This is the City of Philadelphia only. Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware county towns issue their own permits.
What needs which permit
L&I's EZ permits page (read 24 October 2026) lists the remodel work that can be permitted without plans, provided it meets the matching EZ Standard; work that does not follow the standard gets "the permit will be revoked."
| Remodel job | Philadelphia permit |
|---|---|
| Interior, non-structural alterations in a single-family home | EZ alteration permit |
| Removing interior walls that are not load bearing | EZ interior demolition permit |
| Exterior window or door replacement, same size, one- or two-family home | No permit, unless the property is historic |
| Wall covering (siding) or roof covering replacement | EZ permit; issued immediately to a licensed contractor |
| Masonry facade replacement | EZ permit (not for historic properties) |
| Deck up to 216 sq ft (not a roof deck) | EZ permit |
| Structural changes, additions, a new layout with plans | Building permit with plan review |
| New or moved plumbing fixtures, new circuits, ducts | Separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits |
Who can do the work
L&I's default is a licensed Philadelphia contractor. For an existing one- or two-family home, the EZ page adds two options: an owner who "resides in the building", or a registered Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor holding a Philadelphia Commercial Activity License. Fire suppression, electrical, plumbing and sheet metal work always need the specific license; for plumbing, "A licensed master plumber must oversee plumbing work" (plumbing permit page). The contractor must be named before L&I accepts final payment.
What it costs
The City's fee summary (revised July 2026) lists one- and two-family alterations, "includes EZ permit":
| Fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| First 500 sq ft of altered area | $76 |
| Each additional 100 sq ft | $56 |
| Alternative, at the applicant's request | 2% of construction cost, $253 minimum |
| City and State surcharges | $3 and $4.50 per permit |
A 300 sq ft kitchen is the $76 base. A 900 sq ft gut of a rowhouse floor is $76 plus four more 100 sq ft blocks, $300 before surcharges. Trade permits are on top; see the plumbing, electrical and HVAC guides.
How to apply
- Apply in eCLIPSE, upload documents and pay the filing fee, or go in person by appointment to the Permit and License Center, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd. (three applications per ticket).
- L&I and other departments review; most applications without plans are processed within 5 business days online, or while you wait in person.
- Pay the balance when approved.
- Schedule inspections in eCLIPSE or at (215) 255-4040. A Certificate of Approval is issued after all required inspections pass.
What 10,519 Philadelphia remodel permits show
From Philadelphia remodel and repair permits, residential permits issued October 2024 to September 2026:
| Measure | Philadelphia remodels and repairs |
|---|---|
| Issued | 10,519 (18% of all residential permits) |
| Last 12 months / 12 months before | 5,374 / 5,145 (+4%) |
| Residential Building: Addition and/or Alteration | 5,443 |
| Plumbing: EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel | 1,906 |
| Make Safe permits | 1,150 |
| EZ non-load-bearing wall demolition / wall covering / windows and doors | 1,086 / 633 / 166 |
| Busiest / quietest month (index) | October (115) / January and December (87) |
| Completed, permits issued Oct 2024 to Sep 2025 | 67.0% (20.1% expired) |
| Usual days, issue to completed | 113 (middle half 35 to 216) |
| ZIPs with the most | 19143 (736), 19146 (616), 19140 (520) |
Remodel permits run from September through October and dip over the winter holidays. One in five issued in the first year expired without a completed date, so before the last payment ask the contractor for the Certificate of Approval. The 1,150 Make Safe permits are their own L&I permit type, counted here as repairs. Year and month counts are on Philadelphia permit statistics and the rows on browse Philadelphia permits.
Before you hire
Check the permit history of the house with the Philadelphia building permit search guide, and the contractor's Home Improvement Contractor registration with how to check a contractor's license in Pennsylvania. Rules elsewhere: a home remodel, a bathroom, a kitchen. Costs: home remodel cost.
What this does not tell you
The open file has no job value, so we show no costs, and no firm lists. Additions, roofing and new homes have their own pages and are not counted here. One remodel can carry a building permit and several trade permits, so counts are permits, not projects.
How we know this
Which work needs which permit, who may do it and the application steps are from L&I's EZ permits page, read 24 October 2026; fees from the City's construction permit fee summary revised July 2026; the master-plumber rule from the plumbing permit page. Our counts are L&I's Building and Zoning Permits file on OpenDataPhilly, read 19 October 2026: residential remodel and repair permits issued October 2024 to September 2026.
Numbers come from public permit records in 57 cities, data through October 19, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit to remodel my bathroom or kitchen in Philadelphia?
Usually yes. L&I lists interior, non-structural alterations in single-family homes and demolition of non-load-bearing walls as EZ permits, and plumbing and electrical work need their own permits by licensed trades. In our data 1,906 permits were filed as Plumbing: EZ Bathroom & Kitchen Remodel.
- Can I do my own remodel work in Philadelphia?
In an existing one- or two-family home, yes for the building work: L&I's EZ permit page says the work may be done by an owner who resides in the building. Electrical, plumbing, sheet metal and fire suppression work always need the specific licensed trade.
- Do I need a permit to replace windows in Philadelphia?
Not in a one- or two-family home if the size does not change, unless the property is historic. Otherwise exterior window and door replacement is an EZ permit, issued immediately when a licensed contractor applies.
- How much is a remodel permit in Philadelphia?
The City's fee summary lists one- and two-family alterations, EZ permits included, at $76 for the first 500 square feet plus $56 for each additional 100 square feet. At the applicant's request the fee can be 2% of construction cost, with a $253 minimum. Each permit also carries $7.50 in surcharges.
- How long does a Philadelphia remodel permit stay open?
The usual remodel and repair permit issued October 2024 to September 2025 was marked completed 113 days after issue (middle half 35 to 216). 67.0% were completed and 20.1% expired.
Build your own list
Pick your city and the kind of work. Every firm with a permit on record, sorted by what you value.
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- Get permits without plans (EZ permits) — City of Philadelphia (2026-10-24)
- Summary of construction permit fees (PG 012), rev. July 2026 — City of Philadelphia (2026-10-24)
- Get a plumbing permit — City of Philadelphia (2026-10-24)
- Licenses and Inspections Building and Zoning Permits — OpenDataPhilly (2026-10-19)