House report

1516 S 5th St

3 bd · 2 ba · 3 stories · 1,800 sqft · RSA5 · built 1900

Owner-occupancy signal · assessed $535K (2026) · 2027 OPA assessment $561K · sold 4×. On the 1500 block of S 5th St.

Street view of 1516 S 5th St
From the street — imagery © Google
From above · selected parcel outlined; choose a neighboring polygon to open it — imagery © Esri, Maxar
BlockReport AI · cited public records

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Property summary

“Open” reflects records available then historical records keep their source dates estimates are labeled

Question or correct this record

BlockReport can explain a discrepancy, but it cannot rewrite an official City record. Use the agency that owns the underlying fact:

The estimate, live balance, and back-tax record are different.

BlockReport can calculate the annual tax from the City’s taxable assessment. Payments, credits, interest, and a current amount due live separately in Philadelphia Tax Center.

Estimated annual Real Estate Tax$6,089/year

2026 taxable assessment $435,000 × 1.3998%. Estimate—not a bill or account balance.

OPA also publishes a 2027 assessment of $561,300; it is not the 2026 billed-year value.

Official current account balanceCheck live

A Tax Center balance is net of bills, payments, credits, interest, and adjustments. A credit—or an amount due—is not automatically “back taxes.”

OPA 011334500
Open Philadelphia Tax Center →Choose “View period balance” to see the tax year and any credit, interest, or delinquency.
Exemption classificationHomestead exemption

2026 OPA removes $100,000 from the taxable assessment through the owner-occupant exemption.

Historical delinquency sources No current conclusion

This parcel did not match the June 2022 delinquency snapshot. That absence does not confirm the account is current today.

For a purchase, refinance, or closing, request the City’s official Property Payoff statement in Tax Center under “More options.”

What stands out

From the public record
Finding

New construction

Record summary

$238K transfer recorded in 2017; new construction appears in a 2007 permit, followed by a recorded transfer of $535K in 2021.

View supporting records →
Finding

"Built 1900" is usually a placeholder

Record summary

Philadelphia records use 1900 as a stand-in when the real construction year was never documented. Treat the age as unknown, not as 120+ years.

View supporting records →

What to do with this

The record, translated into moves — what a buyer, the owner, and a landlord would each want to check next under Philadelphia's actual rules.

If you’re buying

Built 1900: lead rules apply

Federal law requires a lead-paint disclosure at sale for any pre-1978 home. If it will be rented, Philadelphia also requires a lead-safe or lead-free certificate before a rental license can issue.

Zoned RSA5: one household by right

Single-family rowhouse (the classic Philly row). Converting to a duplex or apartments needs a use variance the zoning board rarely grants — Pennsylvania courts require a physical hardship of the lot itself, and economics alone do not qualify.

If you own it

Construction next door (1515 S 5th St, 2025)

Excavation deeper than 5 feet, or within 10 feet of an adjacent structure, legally requires the developer to survey neighboring homes first and give owners 10 days' written notice. Insist on the pre-construction survey — it is your evidence if cracks appear.

Derived from the fetched property records and linked City guidance as of 2026. Assessment treatment is not a substitute for an exemption approval, live balance, title report, license, occupancy certificate, or inspection. Informational only — not legal, tax, or investment advice.

Assessment and tax history

Every fetched annual City assessment for this house, compared with its block and ZIP. The figures show assessment change, the billed-year tax estimate, dated tax records, and recorded transfers. They do not estimate market appreciation or investment return.

Assessed value
$535,000
2026 billed-year assessment · 2027: $561,300 · built 1900
Price / sq ft
$312
block $230 · above block
Assessment change
+96%
+6%/yr since 2016 · 2027 +5% vs 2026
Est. tax bill / yr
$6,089
1.14% effective
Jun 2022 tax snapshot
No match
not proof the account is current
Times sold
4

Assessment vs. the block and ZIP · every dated City record marked on the line

$0$500K$1.0MZIP 19147 median$561K200220072012201720222027
Property assessmentBlock median & rangeZIP 19147 medianAssessmentDeed / saleL&I violationPermitInspectionLicense

Each icon sits on its recorded date; records without a day are labeled and centered within their year. Select one to explain the filing.

Highlight
Every dated record20 events · exact dates, newest first
  1. Deed / saleDeed / sale $535K
  2. PermitZoning
  3. PermitAddition and/or Alteration
  4. PermitAlterations
  5. InspectionEP_ELEC
  6. L&I violationPERME- INST/REPL/REPAIR WIRE (Electrical permit required for wiring installation, replacement, or repair)
  7. L&I violationPENALTY- NO ELEC PERM INFO
  8. L&I violationCONTR (ELEC) LIC REQ'D
  9. L&I violationPERME- ALTER ELEC INSTALLATION
  10. L&I violationCVN-UNLICENSED ELECTRICIAN
  11. PermitNew Construction
  12. PermitInterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Demo.
  13. Deed / saleDeed / sale $238K
  14. InspectionHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)
  15. L&I violationEXT A-CLEAN ANIMAL WASTE
  16. LicenseRental
  17. PermitPlumbing
  18. PermitAlteration
  19. InspectionL_INITIAL
  20. InspectionL_INITIAL

The paper trail

$238K transfer recorded in 2017; new construction appears in a 2007 permit, followed by a recorded transfer of $535K in 2021.

  1. 2007 PlumbingPermit
  2. 2012 L&I violationL&IL&I: 1 failed, 1 passedL&I visit
  3. 2017 $238KTransfer5 L&I violationsL&IInterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Demo.PermitNew ConstructionPermitL&I: 3 failed, 1 passedL&I visit
  4. 2018 AlterationsPermit
  5. 2019 ZoningPermitAddition and/or AlterationPermit
  6. 2021 $535KTransfer

Browse the source ledger

The chart above is the primary timeline. This drawer preserves every underlying dated row and its filed status for source-level review.

Open the City record ↗
Browse 23 dated records deeds, permits, inspections, licenses, violations, certifications & appeals
  1. Recorded transfer$535K transfer

    2021

  2. PermitZoning

    Permit 914530 · COMPLETED

    ERECT ROOF DECKS ON TOP OF EXISTING ROOFS AT 2ND & 3RD FLOOR LEVELS.SIZE AND LOCATION PER SUBMITTED PLAN.

  3. PermitAddition and/or Alteration

    Permit 914532 · Expired

    ERECT ROOF DECKS ON TOP OF EXISTING ROOFS AT 2ND & 3RD FLOOR LEVELS AND PARTIAL 1ST FLOOR FRAMING.SIZE AND LOCATION PER SUBMITTED PLAN.

  4. PermitAlterations

    Permit 872526 · Completed

    INSTALL MAIN DRAIN IN BASEMENT, STACK, LAUNDRY TUB, SHOWER, KITCHEN SINK, 2 LAVY SINK, 2 WATER CLOSETS & 1 BATHTUB - THE INSTALLATION WILL COMPLY WITH THE PHILADEPHIA PLUBMING CODE 2004

  5. InvestigationEP_ELEC

    Case 596673 · PASSED

    The cited inspection visit was marked passed.

  6. InvestigationEP_ELEC

    Case 596673 · FAILED

    The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

  7. ViolationPERME- INST/REPL/REPAIR WIRE (Electrical permit required for wiring installation, replacement, or repair)

    Case 596673 · Violation 4492643 · Code A-301.1/51 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  8. ViolationPENALTY- NO ELEC PERM INFO

    Case 596673 · Violation 4492645 · Code A-901.13/2 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  9. ViolationCONTR (ELEC) LIC REQ'D

    Case 596673 · Violation 4492646 · Code E-102.1/1 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  10. ViolationPERME- ALTER ELEC INSTALLATION

    Case 596673 · Violation 4492644 · Code A-301.1/53 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  11. ViolationCVN-UNLICENSED ELECTRICIAN

    Case 596673 · Violation 4492642 · Code 4-E-102.1 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  12. PermitNew Construction

    Permit 803840 · Issued

    REWIRE THIRD FLOOR AND SECOND FLOOR, INSTALL NEW PANEL BOX, INSTALL ALL NEW SWITCH AND OUTLETS AS PER NEC 2008 (SOUTH DISTRICT)

  13. PermitInterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Demo.

    Permit 802683 · Expired

    INTERIOR WORK, FRAME WALL CEILING, SHEET ROCK, INSTALL DOORS, SPACKLE AND PAINT.

  14. Recorded transfer$238K transfer

    2017

  15. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 323925 · PASSED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked passed.

  16. ViolationEXT A-CLEAN ANIMAL WASTE

    Case 323925 · Violation 2414579 · Code PM-302.2/3 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  17. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 323925 · FAILED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

  18. LicenseRental

    License 554564 · Inactive

    TARSEM LAL · Expires 2017-02-28 · Inactive 2017-04-29

  19. PermitPlumbing

    Permit 57885 · COMPLETED

    YARD DRAIN, BASEMENT WATER HEATER, LAUNDRY TUB, 1ST FLOOR 3 PC BATH & KITCHEN, 2ND FLOOR 1 - 3 PC BATH 3RD FLOOR 1 -2 PC BATH

  20. PermitAlteration

    Permit 50087 · COMPLETED

    INTERIOR RENOVATIONS THOUGHOUT. APPLY DRYWALL ON EXISTING PARTITIONS . GENERAL REHAB OF INTERIOR

  21. InvestigationL_INITIAL

    Case 2543 · CLOSED

    City marked the record closed; open the case for the closing reason.

  22. InvestigationL_INITIAL

    Case 13640 · CLOSED

    City marked the record closed; open the case for the closing reason.

  23. InvestigationL_INITIAL

    Case 2543 · FAILED

    The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

What this record suggests

The City file documents 7 permits touching kitchen work, bathroom work, drywall / interior finishing, electrical work. 5 carries a completed, issued, or approved status; that documents the filing, not the present quality of the work.

Informational only — not investment advice or a consumer report (FCRA).

The property, on paper

The city assessor's field record — the physical spec sheet behind the assessed number.

Bedrooms
3
Bathrooms
2
Stories
3
Interior
1,800 sqft
livable area
Lot
1,072 sqft
Basement
Full, finished
city code A
Heat
Forced hot air
city code A
Central air
Yes
Exterior condition
New / rehabbed
city code 2
New / rehabbed
Interior condition
New / rehabbed
city code 2
New / rehabbed
Quality grade
B-
assessor's grade
Zoning
RSA5
city zoning code

OPA field-assessment attributes. Condition and grade are the assessor's codes, not an inspection.

Where the record looks off

Places where the city's own paperwork disagrees with itself. These are flags on the data — not problems with the property.

"Built 1900" is usually a placeholder

Philadelphia records use 1900 as a stand-in when the real construction year was never documented. Treat the age as unknown, not as 120+ years.

Run the numbers

What owning 1516 S 5th St takes, at your price and your rate. Taxes start with an annual estimate from the City’s taxable assessment, not a current bill or balance; rent starts at the area median. Assessed value is not an asking price — set the price slider to the real one.

$561K
20%
6.875%
$2K/mo

When this house last sold (2021) a 30-year mortgage ran about 2.96% — Freddie Mac's average that year.

Mortgage
P&I · 30-yr fixed
All-in monthly
+ taxes & insurance
Estimated cash needed
down + 4% planning allowance
Modeled cash flow
rent − shown costs · /mo
Modeled cap rate
modeled NOI ÷ price
Modeled cash-on-cash
modeled year-1 return

Scenario for orientation, not advice. Assumes a 30-year fixed loan, $1,400/yr insurance, 1% of price/yr maintenance, and buyer cash equal to the down payment plus 4%. Taxes use this parcel's taxable assessment, not a live Tax Center balance. Cash flow and returns exclude vacancy, management, utilities, HOA or condo fees, leasing costs, income tax, and unplanned capital work.

Block context

1516 S 5th St sits on the 1500 block of S 5th St. Open the block report to compare its parcels, ownership and public-record history.

See the whole block →

Next door: 1514 S 5th St  ·  1518 S 5th St

Where this comes from

Methodology & freshness

This report was assembled Jul 10, 2026, 8:41 PM ET. Available City datasets are queried from OpenDataPhilly (phl.carto.com) and the cited City ArcGIS feeds; record queries paginate rather than silently taking a first page. For this property: Permits: queried · Violations: queried · Investigations: queried · Appeals: queried · Licenses: queried · Building certifications: queried. “Unavailable” means the source query failed or was not supplied, not “no record.” Reports re-pull on view after seven days and on an overnight rolling schedule; citywide benchmarks recompute weekly. Source dates still govern: the parcel-level tax-delinquency snapshot is June 2022 and the separate detailed tax ledger ends in 2016, so neither establishes today’s balance. The live balance and date-effective payoff must be verified in Tax Center. AI-written passages are grounded in the assembled record and rejected if they state a number the record does not hold.

Official city record ↗  ·  L&I history ↗  ·  See the whole block  ·  Download this record (JSON)