Philadelphia building permits
Building permits in Philadelphia are issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I)1. You can apply and request inspections online through eclipse.phila.gov1.
On this page
- Building department contacts
- Do you need a permit in Philadelphia? Common projects
- Building codes in force in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia building permit fees
- How to get a building permit in Philadelphia
- Permit expiration and extensions
- Inspections in Philadelphia
- Building without a permit in Philadelphia
- Doing the work yourself (owner-builder)
- Pennsylvania rules that also apply in Philadelphia
- Sources
Building department contacts
Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I)1
Building permits
- Apply online
- eclipse.phila.gov1
- Phone
- 311; (215) 686-8686 outside Philadelphia2
- Address
- 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 191021
- Hours
- Permit and License Center (MSB, Public Service Concourse): 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; by appointment2
- Inspections
- ECLIPSE or IVR (215) 255-40402
To look up permits already issued for an address (useful before you buy, or to check a contractor's work), use the city's official permit search: li.phila.gov4.
Do you need a permit in Philadelphia? Common projects
Each project below has its own page with Philadelphia's exact rule, the official wording, fees and inspections.
| Project | Permit needed? | Key limit in the city rule |
|---|---|---|
| Fence | Depends on size or scope | Exempt up to this height: 6 feet2 |
| Deck | Yes | – |
| Shed | Depends on size or scope | Exempt up to this area: 200 square feet2 |
| Roof | Yes | – |
| Pool | Depends on size or scope | Pools exempt below this depth: 24 inches2 |
| Water heater | Yes | Like-for-like replacement exempt? No5 |
Building codes in force in Philadelphia
These are the model codes Philadelphia enforces, with the edition and the date it took effect. Plans are reviewed and work is inspected against them. For the state framework, see Pennsylvania building codes.
| Code | Model edition | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| International Building Code (IBC) | 20216 | 6 |
| International Residential Code (IRC) | 20216 | 6 |
Philadelphia building permit fees
Fees come from the Construction Permit Fees (PG_012_INF Rev 7.2026)7, effective 7.
How valuation is set. Area-based for most building work; alterations optionally 2% of cost of construction7.
Each line is worded as in Philadelphia’s schedule; formulas are not added up into a total (how permit fees work).
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee (one-or-two-family dwellings) | Flat fee | For one-or-two-family dwellings: $252 |
| Filing fee (any other occupancy) | Flat fee | For any other occupancy: $1002 |
| City surcharge | Flat fee | City surcharge: $3 per permit2 |
| State surcharge | State surcharge | State surcharge: $4.50 per permit2 |
| Record retention fee | Flat fee | Per page larger than 8.5 in. by 14 in.: $42 |
| Accelerated Plan Review fee (optional) | Expedited review | Fee: $20002 |
| Alterations (Residential 1 or 2 family) | Per square foot | Alterations $76 for the first 500 sq. ft.; plus $56 for each additional 100 sq. ft. over 5007 |
| New Accessory Structures or Additions (Residential 1 or 2 family) | Per square foot | New Accessory Structures or Additions $75 for the first 500 sq. ft.; plus $56 for each additional 100 sq. ft. or fraction thereof above 5007 |
| New Construction (Residential 1 or 2 family) | Flat fee | New Construction $13287 |
| General Demolition | Per square foot | General Demolition $25.30 per 100 sq. ft. or fraction thereof (maximum $50,600; minimum $253)7 |
| Electrical Work | Based on project valuation | Electrical Work $25 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of estimated electrical construction costs.7 |
| Electrical Work minimum/maximum | Minimum fee | (minimum $63 / maximum $18,975)7 |
| Permit Extension | Flat fee | Permit Extension No Fee (owner occupied one-family dwelling) $507 |
| Permit Reinstatement | Flat fee | Permit Reinstatement No Fee (owner occupied one-family dwelling) $3007 |
| Items Not Listed | Based on project valuation | Items Not Listed 2% of construction value, (minimum $158)7 |
How to get a building permit in Philadelphia
- Get required pre-approvals2
- Apply in eCLIPSE, upload documents, pay filing fee2
- Review; pay balance when approved2
- Contractor identified before issuance2
- Schedule inspections2
- Approval documents after inspections2
Permit expiration and extensions
- Extensions
- Extension fee: none for owner-occupied one-family dwelling; $50 otherwise7
Inspections in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s inspection stages, in order. Do not cover work until the stage has passed (how inspections work).
- How to schedule
- ECLIPSE or (215) 255-40409
- Re-inspection fee
- A $100 Inspection Rescheduling Fee may be assessed if L&I cannot conduct a requested inspection because the project is not ready.9
- After the final inspection
- Certificate of Approval2
Building without a permit in Philadelphia
| Consequence | Applies to | As the city states it | Way to fix it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stop-work order Philadelphia Code Title 4-A504 | Work being done without required permits10 | Stop Work Order; violating it may lead to arrest, citation and summons10 | EZ standards cannot be used to legalize unpermitted deck work11 |
| Civil penalty | Site Violation Notice (one-time fine)10 | – | – |
For how unpermitted work is usually legalized, see how to legalize unpermitted work.
Doing the work yourself (owner-builder)
- Homeowner may pull a building permit
- Yes, for existing one-or-two-family home work not requiring electrical or plumbing permit, if owner resides in the building2
- Homeowner electrical work
- No12
- Homeowner plumbing work
- No13
- Owner and occupancy requirement
- Owner must reside in the building2
Pennsylvania's statewide owner-builder and licensing rules are on the Pennsylvania permit guide.
Pennsylvania rules that also apply in Philadelphia
- Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections in Pennsylvania
- Contractor licensing in Pennsylvania
- Selling a home with unpermitted work in Pennsylvania
- Private plan review and inspections in Pennsylvania
Sources
- Department of Licenses and Inspections | HomepageCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Get a Building PermitCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Get a Zoning PermitCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 5, 2026
- Search for property history and business license informationCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- EZ Permit Standard: Plumbing (PB_030_F)City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsPublished 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- 2021 I-Code transition materialsCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 5, 2026
- PG_012_INF Construction Permit Fees (Rev 7.2026), Effective October 1, 2026City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsRevised July 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Get permits without plans (EZ permits)City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Request an L&I inspectionCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Violation and order typesCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- EZ Permit Standard: Deck (PB_018_F)City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsRevised August 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Get an Electrical PermitCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Get a Plumbing PermitCity of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026