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From the Philadelphia Civic Wiki, the free guide to how the city works
Welcome to the Philadelphia Civic Wiki, a free, plain-English reference to how Philadelphia is governed: who holds power, what every city department does, how unions and political organizations fit in, and how to get something done when you need the city to act. Philadelphia is both a city and a county, so its government is more tangled than most. This wiki untangles it.
New here? Start with How Philadelphia Government Is Organized,
then browse the Department Directory for a one-line answer on every body. Prefer one long
document? See the Full Report.
Browse by topic
- Government Structure — the Mayor, City Council, the row offices, the Home Rule Charter, and the state and federal layers above them.
- Politics and Elections — parties, ward leaders, elections, campaign money, ethics oversight.
- Unions and Labor — DC 33, the FOP, the Building Trades, and how public-sector bargaining works.
- Administration and Finance — the budget, taxes, procurement, Philly311.
- Land Use, Streets and Utilities — L&I, zoning, Streets, Water, Parks.
- Housing, Transit and Authorities — PHA, landlord-tenant law, SEPTA, the Parking Authority.
- Public Safety and Justice — Police, Fire, the courts, police accountability.
- Health, Human Services and Culture — Public Health, DHS, Homeless Services, Mural Arts.
- Schools, Business and Civil Society — the School District, philanthropy, advocacy groups, local media.
- Citizen Guides — step-by-step: get help, file a complaint, request records, testify at Council.
Who do I contact about…?
| If your problem is… | Start here |
|---|---|
| A pothole, trash pickup, a dangerous building, a broken streetlight | Philly311, then the Streets Department or L&I |
| A landlord, rental license or repair dispute | Rental licensing and landlord-tenant law, Fair Housing Commission |
| A property tax bill or assessment you disagree with | Office of Property Assessment, Board of Revision of Taxes |
| A zoning or building project in your neighborhood | Registered Community Organizations, Zoning Board of Adjustment |
| A complaint about police conduct | Citizens Police Oversight Commission, police accountability systems |
| Suspected corruption or misuse of public money | How to report corruption or misconduct |
| Getting a city record or document | How to request public records, Right-to-Know Law |
| Voting, registering, or running for office | Elections, voter registration, running for office |
| Who is my Councilmember or state legislator? | How to find your elected officials |
Go deeper
- Councilmanic prerogative — the unwritten rule that shapes land use in every district.
- Home rule limits and state preemption — what the city cannot do without Harrisburg.
- The 2025 DC 33 strike and labor and politics.
- Documented corruption cases and pay-to-play rules.
- The Safe and Healthy Homes Act.
- Philadelphia political history and the mayors timeline.
About the wiki: About · Index · Glossary · References.
Categories: Wiki