How and when were Philadelphias Zoning Maps created?
When the City’s first zoning code was adopted in 1933, a zoning map was also created of the entire City. The original zoning maps for Philadelphia were a project of the Depression-era Works Progress Administration, and were created based on a land use survey of existing conditions. Thus, rather than providing a comprehensive plan to guide development, the City’s original zoning maps simply reflected the current land use patterns that had evolved.
