwater Plan Review at PWD.PlanReview@phila.gov.

Submit online at PWD Plan Review. Click “Log-In here to apply” to log in or create an account. Select “Start a UPR” from the Project Dashboard.

Submit online at PWD Plan Review. Click “Log-In here to apply” to log in or create an account. Select “Start an SPR” from the Project Dashboard.

No. You can use the same account to submit both applications from one Project dashboard. Select UPR for Utility Plan Review or SPR for Stormwater Plan Review.

Yes, you should link your account to your design firm, which will allow your colleagues to access the application. If you do not see your firm listed within the drop-down menu, you can create a new Company record – and you will be the default Company Lead. Linking an account can only be done at the time of account creation.

The Company Lead is responsible for managing the Company’s profile in PWD Plan Review. They have the authority to facilitate and restrict access to applications within their Company’s Project Dashboard. Company Leads also approve all requests for new staff to join the company dashboard.

The company lead is listed at the bottom of the project portal under “Company Projects”.

Email pwd_devservices@phila.gov

No, we can have your previous email address merged with your new one, which preserves the history of submitted projects. Email pwd_devservices@phila.gov to make this request.

For assistance merging accounts, identifying a company’s lead account, and more requests, email pwd_devservices@phila.gov

Submit a Pennsylvania One Call request through www.pa1call.org.

Email pwd_devservices@phila.gov.

Email pwd_devservices@phila.gov and we will assist where we can. Please note that not all review records can be publicly shared or reproduced and may require the requestor to visit PWD offices in person to view.