{"asOf":"2026-07-10T05:21:08.253Z","block":"3800-3899 GERMANTOWN AVE","blockUrl":"https://blockreport.homes/block/3800-3899-germantown-ave","address":"3800 GERMANTOWN AVE","parcelNumber":"875104870","source":"https://property.phila.gov/?p=875104870","ownerType":"investor","kind":"commercial","isHouse":false,"residential":false,"taxExempt":true,"institutional":true,"buildingClass":"VACANT LAND COMMER < ACRE","useLabel":"Vacant lot","owner":"SEPTA","coOwner":null,"marketValue":53700,"livableArea":null,"yearBuilt":null,"lastSale":{"price":1,"date":"1968-09-30T04:00:00Z"},"openViolations":0,"violations":[{"number":"2164541","date":"2010-07-15","title":"CO- BLDG OCCUPIED PRE-CO","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null}],"violationCases":[{"number":"243139","type":"CONSTRUCTION SERVICES","priority":"CONSTRUCTION SERVICES","responsibility":"DN","status":"CLOSED","createdDate":"2010-07-15","completedDate":"2011-10-14","violations":[{"number":"2164541","date":"2010-07-15","title":"CO- BLDG OCCUPIED PRE-CO","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null}]}],"violYears":[{"y":2010,"n":1,"worst":null}],"investigations":[{"caseNumber":"243139","date":"2010-07-15","type":"BP_BLDG","status":"FAILED"},{"caseNumber":"243139","date":"2010-08-20","type":"BP_BLDG","status":"PASSED"},{"caseNumber":"243139","date":"2011-02-02","type":"BP_BLDG","status":"CLOSED"},{"caseNumber":"243139","date":"2011-08-03","type":"PRECOURT","status":"FAILED"},{"caseNumber":"243139","date":"2011-10-14","type":"PRECOURT","status":"PASSED"}],"inspYears":[{"y":2010,"fails":1,"passes":1},{"y":2011,"fails":1,"passes":1}],"taxOwed":0,"taxSnapshot":{"available":true,"asOf":"2022-06","matched":false},"taxDelinquencySnapshotAsOf":"2022-06","taxDelinquencySnapshotAvailable":true,"lat":40.01127332566353,"lng":-75.15191128541257,"geom":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-75.151772973,40.011413419],[-75.151596651,40.011006384],[-75.152148767,40.011073234],[-75.152096743,40.011314048],[-75.152158172,40.011321612],[-75.152114825,40.011523597],[-75.151848951,40.011591313],[-75.151772973,40.011413419]]]},"liDistrict":"NORTH","certifications":[{"number":"BC-2022-019341","type":"Fire Alarm Certification","inspectionDate":"2022-10-31","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2023-10-31","buildingId":"1181191"},{"number":"BC-2025-033411","type":"Fire Alarm Certification","inspectionDate":"2025-11-03","result":"Certified","expirationDate":"2026-11-03","buildingId":"1180745"}],"cityRecordAvailability":{"violations":true,"investigations":true,"appeals":true,"certifications":true,"permits":true,"licenses":true},"zip":"19140","beds":null,"baths":null,"stories":null,"lotArea":21496,"zoning":"CMX2.5","grade":null,"basement":null,"heater":null,"centralAir":null,"extCond":null,"intCond":null,"garage":null,"homestead":false,"mail":"1234 MARKET ST, PHILADELPHIA PA, 19107","mailOut":false,"appeals":[],"taxYears":[],"taxNet":0,"taxLien":false,"taxLedgerThrough":2016,"taxLedgerAvailable":true,"timesSold":0,"abated":false,"assessmentExemption":false,"exemptionBasisVerified":false,"valueSeries":[{"y":2016,"v":43000,"taxable":0},{"y":2017,"v":43000,"taxable":0},{"y":2018,"v":43000,"taxable":0},{"y":2019,"v":43000,"taxable":0},{"y":2020,"v":43000,"taxable":0},{"y":2021,"v":43000,"taxable":0},{"y":2022,"v":43000,"taxable":0},{"y":2023,"v":43000,"taxable":0},{"y":2024,"v":43000,"taxable":0},{"y":2025,"v":53700,"taxable":0},{"y":2026,"v":53700,"taxable":0},{"y":2027,"v":53700,"taxable":0}],"taxNow":0,"familyHeld":false,"lastTransferNominal":false,"permits":[{"number":"69592","date":"2007-05-07","work":"New construction","type":"BP_NEWCNST","description":"NEW CONSTRUCTION PERMIT","status":"EXPIRED","completedDate":null,"scope":"ERECT (1) STORY CMU BLDG. TO HOUSE AN EMERGENCY GENERATOR. INSTALL SOUND REDUCTION WALLS AND CONCRETE PAD FOR 500 FUEL TANK ON EXTERIOR OF BLDG. (SEPARATE PERMIT REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION OF FUEL TANK)"},{"number":"242023","date":"2009-12-01","work":"Electrical","type":"EP_ELECTRL","description":"ELECTRICAL PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2010-09-14","scope":"INSTALL GENERATOR, TRANSFORMER, PANEL, TRANSFER SWITCH, HEATERS, FANS, GFCI RECEPTACLES, LIGHT FIXTURES, SWITCHES, EXIT SIGNS, BATTERY CHARGER & LOAD BANK."},{"number":"702979","date":"2016-10-05","work":"Electrical","type":"EP_ELECTRL","description":"ELECTRICAL PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2017-07-05","scope":"INSTALL BATTERY STORAGE COMPARTMENTS FOR CONTROL OF FREQUENCY REGULATION PER 2008 NEC (SEPTA STATION)NORTH DISTRICT"}],"storyTag":"New construction","storyDelta":null,"timeline":[{"y":2007,"k":"permit","w":"New construction"},{"y":2009,"k":"permit","w":"Electrical"},{"y":2010,"k":"viol","w":"L&I violation"},{"y":2010,"k":"insp","w":"L&I: 1 failed, 1 passed"},{"y":2011,"k":"insp","w":"L&I: 1 failed, 1 passed"},{"y":2016,"k":"permit","w":"Electrical"}],"rented":false,"licenses":[],"signals":[],"legalChecks":[{"id":"use-occupancy","level":"attention","title":"Zoning approval is not the occupancy file","finding":"The history also contains “CO- BLDG OCCUPIED PRE-CO.”","why":"Philadelphia says a zoning approval or Property Sales Certification can identify a use without proving that it was established under the Building Code. A change of use, unit count, exits, or fire rating can require a Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy.","action":"Verify the lawful use, unit count, associated construction permits, and Certificate of Occupancy with L&I.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-certificate-of-occupancy/"},{"id":"permit-status","level":"attention","title":"A permit row needs file-level verification","finding":"1 permit not marked completed: 69592 (EXPIRED).","why":"Issued work is not the same as approved final work. L&I uses final inspections and required certifications to close construction permits; expired, withdrawn, and completed are different City statuses.","action":"Open the permit file and confirm final inspections, holds, and any resulting occupancy certificate.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections-by-permit-type/"},{"id":"investigations","level":"verify","title":"Failed inspections are dated events—not the current condition","finding":"2 failed, 2 passed, and 1 CLOSED investigation outcome are in the fetched history; the latest dated visit was PASSED on Oct 14, 2011.","why":"A PASSED or FAILED value applies to that inspection visit. CLOSED is a separate source status; none of the three alone proves the parent permit or violation case closed—or describes today’s condition.","action":"Open the parent case/permit for each material failure and confirm its later disposition.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections-by-permit-type/"},{"id":"full-tax-exemption","level":"verify","title":"OPA shows a full exemption; its legal basis is unverified","finding":"OPA currently marks the land and building assessment fully tax-exempt; BlockReport does not receive the exemption determination or basis.","why":"Full OPA exemptions can have different legal bases, including government, religious, charitable/institutional, veteran, or other treatment. The current owner/use record is not a buyer’s tax forecast.","action":"Confirm the exact exemption basis, buyer eligibility, and next tax-year treatment directly with OPA.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/office-of-property-assessment/tax-exemptions-and-abatements/"},{"id":"commercial-trash","level":"verify","title":"A separate Commercial Trash account may apply","finding":"OPA classifies the parcel as commercial. BlockReport does not receive a current Commercial Trash account balance.","why":"Philadelphia charges qualifying small commercial, mixed-use, and multi-unit properties that use City collection; exemptions and private collection can change applicability. A use category alone does not prove a fee is due.","action":"Check the Commercial Trash account inside the date-effective Property Payoff.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/2026-06-09-pay-your-trash-fee-bill-by-june-30/"},{"id":"violations","level":"clear","title":"No open violation; closed history remains relevant","finding":"The fetched record shows 0 open and 1 historical violation across 1 case.","why":"A closed case is materially better than an open one, but it does not by itself prove that every altered use, unit, or concealed condition matches today’s approvals.","action":"Use the closed cases to target the inspection and occupancy-file review.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections/violation-and-order-types/"},{"id":"building-certifications","level":"clear","title":"Filed system certifications are current in this dataset","finding":"Fire Alarm Certification: Certified through Nov 3, 2026","why":"Fire-protection certifications apply to the named system and inspection period only; they are not a whole-building safety certificate. Philadelphia generally requires annual sprinkler, standpipe, fire-alarm, special-hazard, and emergency-power inspections where those systems exist.","action":"Confirm the certificate covers every applicable system and remains accepted by L&I.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections/maintenance-certifications/fire-protection-certifications/"}],"closingChecks":[{"title":"Property Sales Certification","body":"The seller must obtain Philadelphia’s certificate showing the base zoning, last use in the zoning record, and open violations. The City warns that it does not prove Building Code occupancy or show zoning overlays.","action":"Obtain the fresh certificate and compare it with the CO, permits, and Atlas overlays.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-property-sales-certification/"},{"title":"Date-effective City Property Payoff","body":"The Tax Center Property Payoff covers Real Estate Tax, Commercial Trash, and L&I abatement-work invoices. Philadelphia says it does not include business-tax debts or liens, water and sewer charges, or fines for code violations.","action":"Request the City statement effective through settlement; read every period and invoice.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/guides/philadelphia-tax-center/what-to-do/"},{"title":"Professional title and water-lien searches","body":"OPA ownership, deed summaries, and a zero tax balance are not clear title. Mortgages, judgments, municipal claims, water liens, easements, heirs, and other encumbrances require separate searches.","action":"Use a Pennsylvania lawyer/title company and obtain owner’s title insurance; order the separate water search/payoff.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/2026-04-07-why-title-insurance-is-your-best-friend-when-buying-a-home-in-philadelphia/","secondaryUrl":"https://www.phila.gov/services/water-gas-utilities/pay-or-dispute-a-water-bill/resolve-water-liens-judgments/"}]}