Philadelphia Municipal Court cases in Philadelphia County, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Municipal Court Civil Division is a municipal, limited-jurisdiction trial court within the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia County). It primarily handles civil matters, including small claims up to $12,000 (excluding interest and costs), landlord-tenant actions for possession and related rent, and City code-enforcement cases (such as building, property maintenance, and health/safety violations) and other municipal citations authorized by law. The court conducts hearings and bench trials, enters judgments, and issues writs of possession and execution. It does not adjudicate criminal, family, or traffic matters; those are addressed by the Municipal Court's Criminal and Traffic Divisions or by Family Court of the Court of Common Pleas. Its role is to provide an accessible forum for expedited civil dispute resolution within its monetary and subject-matter limits.
Philadelphia Municipal Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Municipal Courts |
| County: | Philadelphia |
| Street Address: | 1339 Chestnut St. |
| City: | Philadelphia |
| Zip Code: | 19107 |
| Phone: | 215-686-2910 |
| Fax: | 215569-9254 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Website URL: | https://www.courts.phila.gov/municipal/ |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.courts.phila.gov/municipal/civil/ |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | https://fjdclaims.phila.gov/phmuni/login.do |
| Languages: | Multiple |
| Email: | mcclaimssupport@courts.phila.gov |
| Facebook: | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Philadelphia-Municipal-court/174221599285930 |
| Twitter: | https://twitter.com/philacourts |
| ADA: | Valerie Jowett |
| ADA Phone: | 215-683-6950 |
| ADA Fax / Email: | valerie.jowett@courts.phila.gov |
| About / Additional Info: | The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania is composed of two courts which make up the Philadelphia County Court System: the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court. The twenty-seven judge Municipal Court is a limited jurisdiction court of record. The Municipal Court is led by a President Judge and is organized into three divisions; Criminal, Civil and Traffic. The Criminal Division is responsible for trying adult criminal cases carrying a maximum sentence of incarceration of five (5) years or less. Municipal Court also has initial jurisdiction in processing every criminal arrest in Philadelphia and conducts misdemeanor trials and preliminary hearings for all felony cases. The Civil Division is the jurisdiction for civil cases where the amount in controversy is $12,000 or less for Small Claims; unlimited dollar amount for Landlord and Tenant Cases and $15,000 in real estate and school tax cases. Because defendants do not have the right to a jury trial in Municipal Court, cases may be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas for a trial de novo. |
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Municipal_Court |
Services and Case Types Handled in Philadelphia Municipal Court
- Accepts civil filings (small claims, contract, property damage, debt collection) and landlord-tenant cases (evictions, rent/possession).
- Processes City code-enforcement matters and related fines.
- Schedules and conducts bench hearings and trials; issues judgments, default judgments, and orders; manages continuances.
- Supports post-judgment procedures (writs of execution/garnishment, satisfaction of judgment).
- Provides filing assistance, standard forms, e-filing/records access, interpreters, ADA accommodations, and fee-waiver requests.
- Handles emergency protection orders (e.g., PFA/PSVI) when Family Court is closed; non-emergency petitions go to Family Court.
- Maintains dockets and transmits records for appeals to the Court of Common Pleas.
- Note: Jury services are administered by the First Judicial District Jury Commission; Municipal Court Civil trials are non-jury.