City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce

Municipal Government Servicesphila.gov

The City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce operates within Philadelphia's municipal government to deliver essential public services — utilities, permitting, licensing, public health, immigration support, and digital civic tools — to Philadelphia residents, businesses, and visitors through the phila.gov portal and affiliated departments.

Company typePrivate
Founded-
HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
Headcount—
GTM typeB2B and B2C
OfferingServices

What City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce does

The City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce operates as a unit within the municipal government of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and functions in practice as the operating system for civic service delivery across the city. Founded as a municipality in 1682, the City now operates a portfolio of subsidiary departments including the Office of Innovation and Technology, Philadelphia Water Department, Department of Revenue, Office of Property Assessment, Department of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual Disability Services, Office of Immigrant Affairs, Department of Records, City Archives, and PHLgovTV, which together deliver services ranging from water utilities and property search to public health, behavioral health, language access, and public broadcasting.

The Department's core digital product is the phila.gov portal, maintained by Digital Services and Software Engineering teams within the Office of Innovation and Technology, which offers content in 11 languages and partial WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance. Supporting platforms include OpenDataPhilly, PHLContracts (procurement), Philly Stat 360 (performance transparency), Philly311 (multilingual service center), property.phila.gov, StreetSmartPHL (street operations tracking), Fraud Guard (deed-fraud alerts), and the Service Line Material Map (lead-pipe inventory). Utility products run through the Philadelphia Water Department, including the zero-interest Homeowner's Emergency Loan Program (HELP) for service-line and sewer repairs over 60 months. Distribution combines digital self-service, in-person service at City Hall (1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd.) and other municipal buildings, PHLgovTV cable broadcasting (Xfinity 64, Fios 40), and formal Right-to-Know Law channels staffed by departmental Open Records Officers.

Because the entity is a government department rather than a commercial enterprise, monetization occurs through budget appropriations, user-fee schedules (water service restoration: $100 for standard lines / $385 for lines over 2 inches; Right-to-Know police recording fees of $125 per recording plus $200 per additional labor hour), regulated water and sewer rates set by the independent Water, Sewer & Storm Water Rate Board effective September 1, 2025, and the city minimum wage standard of $16.82 per hour effective July 1, 2025. Customers are Philadelphia residents, businesses, visitors, immigrant communities, people with disabilities, and Water Department customers, with FY25 capital commitments including the $2 billion H.O.M.E. Housing Plan for 30,000 homes and the $40 million 22nd District Police Station groundbreaking in September 2025.

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce firmographics

Firmographics

Name: City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce
Legal name: City of Philadelphia
Website: https://phila.gov
Company type: Private
Operating status: Operating
Short description: The City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce operates within Philadelphia's municipal government to deliver essential public services — utilities, permitting, licensing, public health, immigration support, and digital civic tools — to Philadelphia residents, businesses, and visitors through the phila.gov portal and affiliated departments.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce industry classification

Industry

Product category: Municipal Government Services
NAICS: Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Executive and Legislative Offices, Combined (921140), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251)
akta.pro primary industry: Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)
akta.pro secondary industry: Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

Keywords

Government services
Municipal administration
Economic development
Permit licensing
Public utilities

Where City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Philadelphia
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B and B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

Water and Sewer Service Revenue: Philadelphia Water Department collects fees for water and sewer services. Restoration fees: $100 for standard service lines, $385 for lines bigger than 2 inches. TAP applicants pay $100 to restore service after shutoff.
Right-to-Know Law Request Fees: Fees for duplication of records consistent with State Office of Open Records regulations. Act 22 requests for Police Department recordings: $125 per recording plus $200 per additional hour of labor.
Water Rates: Water rates determined through transparent process of public hearings by the Philadelphia Water, Sewer, and Storm Water Rate Board. Rates effective September 1, 2025.
Minimum Wage Standard: City minimum wage standard per Philadelphia Code Chapter 17-1300 is $16.82 per hour effective July 1, 2025.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Unit Pricing	One time/ perpetual license	Water Service Restoration - Standard Lines
Unit Pricing	One time/ perpetual license	Water Service Restoration - Large Lines
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Act 22 Police Recording Requests
Other	Annual	City Minimum Wage Standard

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce, operating within the City of Philadelphia government, provides essential public services to residents, businesses, and visitors. Core offerings include business licensing, permits, economic development programs, water and sewer utility services, public safety coordination, and access to over 30 service categories through the phila.gov portal. The department supports business growth, workforce development, regulatory compliance, and community programs serving Philadelphia's diverse population.

Product overview

The City of Philadelphia operates a comprehensive e-government platform centered on phila.gov, offering residents, visitors, and businesses access to online government services. The portfolio includes the primary website portal (phila.gov), data platforms (OpenDataPhilly, Philly Stat 360), procurement systems (PHLContracts), broadcast media (PHLgovTV), utility services (Philadelphia Water Department with HELP loan program), community services (Office of Immigrant Affairs, Language Access Philly), and specialized tools (Service Line Material Map, StreetSmartPHL). The city also maintains city archives and protection services like Fraud Guard.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

PHLgovTV: Broadcast network for City government agencies and departments, formerly known as Channel 64, part of the Philadelphia Cable Television Franchise Authority.

Products and services

phila.gov Website Portal

Quantifiable outcome

11 languages supported on phila.gov website
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce

Customer profile

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

SEPTAcoreOthersSoutheastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority - The City of Philadelphia references SEPTA as a key partner for public transportation. The city website links to SEPTA.org and includes SEPTA information in Explore Philadelphia section.
Visit PhiladelphiaminorOthersOfficial tourism marketing organization for the Philadelphia area. The city website links to Visit Philadelphia in the Explore Philadelphia section for visitor information.
Free Library of PhiladelphiacoreOthersPublic library system serving Philadelphia residents. Referenced for services including genealogical records, public safety reports, and various community resources.
Philadelphia Police DepartmentcoreOthersPrimary law enforcement agency. Handles Act 22 requests for audio/video records. Lieutenant Barry Jacobs serves as Open Records/Right to Know Section contact.
Pennsylvania Office of Open RecordscoreOthersState office under the Department of Economic and Community Development responsible for issuing advisory opinions, training agencies, assigning appeals officers, and conducting biannual review of fees under the Right-to-Know Law.
Esperanza Immigration Legal ServicesminorOthersLocal organization that supports immigrants navigating the naturalization process. Referenced by the Office of Immigrant Affairs as a local resource.
HIAS PennsylvaniaminorOthersLocal organization that supports immigrants navigating the naturalization process. Referenced by the Office of Immigrant Affairs as a local resource.
Nationalities Services CenterminorOthersLocal organization that supports immigrants navigating the naturalization process. Referenced by the Office of Immigrant Affairs as a local resource.
Philadelphia District Attorney's OfficecoreOthersHandles appeals for criminal investigative records denials under Right-to-Know Law. Maintains separate Open Records Policy from the City Law Department.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development: San Francisco's municipal economic and workforce agency. Comparable as a large-city economic development body delivering business assistance, workforce development, and major project financing in a high-cost regulatory environment.
City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development: Chicago's municipal economic and planning agency. Comparable as a peer major-city government body handling business incentives, permitting, affordable housing programs, and neighborhood development in a legacy industrial city.
Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department: LA's municipal economic development and workforce agency. Comparable in delivering business services, workforce programs, and economic incentive administration to a large, diverse, multilingual metropolitan population.
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC): Philadelphia's public-private economic development corporation. Comparable as a closely affiliated quasi-governmental entity delivering business financing, real estate development, and incentive structuring that directly supplements the Department of Commerce's mandate.
City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity: Houston's municipal business and economic inclusion agency. Comparable as a large, diverse-city government body managing business certification, contracting compliance, and minority/women-owned business development programs.
NYC Department of Small Business Services: New York City's primary economic and small business development agency. Directly comparable as a large-city municipal economic development body offering business licensing assistance, workforce development, and incentive programming to a major metro population.
City of Boston Mayor's Office of Economic Development: Boston's municipal economic development function. Comparable as a Northeast legacy-city economic development office focused on business retention, real estate development, and inclusive economic growth in a dense urban environment.
City of Detroit Economic Development Corporation: Detroit's public economic development corporation. Comparable as a municipal-affiliated economic development body for another legacy industrial American city managing population decline, aging infrastructure, and redevelopment-focused incentive programs.

Regional players

Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce: Regional private-sector business association in the Philadelphia metro. Comparable as an economic development partner and counterweight that connects City economic policy to the regional business community, often co-marketing Philadelphia for business attraction.

Others

SEPTA: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, cited as a core partner on phila.gov. Comparable as an essential regional ecosystem partner whose transit connectivity directly shapes the Department of Commerce's ability to market Philadelphia for business location decisions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries10 records

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce

What does City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce do?

Is City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce a public or private company?

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce founded?

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce was founded in -1.

Where is City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce based?

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.

How does City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Water and Sewer Service Revenue is the primary driver. The others are right-to-Know Law Request Fees, water Rates and minimum Wage Standard.

Who are City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity, NYC Department of Small Business Services, City of Boston Mayor's Office of Economic Development and City of Detroit Economic Development Corporation. Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce is listed as a regional player. SEPTA is listed as an others.

Does City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce have an API?

No public API is recorded for City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce.

What industry is City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce in?

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce's product category is Municipal Government Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAN, Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local), with a secondary code of BPAIACAA, Mayor/City Manager & General Administration. Its NAICS code is 92611.