How to File a Complaint

A complaint in Philadelphia reaches the right body only if it is filed with the right body. Because the city has separate bodies for police oversight, housing, ethics and licensing, plus state and federal agencies, this guide routes common complaints. It is civic information, not legal advice, and some matters have strict legal deadlines that only a lawyer can assess; see Legal Aid and Public Interest Law.

1 Before you file

• Write down dates, times, places, names, badge or license numbers, and witnesses.
• Keep copies of texts, photos, receipts, notices and letters.
• For a service failure rather than a wrongdoing, start with How to Get Help From the City and Philly311.
• Ask each agency what its own time limits are. Deadlines for lawsuits, discrimination charges and appeals can be short and are set by different laws.

2 Police complaints

Complaints about Philadelphia police officers can be made to the department's Internal Affairs Division or through the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC), an independent city body. As of 2026 CPOC lists an office at 2401 Walnut Street, 6th Floor, phone 215-685-0891 and email CPOC@phila.gov. CPOC staff review a complaint, speak with the complainant about the process, and refer it to Internal Affairs, then monitor and report on outcomes. Complaints can also be filed with the department directly. Discipline then follows the department's process and union contract rules, described in Police Accountability Systems and The FOP Contract and Police Discipline. For possible crimes by officers, the District Attorney's Office and the federal U.S. Attorney's Office have separate roles. Ask CPOC about any filing time limit that applies to your situation.^[1]

3 Landlord and housing complaints

• Unsafe or unlicensed conditions: report to 311; the Department of Licenses and Inspections inspects and can cite owners. Rental license rules are in Rental Licensing and Landlord-Tenant Law.
• Unfair rental practices: the Fair Housing Commission, 601 Walnut Street, Suite 300 South, 215-686-4670, fairhousingcomm@phila.gov, handles tenant and landlord complaints under city rental law.
• Discrimination: see the Commission on Human Relations below.
• Eviction cases are in court, not an agency; see Eviction Diversion and Landlord-Tenant Court.
• Public housing: start with the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
• Legal help: the Philly Tenant Hotline at (267) 443-2500, Community Legal Services (see its website for current intake numbers) and groups in Tenant and Housing Advocacy Groups.

New tenant protections are summarized in Safe and Healthy Homes Act.

4 City worker complaints

For fraud, waste, abuse or misconduct by city employees, the Office of the Inspector General (215-686-1770, online form, anonymous or confidential reports accepted) investigates; the City Controller runs a fraud hotline (215-686-3804). Ethics-law concerns, such as conflicts of interest or gifts, go to the Board of Ethics. Rude or slow service by an employee is best raised first with the department's supervisor and 311. Employees with workplace grievances use human resources and Civil Service channels. Detail is in How to Report Corruption or Misconduct.

5 Contractor complaints

Report an unlicensed contractor or unpermitted work to 311, then send the case number and address to the L&I address listed on phila.gov. L&I does not resolve contractor fraud, breach of contract or warranty disputes; for those the city points residents to the District Attorney, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection, or a private attorney. Home improvement contractors must register with the Attorney General (1-888-520-6680). Complaints about contractors on city projects, such as wage or diversity violations, can go to the Office of Economic Opportunity hotline; see Understanding City Contracts and Bids.^[2]

6 Other complaint routes

• Discrimination in housing, jobs or public accommodations: Commission on Human Relations.
• Wage theft, sick leave, and similar workplace laws: Office of Worker Protections.
• Elections: City Commissioners and the District Attorney.
• Open records denials: How to Request Public Records.
• Court-related problems: First Judicial District.
• Parking tickets: Philadelphia Parking Authority.

See also: Board of Ethics, Police Accountability Systems, Glossary

References

1. City of Philadelphia, "File a complaint against a Philadelphia police officer," and CPOC complaint explainer, phila.gov/cpoc (accessed October 2026).
2. City of Philadelphia, "Report an unlicensed contractor or unpermitted work," phila.gov (accessed October 2026).
3. City of Philadelphia, "File a complaint about unfair rental practices," and "Report wrongdoing in city government," phila.gov (accessed October 2026).
4. Philadelphia City Controller, "Fraud Reporting," controller.phila.gov/fraud-reporting.