Building permits in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Find the right authority before you build. Philadelphia County permitting follows Pennsylvania law — here is exactly who issues the permit and where to start.
Cities issue permits
City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections (L&I)
Philadelphia County is coextensive with the City of Philadelphia. Building permits are issued by the City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections (L&I); the county government does not issue residential building permits.
Permit cheat-sheet (Pennsylvania rules)
| Project | Permit? | Authority | Typical fee | Timeline | Go / No-Go | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Permit required | city | Permit fees set by each municipality; Philadelphia adds a $3 city and $4.50 state surcharge per permit plus plan-review fees. No single statewide fee. | Typically ~15 business days for residential alterations (Philadelphia L&I); other PA municipalities vary. | Case by case | ADUs require a building permit plus zoning/use approval. The PA UCC governs construction; local zoning controls whether an ADU is allowed on your lot. Verify with your municipality (e.g., Philadelphia L&I). |
| 🪵 Deck / Porch | Permit required | city | Municipal permit fee; Philadelphia EZ Permit available for eligible decks. | Philadelphia EZ Permits reviewed while you wait; standard permits ~15 business days. | Generally allowed | Attached decks and any deck more than 30 in above grade need a permit. Philadelphia offers an EZ Permit for residential decks up to 216 sq ft. |
| 🧱 Fence / Wall | Conditional | city | — | — | Generally allowed | Most PA municipalities do not require a permit for fences 6 ft or under; a permit is typically required above that height or in historic/overlay districts. Verify locally. |
| 🛖 Shed / Outbuilding | Conditional | city | — | — | Generally allowed | Larger sheds and any shed with utilities require a building permit. Pittsburgh and other cities follow the same UCC framework with local fee schedules. Exempt: Under 120 sq ft typically exempt under the PA UCC/IRC; Philadelphia exempts detached sheds 200 sq ft or less. |
| 🪜 Basement Finish | Permit required | city | Municipal building permit fee; varies with scope. | Varies by municipality (~15 business days in Philadelphia for alterations). | Generally allowed | Finishing a basement into habitable space requires permits for egress, framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Sleeping rooms need code-compliant egress windows. |
| 🚗 Garage / Carport | Permit required | city | Municipal building permit fee; zoning clearance may be required first. | — | Generally allowed | A new detached or attached garage requires a building permit. Philadelphia requires zoning clearance before the building permit. |
| ☀️ Rooftop Solar PV | Permit required | city | Electrical/structural permit fee set by municipality. | — | Generally allowed | Rooftop solar PV requires an electrical and structural permit, often reviewed under an expedited/solar process by the municipal building department. |
| 🌡️ HVAC Replacement | Permit required | city | Mechanical permit fee set by municipality. | — | Generally allowed | Furnace, AC, or heat-pump replacement requires a mechanical permit and inspection. |
| 🍳 Kitchen Remodel | Permit required | city | Building permit fee; trade permits (plumbing/electrical) billed separately. | — | Generally allowed | A permit is required when relocating plumbing/electrical, moving walls, or changing fixtures. Cosmetic-only work (cabinets, counters, paint) may be exempt. |
| 🛁 Bathroom Remodel | Permit required | city | Building permit fee; trade permits (plumbing/electrical) billed separately. | — | Generally allowed | A permit is required when relocating plumbing/electrical, moving walls, or changing fixtures. Cosmetic-only updates may be exempt. |
| 🏗️ Room Addition | Permit required | city | Building permit fee based on valuation; zoning and plan review apply. | Plan-review permits typically ~15 business days in Philadelphia; larger additions longer. | Generally allowed | Room additions change the footprint and require a full building permit, zoning approval, and usually a site plan. |
| 🪟 Window / Door Replacement | Conditional | city | — | — | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit. |
| 🏘️ Roof Replacement | Permit required | city | Roof-covering permit fee set by municipality. | — | Generally allowed | Roof covering replacement is typically permitted (Philadelphia EZ Permit). Minor leak repairs may be exempt. |
| 🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad | Conditional | city | — | — | Generally allowed | A permit may be required where the driveway connects to the street/right-of-way, involves significant grading, or needs an excavation/site permit. Verify locally. |
| 🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa | Permit required | city | Building permit fee; barrier fencing required by code. | — | Generally allowed | In-ground and above-ground pools need a permit and barrier fencing. Philadelphia exempts prefabricated pools less than 24 in deep and under 5,000 gallons. |
| 🧱 Retaining Wall | Conditional | city | — | — | Generally allowed | Height and whether the wall supports a surcharge (driveway, structure, or slope above) determine the permit threshold. Verify with your municipality. |