Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Philadelphia?
Yes. Philadelphia requires a permit to replace a roof1.
On this page
Yes
Philadelphia's rule“Obtain permits for the installation of new roof coverings on existing roofs without submitting plans by meeting the Conditions and Requirements below.”1
City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and Inspections, p.1 intro
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Roof covering replacement | Roof covering replacement…2 |
Limits and conditions in Philadelphia's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Express permit: sheathing replacement limit | 10% | Planned replacement of sheathing in excess of 10% of roof area shall not be applicable to the EZ permit process.1 |
What to submit
Roof permit fees in Philadelphia
Fee lines as Philadelphia's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Roof Covering (replacement only), Residential (1 or 2 family) | Flat fee | Roof Covering (replacement only) $693 |
All of Philadelphia's fee lines are on the Philadelphia permit page.
Special areas and extra reviews
- Historic buildings1
Who to ask
Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I)4
Building permits
- Apply online
- eclipse.phila.gov4
- Phone
- 311; (215) 686-8686 outside Philadelphia5
- Address
- 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 191024
- Hours
- Permit and License Center (MSB, Public Service Concourse): 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; by appointment5
- Inspections
- ECLIPSE or IVR (215) 255-40405
Roof permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Philadelphia with 19 other cities on the national roof replacement permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Austin, TX
Sources
- EZ Permit Standard: Re-Roofing (PB_012_F)City 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
- 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
- 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