PHILADELPHIA, PA — Philadelphia construction sites across the city went silent over the weekend after inspectors shut down more than 80 active projects tied to a contractor accused of skirting licensing rules and endangering public safety.
The City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections, Inspections, Safety and Compliance unit, issued stop-work orders Saturday against projects linked to Elegance Group, an unlicensed contractor the City says was created to evade prior enforcement action. The move followed a unanimous ruling by the Board of Licenses and Inspections Review, which upheld the revocation of Elegance Group’s contractor license and authorized the sweeping shutdown.
City records show Elegance Group obtained a new license after another related company, Expert Builders, had its license suspended for falsifying engineering reports. Investigators determined that the same principals behind Expert Builders applied for a new license under a different name in what the Board described as an illegal attempt to continue operating through an “alter ego” company.
The Board found that practice violated city regulations and affirmed L&I’s authority to revoke the license and halt all associated construction activity. Inspectors posted stop-work orders across the affected sites Saturday.
“Public safety is our top priority,” said Basil Merenda, commissioner of L&I’s Inspections, Safety and Compliance unit. He said the City will act quickly when contractors operate outside the law and put workers and residents at risk, warning that companies that fail to meet licensing and safety standards will not be allowed to build in Philadelphia.
The enforcement action was carried out by the Inspections, Safety and Compliance unit, a division created under Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration after the former department was split into two entities. The restructuring established, for the first time, a unit dedicated exclusively to construction and building code enforcement, separate from quality-of-life operations.
City officials said property owners impacted by the stop-work orders are not being left on their own. Owners are urged to contact L&I’s Audits and Investigations Unit for guidance on how to bring projects back into compliance by hiring properly licensed contractors. The unit can be reached seven days a week by email at AIU@phila.gov or by phone at (215) 686-2616 during business hours.
L&I officials said the crackdown reflects a broader push to close regulatory loopholes and strengthen accountability in the construction industry, including collaboration with City Council on legislation aimed at tightening oversight of licensed professionals.
The department stressed that while enforcement actions follow due process and legal review, contractors who violate the rules will face stop-work orders, license suspensions, and other penalties. Officials also emphasized the role of public complaints in triggering inspections and investigations.
Residents can view a current list of suspended contractors on the Department of Licenses and Inspections website and are encouraged to report concerns through 311. The City said it aims to respond to non-emergency complaints within five to ten business days, with emergency responses initiated within hours through 911.
More information on licensing requirements and enforcement actions is available at phila.gov/LI.
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