Building permits in Philadelphia, PA

Short answer: In Philadelphia, permits are issued by City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I); of the 6 common projects we checked, 2 always need a permit, 0 do not, and 4 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). Applies in the City and County of Philadelphia. Properties on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places may need Historical Commission review. Zoning permits are separate from building permits.

Permit rules in Philadelphia
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Depends on your project Decks less than 12 in above ground need no permits. Higher decks need zoning and building permits; residential decks up to 216 sq ft can get…	2026-10-19
Fence	Depends on your project No building permit for non-masonry fences up to 6 ft. Masonry fence walls over 2 ft need a permit. Zoning permits may still apply (rear unde…	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Cabinets and finishing work need no building permit. Interior non-structural alterations in a single-family home qualify for an EZ permit; p…	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Permit required Yes. Roof covering replacement needs a building permit, but no plans (EZ permit). No zoning permit is needed if only the covering is replace…	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project No building permit for a shed under 200 sq ft footprint. A zoning permit is not needed if it is under 130 sq ft, under 15 ft tall and in the…	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. Replacing a water heater needs a plumbing permit; L&I can issue it immediately to a licensed contractor with current insurance and tax …	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/apply-for-a-permit/building-and-repair-permits/get-permits-without-plans-ez-permits/

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Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.