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Back to search resultsBill 250888-A

Amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions" by adding a new chapter to prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services from arranging unauthorized restaurant reservations with food service establishments and to provide for definitions, prohibited acts, penalties, and enforcement, all under certain terms and conditions.

AI summary

This bill prohibits third-party restaurant reservation services from making unauthorized reservations at Philadelphia restaurants. It affects restaurants and third-party reservation services, aiming to prevent unauthorized bookings. The bill includes rules for enforcement and penalties for non-compliance.

File details

Status
ENACTED
Introduced
October 16, 2025
View official record ↗

Full text

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1. Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

TITLE 9. REGULATION OF BUSINESSES, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS.

CHAPTER 9-6700. THIRD-PARTY RESTAURANT RESERVATION SERVICES.

§ 9-6701. Definitions.

In this Chapter the following definitions apply:

(1) Food Service Establishment. A business categorized under the North American Industry Classification System (“NAICS”) as Full-Service Restaurants (NAICS 722511).

(2) Third-party Reservation Service. An entity or person

engaged in offering, listing, or arranging dining arrangements or restaurant reservation services for Food Service Establishments it does not own or operate.

§ 9-6702. Prohibitions.

(1)

No Third-party Reservation Service shall charge, collect, or receive a fee, directly or indirectly, for one or more reservations for a Food Service Establishment without a prior written authorization from the Food Service Establishment. A Third-party Reservation Service shall bear the burden of proof in establishing that a Food Service Establishment provided prior written authorization that is applicable to a particular reservation or period of operation.

§ 9-6703. Enforcement and Penalties.

(1)

The City of Philadelphia may impose a civil penalty on a Third-party Reservation Service in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each violation of this Chapter.

(2)

Violations by a Third-party Reservation Service shall accrue for each day and for each Food Service Establishment in which there has been a violation.

(3)

The Department of Licenses and Inspections:

(a)

May issue regulations governing the implementation of this chapter;

(b)

Shall have the authority to enforce this chapter, investigate complaints, and issue fines or citations for violations.

§ 9-6704. Record Keeping.

(1) A Third-party Reservation Service shall retain proof of written authorization from a Food Service Establishment, as required under Section 9-6702, for the stated duration of the authorization plus a minimum of one year.

SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall take effect 90 days after enactment.

___________________________________

Explanation:

Italics

indicate new matter added.

End

File history

Sometimes city council's record keeping is not complete. This timeline reflects the information on the council's legistar website.
  1. Council actionMAYOR

    Signed

  2. Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Amended

  3. Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Ordered placed on this day`s first reading calendar

    Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Read and ordered placed on next week's second reading calendar

    Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Suspend the rules of the council

  4. Committee on Commerce & Economic Development

    Details not published

    No details have been published for this item. Legistar notes that this meeting's minutes have not been finalized.
  5. Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Introduced and Referred