Report Streetlight Outage - Philadelphia City Bylaw
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, streetlight outages affect safety and must be reported promptly to the responsible parties so repairs can be scheduled. This guide explains who enforces streetlight maintenance, how to report outages, expected timelines, and remedies under city practice. Read the steps to report an outage, what departments to contact, and what to expect after you file a report.
Penalties & Enforcement
The City of Philadelphia and the local electric utility share roles in streetlight maintenance. The City directs residents to report outages for repair; fine amounts and specific monetary penalties for outages or failure to repair are not specified on the cited city page City report a streetlight outage[1]. Responsibility for wiring and lamp replacement is typically with the electric utility, which the City identifies for reporting and repair coordination PECO outage reporting[2].
- Fines - not specified on the cited page City report a streetlight outage[1].
- Enforcer - Department of Streets for city-managed assets; the electric utility (e.g., PECO) for utility-owned fixtures.
- Escalation and continuing offences - not specified on the cited page.
- Non-monetary remedies - orders to repair, coordination with utilities, or court action may be used; specific remedies are not itemized on the cited page.
Applications & Forms
No special permit or paper application is required to report a streetlight outage; residents use Philadelphia 311 or the City online reporting tool and utilities’ outage-report forms for repair requests.
How to Report a Streetlight Outage
Follow these steps to report a non-emergency streetlight outage so repairs can be scheduled.
- Gather the location: street address or nearest intersection, pole number if visible, and a description of the problem (dark, flickering, damaged pole).
- Report the outage via Philadelphia 311 (phone or online) or the City’s streetlight outage page for municipal guidance.
- If your area is served by a utility (for example PECO), use the utility outage report form for electric fixtures owned by the company.
- Keep the report number and follow up with 311 or the utility if repair does not occur within a reasonable period.
FAQ
- Who is responsible for repairing a streetlight?
- Responsibility depends on ownership: the City of Philadelphia handles city-owned fixtures while the local electric utility (such as PECO) handles utility-owned fixtures.
- How do I report a streetlight outage?
- Report via Philadelphia 311 or the City’s online streetlight outage page; if the utility owns the light, report using the utility’s outage form.
- How long will repairs take?
- Repair timelines are not specified on the cited pages and vary by workload and ownership; contact 311 or the utility for status updates.
How-To
- Locate the pole number or nearest address and note the nature of the outage.
- Call Philadelphia 311 or use the City online reporting tool to submit the outage report.
- If instructed or known, file a report with the electric utility using their outage or streetlight repair form.
- Record the report number, monitor status, and follow up if the light is not repaired within a reasonable time.
Key Takeaways
- Report outages via Philadelphia 311 or the City streetlight page for fastest municipal routing.
- Utility-owned fixtures (e.g., PECO) are repaired by the utility; the City coordinates where it manages assets.
- There is no special permit to request a repair; use 311 or the utility form.
Help and Support / Resources
- Philadelphia 311 - report a problem or request services
- City of Philadelphia - Department of Streets
- PECO - outage reporting and streetlight repairs