Philadelphia Roof Permits, Explained for Homeowners

Who Needs a Permit

Replacing a roof covering on a Philadelphia house needs a permit from the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Small repairs, such as replacing a few shingles or patching a flat roof seam, generally do not. Your roofer should tell you which your job is and file the permit when one is needed; on our jobs the permit is part of the scope.

Philadelphia rules also set when a new roof can go over an old one. Once a roof already carries two layers, the old roofing has to come off to the deck before the new roof goes on. That rule affects both the permit scope and the price.

How the EZ Re-Roofing Permit Works

For most homes, the EZ re-roofing permit covers installing a new roof covering on an existing roof. It is a standardized permit rather than a full plan review, which keeps it quick. When the work is done, the contractor files a certification that the roof was installed following the manufacturer's instructions.

That last point matters beyond paperwork: installing to the manufacturer's instructions is also what keeps a shingle or membrane warranty valid. A roofer who files that certification is putting their name to how the roof went on.

What the EZ Permit Does Not Cover

Three kinds of work fall outside it. First, buildings listed as historic. Second, jobs that replace more than a small portion of the roof sheathing, which on older houses with rotted plank decks can happen once the old roof is off. Third, work that adds a new penetration, such as a new skylight.

Those jobs go through a fuller permit process. The practical effect is time: plan for it before the roof is opened, especially if a decking problem is likely on a very old house.

Historic Properties and the Historical Commission

Properties on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, whether listed individually or inside a historic district, need Philadelphia Historical Commission approval before exterior alterations or work that requires a building permit. Routine maintenance does not; cleaning gutters or repainting wood trim, for example, is exempt.

For roofing, that often means repairing like for like, such as slate with slate, and choosing materials the commission will accept for visible slopes, gutters and siding. Commission staff can explain the review early in planning, which is when it helps most. Our slate roof repair page covers the repair side.

What Your Roofer Should Handle

On a normal replacement, the roofer should confirm the permit type, file it before work starts, keep it available on site, and file the certification at the end. If the old roof reveals rotted decking that pushes the job outside the EZ permit, the roofer should stop, explain the change, and handle the updated permit before continuing, rather than quietly carrying on.

Ask to see the permit before the tear-off begins. A roofer who is reluctant to show it is telling you something.

A Typical Timeline

For a standard EZ re-roofing permit, the paperwork runs ahead of the work and rarely holds a job up. The roofer files, the roof is replaced, and the certification is filed when the work is done. For a historic property or a job with a new opening, add time for review before the start date, and do not open the roof until approval is in hand. Rowhome replacements themselves usually take one to two working days once the permit and materials are ready.

Outside the City Line

Bensalem and the Montgomery County townships along the city's edge each run their own building departments, with their own forms and fees. The same principles apply, but the process and paperwork differ, so the contractor should confirm the right office for the address before scheduling the job.