Philadelphia Permitting Note: Philadelphia mandates that any property on the Historic Registry or in the 100-year floodplain must obtain a Building Permit for all exterior work, including minor repairs like windows or fences.
About Building Permits in Philadelphia
Building permits in Philadelphia are issued by the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). Most residential permit applications are submitted online through the eCLIPSE portal at eclipse.phila.gov. Processing times for standard residential projects typically run 10–20 business days; standard reroofs use a $69 flat-fee permit.
2018 Philadelphia Building Code. Philadelphia requires both a Zoning Permit and a Building Permit for most residential projects — two separate applications.
Inspections are scheduled through the eCLIPSE portal; licensed contractors must be registered in the system.