Sure, for new buildings that is true. However for rehab, like the one fellow was talking about, there’s really not much they can do once the job is done.
You said you don't live in Philadelphia. You have no experience of how Philadelphia licensing is done. You are mistaken in your assumption, but you're positive of your opinion even though yours truly has developed several properties in Philadelphia. My guess is that you really don't even know the law in Chicago, where you claim to live. If you were rehabbing a building, that brand of self-assurance could be costly.