Moving Permit in Philadelphia, PA
Permit Summary
Moving Permit Scope
Permit Scope
The Temporary No Parking permit reserves or authorizes temporary occupation of City street space for a residential move, including a moving truck or portable storage container. It is a curb/right-of-way occupancy permit, not a general license to move and not a permit for a full street closure.
Moving Equipment Covered
The residential Temporary No Parking application covers moving trucks, moving or portable storage containers, and temporary dumpsters. Crane placement, helicopter lifts, and other full-street-closure activities use different permit processes.
Vehicle Eligibility Rules
For an ordinary Temporary No Parking moving-truck request, the City requires the truck length but does not publish separate plate or commercial-status eligibility criteria. A separate special hauling permit may be required for an oversized or overweight vehicle, including a single vehicle over 40 feet long, a combination over 60 feet long, certain non-divisible combinations over 70 feet, vehicles over the applicable width limit, over 13 feet 6 inches high, or over 80,000 pounds or the maximum gross vehicle weight.
Moving Container Rules
A portable on-demand storage unit placed on a public street requires a permit. Philadelphia Code provisions allow one PODS unit per permit, no more than one PODS permit for a property address within 12 months, and no more than five consecutive days with no extension. A PODS unit may not be placed on a sidewalk, alley, designated fire lane, or in violation of the Traffic Code; the Department may refuse a location that would interfere with traffic flow. The Code also requires identifying information on the unit and an insurance certificate from the supplying company as part of the permit application.
Parking & Reserved Space
Location Restrictions
The requested curb location is subject to review and may be changed because of local parking restrictions, lack of legal parking, or an existing loading zone. Portable storage units are also barred from sidewalks, alleys, designated fire lanes, and locations that violate the Traffic Code or interfere with traffic flow.
Timing & Permit Duration
Temporary No Parking Signs
Sign Posting Rules
After the permit is issued and paid, print it and take it to a Philadelphia police district headquarters to obtain Temporary No Parking signs. Post the signs for the permit period. If the applicant cannot post them personally or is moving from outside Philadelphia, the Streets Engineering Standards advise arranging for someone local to post them with a printed copy of the permit application.
Neighbor / Property Notice Rules
Philadelphia does not publish a blanket neighbor-consent requirement for an ordinary residential Temporary No Parking application. However, the Streets regulations allow the Department to require reasonable notification to people potentially affected by a temporary street occupancy permit.
Enforcement & Street Restrictions
Enforcement / Towing Rules
If the signs were posted in advance and a vehicle is parked in the permitted zone during the permit dates, contact the local Philadelphia police district and request that the vehicle be ticketed. After a ticket is issued, the vehicle may be towed.
Traffic / Street Restrictions
The Department must find that the right-of-way occupation is limited to what is necessary and that traffic disruption can be mitigated; it may impose signage, traffic-control, lighting, or police-assistance conditions. A Temporary No Parking permit does not authorize a full street closure. If the moving vehicle separately requires a special hauling permit because of its size or weight, additional route and time restrictions apply.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
Use the Temporary No Parking process when a residential move needs to occupy or reserve space on a City street. Submit one application for one address, provide the move location and timing plus the moving-truck length or number of containers, pay the invoice, print the issued permit, obtain Temporary No Parking signs from a Philadelphia police district, and post the signs in advance.
Exemptions
A Temporary No Parking permit is not required merely to move when no City street space is being reserved, blocked, or occupied for loading or unloading. A permit is required when the move closes or occupies public street space for loading or unloading. Oversize or overweight vehicles may require a separate special hauling permit.
Required Documents
For an ordinary moving-truck application, the City lists required information rather than separate plan documents: applicant name and contact information, the exact move or permit address, moving-truck length, permit date, and start and end times. Container requests require the number of containers. After issuance, print the permit and take it to a Philadelphia police district to obtain Temporary No Parking signs.