Building permits in Philadelphia, PA
Permits for Philadelphia are issued by City of Philadelphia, Dept. of Licenses & Inspections (L&I). Applications go through the portal below.
Checked against the department's own page on 6 Sep 2026
Where to file
- Department
- City of Philadelphia, Dept. of Licenses & Inspections (L&I)
- Phone
- (215) 686-8686
- Portal
- eclipse.phila.gov
eCLIPSE portal. Call 311 in Philadelphia. Inspections 215-255-4040.
What each job needs in Philadelphia
Typical requirements and fee ranges. Fees scale with project valuation, so treat these as a starting point and confirm the number with City of Philadelphia before you quote.
| Project | Permits | Typical fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Remodel | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Addition | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| New Construction | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Site / Grading | $500–3,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
| Electrical | Electrical | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Plumbing | Plumbing | $50–200 | 3–5 business days |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Mechanical (HVAC) | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Roofing | Roofing | $100–400 | 1–5 business days |
| Deck / Fence | Building | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Demolition | Demolition | $50–400 | 5–10 business days |
| Commercial Build-Out | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Fire / Life-Safety Review | $300–2,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
Licensing in Pennsylvania
No statewide general-contractor competency license; anyone doing $5,000+/year of home-improvement work must register (not license) with the Attorney General under HICPA; competency licensing is only municipal.
Issued by Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Contractor Registration (HICPA) · Verify a licence
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Other Pennsylvania jurisdictions
All Pennsylvania jurisdictionsDepartment, portal and phone checked against the official page on 6 Sep 2026. Fee ranges and turnaround times are typical for this kind of work and are not quotes. Requirements change, so confirm with the department before you file. SQM.AI is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.