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Back to search resultsBill 260688

Amending Section 14-601 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Use Categories” by making changes to the retail sales use category definitions, and amending Section 14-602, entitled “Use Tables” by making changes to the use tables to reflect the updated retail sales use category definitions, all under certain terms and conditions.

AI summary

This bill, which is in committee, would change Philadelphia’s zoning definitions for retail sales, including grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores. It would also update the zoning use tables to show where these types of businesses are allowed in residential, commercial, industrial, and special-purpose districts.

File details

Status
IN COMMITTEE
Introduced
September 17, 2026
View official record ↗

Full text

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1. Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

* * *

TITLE 14. ZONING AND PLANNING

* * *

CHAPTER 1

4-600. USE REGULATIONS

* * *

§14-601. Use Categories

* * *

(6) Retail Sales Use Category

* * *

[(d) Food, Beverages, and Groceries.

Uses that sell or otherwise provide food or beverages for off-premises consumption, including grocery stores and similar uses that provide incidental and accessory food and beverage service as part of their primary retail sales business. The following is a food, beverage, and groceries specific use type:]

(d) Groceries and Pharmaceuticals

Uses that sell or otherwise provide food or beverages for off-premises consumption, including grocery stores and similar uses that provide incidental and accessory food and beverage service as part of their primary retail sales business.

(.1) Farmer's Market.

[An area for the sale of food crops and non-food crops (e.g., flowers) directly to consumers within an enclosed structure, or outdoors on a lot.]

See § 9-213(b).

(.2) Large Grocery Store

A business of over 5,000 square feet of gross floor area which sells food, with a majority of floor space dedicated to fresh produce, dairy, meat, seafood, baked goods, deli and prepared meats, frozen food, dry goods, snacks, beverages, health and beauty aids, non-perishable items, and food ingredients for home preparation and consumption.

(.3) Large Pharmacy

A business of over 5,000 square feet of gross floor area whose principal purpose is the sale of items dispensed by a person who holds a permit issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy, under Section 4 of the Pharmacy Act, 63 PS Section 390-4, to dispense medical prescriptions and to administer on-site medication. This use typically includes accessory sales of medical equipment, and general merchandise and food and beverage items commonly found in grocery stores.

(.4) Community Pharmacy

A business of less than 5,000 square feet of gross floor area whose principal purpose is the sale of items dispensed by a person who holds a permit issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy, under Section 4 of the Pharmacy Act, 63 PS Section 390-4, to dispense medical prescriptions and to administer on-site medication. This use typically includes accessory sales of medical equipment, and general merchandise and food and beverage items commonly found in grocery stores.

(.5) Community Grocery Store.

A business, under 5,000 square feet of gross floor area, with a majority of floor space dedicated to frozen food, dry goods, snacks, beverages, health and beauty aids, non-perishable items, and food ingredients for home preparation and consumption.

(.a) Convenience Store with Food Preparation

A community grocery store, with on-site preparation of food, that principally sells factory-packaged food items for home consumption, beverages, newspapers, magazines, health and beauty aids.

(.b) Convenience Store without Food Preparation

A community grocery store, without on-site preparation of food, that principally sells factory-packaged food items for home consumption, beverages, newspapers, magazines, and health and beauty aids.

* * *

[(f) Sundries, Pharmaceuticals, and Convenience Sales.

Uses that sell or otherwise provide goods for personal grooming and for the day-to-day maintenance of personal health and well-being

.

(.1) Convenience Sales.

Any uses that qualify as Sundries, Pharmaceuticals, and Convenience Sales, excluding those carried out on a premises with respect to which a permit to conduct a pharmacy has been issued by the State Board of Pharmacy.

]

* * *

§14-602. Use Tables.

* * *

Table 14-602-1: Uses Allowed in Residential Districts

* * *

District Name

RSD-1

RSD-2

RSD-3

RSA-1

RSA-2

RSA-3

RSA-4

RSA-5

RSA-6

RTA-1

RM-1

RM-2

RM-3

RM-4

RMX-1

RMX-2

RMX-3

Use-Specific Standards

Y = Yes permitted as of right | S = Special exception approval required N = Not allowed (expressly prohibited) | Uses not listed in this table are prohibited See §

14-602(3)

(a) (Notes for

Table 14-602-1

) for information pertaining to bracketed numbers (e.g., "[2]") in table cells.

* * *

Retail Sales Use Category

* * *

{Food, Beverages, and Groceries}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{Y[3]}

{Y[4]}

{Y[5]}

{Sundries, Pharmaceuticals, Convenience Sales}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{Y[3]}

{Y[4]}

{Y[5]}

Groceries and Pharmaceuticals (unless otherwise specified below)

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

Large Grocery Store

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

Large Pharmacy

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

Community Pharmacy

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Community Grocery Store

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Convenience Store with Food Preparation

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Convenience Store without Food Preparation

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

* * *

* * *

Table 14-602-2: Uses Allowed in Commercial Districts

* * *

District Name

CMX-1

CMX-2

CMX-2.5

CMX-3

CMX-4

CMX-5

CA-1

CA-2

Use-Specific Standards

Y = Yes permitted as of right | S = Special exception approval required N = Not allowed (expressly prohibited) | Uses not listed in this table are prohibited See §

14-602(3)

(a) (Notes for

Table 14-602-1

) for information pertaining to bracketed numbers (e.g., "[2]") in table cells.

* * *

Retail Sales Use Category

* * *

{Food, Beverages, and Groceries}

{Y[5]}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

* * *

{Sundries, Pharmaceuticals, Convenience Sales}

{Y[5]}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

Groceries and Pharmaceuticals (unless otherwise specified below)

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Large Grocery Store

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Large Pharmacy

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Community Pharmacy

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Community Grocery Store

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Convenience Store with Food Preparation

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Convenience Store without Food Preparation

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

* * *

* * *

Table 14-602-3: Uses Allowed in Industrial Districts

* * *

District Name

IRMX [3]

ICMX

I-1

I-2

I-3

I-P

Use-Specific Standards

Y = Yes permitted as of right | S = Special exception approval required N = Not allowed (expressly prohibited) | Uses not listed in this table are prohibited See §

14-602(3)

(a) (Notes for

Table 14-602-1

) for information pertaining to bracketed numbers (e.g., "[2]") in table cells.

* * *

Retail Sales Use Category

* * *

{Food, Beverages, and Groceries}

{Y}

{Y}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

* * *

{Sundries, Pharmaceuticals, Convenience Sales}

{Y}

{Y}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{N}

Groceries and Pharmaceuticals (unless otherwise specified below)

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Large Grocery Store

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Large Pharmacy

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Community Pharmacy

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Community Grocery Store

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Convenience Store with Food Preparation

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

Convenience Store without Food Preparation

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

* * *

* * *

Table 14-602-4: Uses Allowed in Special Purpose Districts

* * *

District Name

SP-INS

SP-ENT

SP-STA

SP-PO-P

SP-PO-A

SP-AIR

SP-CIV

Standards

Y = Yes permitted as of right | S = Special exception approval required N = Not allowed (expressly prohibited) | Uses not listed in this table are prohibited See §

14-602(3)

(a) (Notes for

Table 14-602-1

) for information pertaining to bracketed numbers (e.g., "[2]") in table cells.

* * *

Retail Sales Use Category

* * *

{Food, Beverages, and Groceries}

{Y}

{Y}

{N}

{N}

{N}

{Y}

{S}

* * *

{Sundries, Pharmaceuticals, Convenience Sales}

{Y}

{Y}

{Y}

{N}

{N}

{Y}

{S}

Groceries and Pharmaceuticals (unless otherwise specified below)

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

N

Large Grocery Store

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Large Pharmacy

Y

N

N

N

N

N

N

Community Pharmacy

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

S

Community Grocery Store

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

N

Convenience Store with Food Preparation

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

N

Convenience Store without Food Preparation

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

N

* * *

SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately.

____________________________

Explanation:

Italics

indicate new matter added.

[Brackets] indicate matter deleted.

{Braces} indicate matter deleted within a table.

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 actionCITY COUNCIL

    Introduced and Referred

    CITY COUNCIL

    Details not published

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