Buying From the Philadelphia Land Bank: Side Yards and Applications

Philadelphia runs one of the most program-driven land banks in the country. The Philadelphia Land Bank holds ~1,600 active city properties, prices them by application, and channels a large share through a side-yard program built for neighbors — a different animal from a priced market like Pittsburgh across the state.

Application pricing, city-scale

There are no stickers to sort here. You find a parcel, propose what you'll do with it, and the price is set during review. That makes Philadelphia a market you approach with a plan, not a budget filter:

~1,600 active listings across the city.
Application-priced — every deal is a proposal.
~50 with a structure — the inventory is overwhelmingly vacant land.

The side-yard program is the headline

A large portion of Philadelphia's inventory is flagged for the side-yard path — vacant lots sold to the adjacent homeowner at a deep discount to maintain and improve (how side lots work). If you own a Philadelphia rowhome with a vacant lot beside it, that lot is very likely available to you for far less than anyone else would pay. It's the single best deal the land bank offers, and the fastest to close.

Browse the live Philadelphia inventory and filter to the side-lot program to see what's eligible near you.

The buying process

Find the parcel on the map and check side-yard eligibility.
Adjacent owner? Apply through the side-yard path — cheapest and fastest.
Other buyers: submit a proposed use. Owner-occupants and community-serving plans are prioritized.
Budget the time. Philadelphia dispositions can require board or City Council approval, so plan for a longer timeline than a sticker market. Title on formerly tax-delinquent parcels is the work the land bank does for you (why that matters).

Where Philadelphia fits

Pennsylvania offers both models — application-based Philadelphia and priced Pittsburgh — which makes it a great state to learn how process shapes the deal. Start with the Pennsylvania state guide for the statewide view, and the side-lot hub if you're a neighbor eyeing the lot next door.

Start here

Frequently asked questions

How much do Philadelphia Land Bank properties cost?

Philadelphia prices by application, not a posted sticker — you propose a use and the price is set during review. Side-yard parcels for adjacent owners are the cheapest path, often nominal; buildable lots and development sites are priced case by case against your plan.

What is the Philadelphia side-yard program?

It's the land bank's path for neighbors to buy the vacant lot next to their home at a deep discount to maintain and improve it. A large share of Philadelphia's inventory is flagged for side-yard eligibility — if you own an adjacent property, it's the fastest, cheapest way to buy.

How do I buy from the Philadelphia Land Bank?

Find the parcel, confirm eligibility, and apply through the land bank's process. You submit a proposed use; owner-occupants and adjacent owners are prioritized, and dispositions can require City Council or land bank board approval, which adds time. It's a public process, not an instant sale.

Does the Philadelphia Land Bank sell houses?

Mostly vacant lots, with a small number of structures — our data flags around 50 active listings with a building. The core of the program is returning vacant land to productive use, especially through side yards and community-serving development.