Philadelphia Municipal Court

Philadelphia Municipal Court

Municipal Court is the first level of Philadelphia’s courts, and it is presided over by 25 judges. You go before Municipal Court for non-jury criminal cases, civil cases and traffic cases, as well as preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings.

Philadelphia Municipal Court has jurisdiction over criminal offenses that have a maximum sentence of five years or less in prison.

The court’s Civil Division has jurisdiction over civil cases where the amount in controversy is $12,000 or less, landlord and tenant cases of any dollar amount, and real estate and school tax cases of $15,000.

Municipal Court also has jurisdiction over moving traffic violations.

Criminal Division

The Philadelphia Municipal Court Criminal Division is the court that covers misdemeanor cases and felony case preliminary hearings.

Everyone arrested in Philadelphia County must at least initially be processed through Municipal Court. This means that for criminal cases, Municipal Court is always the beginning of your involvement in the court system.

Municipal Court also conducts preliminary hearings for most adult felony cases. By statute, an individual does not have the right to a jury trial in Municipal Court. So when you are arrested for a felony in Philadelphia, your case may begin with its preliminary hearings in Municipal Court but eventually be tried in Common Pleas Court. Felony cases may be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas for a trial de novo (new trial).

Municipal court criminal courtrooms are located in the Criminal Justice Center at 1301 Filbert Street, as well as in several other police districts throughout Philadelphia.

To reach the Municipal Court’s Criminal Division, phone (215) 683-7290.

Traffic Division

The Municipal Court Traffic Division adjudicates violations of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code that occur in the City of Philadelphia. The Traffic Division was established by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in June 2013, which they abolished the former Philadelphia Traffic Court and transferred its jurisdiction to the Municipal Court.

The Traffic Division covers traffic citations and red light violations. They do not handle parking violations.

The Traffic Division is located at 800 Spring Garden Street. The main telephone number is (215) 686-1675.