House report
5538 W Oxford St
3 bd1 ba2 stories1,195 sqftRSA5built 1910
Owner-occupancy signal
Assessment and City record timeline
Published City assessments for this house against its block and ZIP. Dated City filings are marked on the same line. Select one to read it. Assessments are tax-roll values, not sale prices or appraisals.
- OPA assessment · 2016$72K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2017$72K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2018$72K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2019$68K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2020$70K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2021$70K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2022$70K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2023$70K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2024$70K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2025$123K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2026$123K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2027$136K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- Permit · 2012-10-02PlumbingThis permit category usually covers water, drainage, fixtures, or other plumbing work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2012-10-02Major alterationA broad legacy permit work category for a substantial building alteration. It can include changed layouts, partitions, fixtures, finishes, structural work, or occupancy-related work, but only the approved scope and plans say what this permit actually authorized; separate trade permits may be required.What Philadelphia building permits can cover ↗
- Permit · 2012-10-05ElectricalThis permit category usually covers electrical installation, alteration, replacement, or repair. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2012-10-09ElectricalThis permit category usually covers electrical installation, alteration, replacement, or repair. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2014-04-24AlterationThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2018-03-27AlterationThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2018-05-11ElectricalThis permit category usually covers electrical installation, alteration, replacement, or repair. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2019-01-14Addition and/or AlterationThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2025-10-21Addition and/or AlterationThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2025-10-23AlterationsThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2025-10-23Addition and/or AlterationThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- License · 2011-12-15WELLS FARGO BANK (NANCY NOWAKOWSKI): Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration initially issuedA City license record tied to an activity or property use. Its issue, expiration, inactive, and status fields—not the category alone—show what was recorded for this date.Philadelphia L&I licenses and property records ↗
- License · 2012-12-22WELLS FARGO BANK (NANCY NOWAKOWSKI): Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration marked inactiveA City license record tied to an activity or property use. Its issue, expiration, inactive, and status fields—not the category alone—show what was recorded for this date.Philadelphia L&I licenses and property records ↗
Scroll horizontally to move through the years. Each icon sits on its recorded date; records without a day are labeled and centered within their year. Select one to explain the filing.
- PermitAlterations
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
- PermitElectrical
- PermitAlteration
- PermitAlteration
- LicenseWELLS FARGO BANK (NANCY NOWAKOWSKI): Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration marked inactive
- PermitElectrical
- PermitElectrical
- PermitPlumbing
- PermitMajor alteration
- LicenseWELLS FARGO BANK (NANCY NOWAKOWSKI): Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration initially issued
Flags: historical tax ledger through 2016 recorded $3K with a lien entry. Informational only. Not investment advice or a consumer report (FCRA).
Verify the public record
Property tax
$318/year estimated property tax
2026 taxable assessment $22,700 × 1.3998%. This is an estimate, not a bill or account balance. The City maintains payments, credits, interest, and the current amount due.
OPA has published a 2027 assessment of $135,600. It is not the 2026 billed-year value.
Payments, credits, interest, and the current amount due are maintained by the City.
OPA 0412770002026 OPA removes $100,000 from the taxable assessment through the owner-occupant exemption.
Historical delinquency sources Record found
This parcel did not match the June 2022 delinquency snapshot. That absence does not confirm the account is current today.
A separate historical parcel ledger ending in 2016 records $3,377.97 and a lien entry. It is shown as historical context only.
For a purchase, refinance, or closing, request the City’s official Property Payoff statement in Tax Center under “More options.”
The property, on paper
OPA physical field record.
OPA field-assessment attributes. Condition and grade are the assessor's codes, not an inspection.
Block context
5500 block of W Oxford St. Compare parcels, ownership, and public-record history.
See the whole block →Next door: 5536 W Oxford St · 5540 W Oxford St
L&I license dates · data through Jul 27, 2026
Business licenses at this address Latest pull
What L&I has registered at this OPA parcel, newest initial license date first.
No L&I business license is on record at this address in data through Jul 27, 2026.
Landlord and residential filings
These are property registrations or landlord filings, not businesses operating at this address.
Vacant Residential Property / Lot · Initial issue date Dec 15, 2011 · Terminal license date Dec 22, 2012
A license is an L&I registration, not proof that a business is open, operating today, or located at this storefront. Dates are license dates. Events are deduped by parcel, business identity, and license type, so a renewal is not shown as another opening. Other permit and filing types remain in the full source ledger.
Open every source row 13 dated rows
- PermitAlterations
Permit PP-2025-013840 · Issued
install shower, toilet and vanity. install pipes to fixtures
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
Permit EP-2025-010186 · Completed
INSTALL WIRING, RECEPACLE OUTLETS, LIGHTING AND SWITCHES, WHERE REQUIRED THROUGHOUT HOUSE. INSTALL SMOKE/CO ALARMS WITH 10 YRS BATTERY BACKUP. ALL WORK TO BE DONE ACCORDING TO THE 2017 NEC AND THE SCOPE OF WORK IN THE EXECUTED CONTRACT. **********FISHING WIRES OR USING SURFACE MOUNTED WIRE MOLD *************
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
Permit RP-2025-010980 · Issued
For alterations to a Single Family Dwelling Property as per attached standard. Deviations from this standard will result in permit revocation and require submission of construction plans. Structural alteration or repair is expressly PROHIBITED under this permit. Prohibited structural work includes but not limited to any modification to exterior walls, party wall, floor/roof framing and foundations, including underpinning, excavation and removal of foundation slab. ***NO WORK MAY BE PERFORMED IN THE BASEMENT OR CELLAR.*** Separate permits required for Mechanical, Electric and Plumbing. Work approved as per PHDC WO# 202577
- PermitAddition and/or Alteration
Permit 928377 · Issued
INSTALLATION OF A BRUNO VERTICAL PLATFORM, BATTERY POWERED AT THE REAR ENTRANCE OF THE HOME.
- PermitElectrical
Permit 876026 · COMPLETED
100AMP SERVICE, 3-WAY CIRCUIT, DEDICATED GFCI BATHROOM CKT, 3-BEDROOM CKTS BEDROOM FIXTURES, 2-10YR BATTERY SMOKES & 1-120V SMOKE DETECTOR FISHING ONLY AS PER NEC 2008 WEST DISTRICT
- PermitAlteration
Permit 862519 · COMPLETED
ROOF REPLACEMENT-WHITE RUBBER ROOFING SYSTEM
- PermitAlteration
Permit 531927 · COMPLETED
INSTALL RUBBER ROOF(SFD)
- License terminal eventWELLS FARGO BANK (NANCY NOWAKOWSKI): Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration marked inactive
License 550705 · Inactive
License event. Registration does not prove present operation or storefront occupancy.
- PermitElectrical
Permit 431523 · COMPLETED
INSTALL A 20-A CIRCUIT TO FIRST FLOOR HALF BATH, TO A GFCI, VANITY WALL LIGHT AND RELOCATE PHONE JACK... IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2008 NEC FOR A ONE FAMILY BUILDING
- PermitElectrical
Permit 430509 · COMPLETED
100 AMP, 32- SPACE PANEL ONLY. 1- 15AMP CIRCUIT.... IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2008 NEC FOR A ONE FAMILY BUILDING
- PermitPlumbing
Permit 430427 · COMPLETED
1ST FLOOR POWDER ROOM TOILET AND VANITY (SFD)
- PermitMajor alteration
Permit 430450 · COMPLETED
50 SQUARE FEET OF INTERIOR ALTERATIONS TO A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING. APPLICANTS AGGREES TO LIMIT THE CONSTRUCTION TO COMPLY WITH EZ PERMIT STANDARD FOR INTERIOR DATED FEBRUARY 2007. ANY DEVIATIONS FROM THIS STANDARD WILL RESULT IN THE REVOCATION OF THIS PERMIT AND THE IMPOSITION OF FURTHER PENALTIES
- License issue eventWELLS FARGO BANK (NANCY NOWAKOWSKI): Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration initially issued
License 550705 · Inactive
License event. Registration does not prove present operation or storefront occupancy.
Where this comes from
- Assessment, spec sheet & owner: OPA Property Assessments, Office of Property Assessment
- Sales & deed history: Realty Transfer Tax records, Recorder of Deeds
- Permits, violations & inspections: L&I Property History · Atlas
- Tax delinquency snapshot · June 2022: Real Estate Tax Delinquencies, Dept. of Revenue
- Historical tax ledger & liens · through 2016: Real Estate Tax Balances, Dept. of Revenue
- Current property-tax balance: Verify with Philadelphia Revenue
- Zoning appeals: L&I & Zoning Board appeals
- Neighborhood income & rents: US Census ACS 5-year estimates
- Historical mortgage rates: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, annual averages
- Imagery: Street photo © Google · Aerial © Esri, Maxar
Methodology & freshness
This report was assembled Jul 28, 2026, 7:42 PM ET. Available City datasets are queried from OpenDataPhilly (phl.carto.com) and the cited City ArcGIS feeds; record queries paginate rather than silently taking a first page. For this property: Permits: queried · Violations: queried · Investigations: queried · Appeals: queried · Licenses: queried · Building certifications: queried. “Unavailable” means the source query failed or was not supplied, not “no record.” Reports re-pull on view after seven days and on an overnight rolling schedule; citywide benchmarks recompute weekly. Source dates still govern: the parcel-level tax-delinquency snapshot is June 2022 and the separate detailed tax ledger ends in 2016, so neither establishes today’s balance. The live balance and date-effective payoff must be verified in Tax Center. AI-written passages are grounded in the assembled record and rejected if they state a number the record does not hold.
Official city record ↗ · L&I history ↗ · See the whole block · Download this record (JSON)
