Overview
- City Council passed the ordinance on Thursday, June 11, in a near-unanimous vote with Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke the sole dissenting vote.
- The ban covers commercial and noncommercial horse-drawn carriages, sleds, wagons and sleighs while allowing a narrow set of exceptions that the city will regulate and monitor.
- Enforcement responsibility is assigned to city animal-control and the Department of Licenses and Inspections, with reported penalties of $1,000 per day for violations and at least one outlet saying the ban could take effect June 26 after the mayor signs it.
- Supporters including Carriage Horse Freedom and Revolution Philadelphia praised the vote as an animal-welfare and public-safety measure, citing recent local sightings of noncommercial carriages and the 2023 closure of 76 Carriage Company as context for the change.
- The vote follows renewed national attention after a carriage horse died in New York City and could prompt cities to pursue similar limits or to seek mechanical alternatives for historic tours and film productions.