Who is this report for?
Homebuyer
Existing Owner
Investor / Landlord
Agent / Attorney
What a homebuyer needs to know about this property:
This is an interesting mixed-use buy on the Italian Market corridor — commercial ground floor, residential above. But there are two active violations you must resolve before closing: the building is currently occupied without a valid Certificate of Occupancy, and there's an open signage violation. A standard home inspection won't catch these — you need to pull L&I records (which we've done here) and demand the seller provide a clean CO before you proceed. Don't waive this. Get a real estate attorney to review the permit history.
What a nearby homeowner should watch:
If you own property adjacent to or near 1346 S 9th St, the active Certificate of Occupancy violations and change-of-use to food retail could affect your block. A food/grocery operation without a valid CO is more likely to have unresolved build-out work — noise, waste, rodent attraction. The repeated 311 complaints (abandoned vehicles, dumping, graffiti) suggest this address generates friction. Worth monitoring if you're within 2–3 properties.
What an investor should assess:
Bought for $250k in 2021, assessed at $317k now — $67k in paper appreciation. But the compliance picture is messy. The owner appears to be converting to food retail without completing the regulatory steps (expired CO, open signage violation, fire code issues). This is a classic "trying to move faster than L&I allows" situation. For an investor, the question is: what's the cost to clean this up? A permit expediter ($1,500–3,000), legal CO process (60–120 days), and sewer/structural check. Price that in before making an offer.
For agents, attorneys, and inspectors:
The critical item here is the expired CO permit (AP-2025-005538, issued July 2025, closed March 2026 without completion) against the backdrop of two currently open violation cases. The zoning permit for change-of-use to food retail is issued and valid — the gap is solely the CO. An expediter can likely resolve this in 60–90 days if there are no underlying inspection failures. Recommend your client demand a CO contingency in any LOI or Agreement of Sale before proceeding.
Key Facts at a Glance
2
Open Violations
Both active as of Mar 2026
1
Expired Permit
CO lapsed before closeout
10
311 Complaints
Since 2016 · 2 still open
111
Years Old
Built 1915 · masonry
$317k
Assessed Value
Bought for $250k in 2021
4
Closed Permits
HVAC + plumbing done
8 mo
Since Change-of-Use
Zoning approved Jul 2025
0
Valid CO
Building lacks cert. occupancy
Risk Analysis
Open Violation — Occupied Without Certificate of Occupancy
Case CF-2026-019190 opened March 4, 2026. The building is currently in use without a valid CO or TCO. A CO application was filed in July 2025 but expired in early 2026 without passing inspection or being completed. This is the most serious flag: without a CO, a commercial operator can be shut down by the city, and a buyer assuming this property inherits the violation.
Open Violation — Unpermitted Signage
Case CF-2026-016151 (Feb 24, 2026) cites existing advertising/signage that was not permitted. The owner must either pull a permit retroactively or remove it. Pending resolution.
Change-of-Use Approved But Not CO-Complete
Zoning for food/grocery retail is approved (ZP-2025-006794). But the Certificate of Occupancy confirming the space is safe and code-compliant for that use was never obtained. The use is legal on paper; the building certificate is missing.
Nuisance Pattern — Ongoing
10 service requests over 10 years including 3 abandoned vehicle reports (2 still open), illegal dumping × 2, graffiti × 2, maintenance × 2, and a license complaint. Not alarming individually — but the density and the 2 currently-open items suggest active street friction.
Resolved — Completed Mechanical & Plumbing Work (2021–2022)
New HVAC ductwork (MP-2021-008205) and basement house trap replacement (PP-2022-007337) were both permitted and completed with no outstanding issues. The mechanical systems have been recently upgraded.
Risk Dimensions
Permit & Compliance Risk
High — 85/100
Active CO violation + expired permit
Neighborhood Nuisance
Moderate — 55/100
Above-average 311 complaint rate for block
Structural / Age Risk
Moderate — 60/100
111-yr masonry rowhouse, recent plumbing work
Water / Flood Risk
Low — 28/100
Outside major flood zone (per FEMA NFHL layer — verify independently)
Rental / License Risk
Moderate-High — 70/100
No CO = rental/lease exposure
Nearby Construction
Low — 35/100
No active adjacent demolition permits
Full Property Timeline
All Permits, Violations & Events · Most Recent First
March 4, 2026
Open Violation — Occupied Without TCO/CO
Case CF-2026-019190 · Standard · No resolution date set
February 24, 2026
Open Violation — Permit/Remove Advertising + No CO
Case CF-2026-016151 · Admin Notice of Violation · Open
January 29, 2026
Resolved — Fire Code Violations (3 items)
Case CF-2025-121827 · Fire extinguishers, alarm box signs, periodic testing — all complied
January 7, 2026
311 Maintenance Complaint
SR #19326483 · Closed
November 6, 2025
Fire Code Violations Opened (3 issues)
Alarm signs, extinguisher compliance, testing — resolved by Jan 2026
September 30, 2025
311 License Complaint
SR #18136988 · Closed
July 25, 2025
CO Permit Issued — Expired Without Completion
AP-2025-005538 · Admin permit for Certificate of Occupancy · Status: Expired
July 10, 2025
Resolved — Change-of-Use Zoning Permit Issued
ZP-2025-006794 · Retail food, beverages, groceries · Status: Active/Issued
July & June 2025
Abandoned Vehicle × 2 (Still Open)
SR #17940264 and #17637263 · Both remain open as of March 2026
April 3, 2025
Exterior Sanitation Violation — Closed
Case CF-2025-025269 · Resolved April 22, 2025
May–July 2022
Resolved — Plumbing Permit: House Trap Replacement
PP-2022-007337 · QQ Construction Inc · Basement house trap + fresh air inlet
Dec 2021–Jan 2022
Resolved — HVAC: New Ductwork
MP-2021-008205 · Timothy McKenna · 1st floor commercial self-contained HVAC
April 9, 2021
Property Purchased — $250,000
New owners: Lin Ming Zhong & Lin Guang Xian
2016–2023
Earlier 311 History (4 requests)
Graffiti × 2, Illegal dumping × 2 — all closed
Neighborhood Context
East Passyunk Crossing · Italian Market Corridor
This block sits on the South 9th Street Italian Market corridor — one of the most active commercial strips in South Philadelphia. The corridor has been undergoing significant turnover as legacy food businesses are joined by newer restaurants, boutiques, and mixed-use renovations. High foot traffic, dense residential rowhouses on side streets, shared masonry walls throughout. The commercial activity means higher permit volume, more change-of-use conversions, and more frequent L&I interaction than a purely residential block.
Block 311 Activity
Above Average
10 complaints at this address vs. ~4 typical
Commercial Permit Activity
High
Italian Market corridor — active conversion zone
Walkability / Transit
Excellent
Walk Score ~95 · Broad St Line nearby
311 Service Request History — 2016 to Present
| Date | Request Type | Status |
| Jan 7, 2026 | Maintenance Complaint | Closed |
| Sep 30, 2025 | License Complaint | Closed |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Abandoned Vehicle | Open |
| Jun 4, 2025 | Abandoned Vehicle | Open |
| Apr 1, 2025 | Maintenance Complaint | Closed |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Abandoned Vehicle | Closed |
| Mar 14, 2023 | Graffiti Removal | Closed |
| Feb 13, 2023 | Illegal Dumping | Closed |
| Apr 22, 2017 | Illegal Dumping | Closed |
| Apr 16, 2016 | Graffiti Removal | Closed |
Recommended Next Steps
-
1
Demand CO resolution before any transaction closes
The open CO violation (CF-2026-019190) must be resolved. Don't accept promises — require written documentation or a CO contingency in the agreement of sale. A real estate attorney can draft this language.
-
2
Ask why the July 2025 CO application expired
Understanding whether a failed inspection, incomplete work, or owner negligence caused the expiration tells you what underlying problem still exists — and how expensive it is to fix.
-
3
Order a sewer scope before closing
The 2022 basement house trap replacement suggests prior drainage issues. A 111-year-old lateral on a commercial-use property warrants a camera inspection before you own it.
-
4
Clarify the signage violation responsibility
If you're leasing the commercial space, confirm in writing whether the unpermitted signage (CF-2026-016151) is the owner's obligation to resolve before occupancy.
-
5
Inspect party walls — this is a 3-story attached masonry building
Built in 1915, shared walls with adjacent properties. Request a visual inspection by a structural engineer if any adjacent property has had recent construction, excavation, or demolition.
Professionals to Contact
Commercial Inspector
Full structural + systems review for mixed-use buildings
Sewer Scope Specialist
Prior plumbing work + 111-year-old lateral
Real Estate Attorney
CO violations, change-of-use, lease/AOS review
Structural Engineer
Party wall inspection, masonry condition assessment
Permit Expediter
Navigate L&I to resolve CO — 60–90 day process
Insurance Broker
Open violations affect commercial coverage eligibility
Data sources: Philadelphia OPA, L&I Permits & Violations, Philadelphia 311 — all via OpenDataPhilly public APIs. This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always verify critical details with licensed professionals before any transaction.