What is a “repair permit”
A repair permit is a permit issued by the City of Philadelphia L&I that gives you legal permission to do certain repair or maintenance work on a building or property. It ensures the work meets code, is inspected, and won’t violate zoning, safety, or historical preservation rules. (City of Philadelphia)
Do you even need a permit?
Not all repairs require a permit. Some work is exempt, particularly if it’s regular maintenance, minor, or cosmetic. For example:
- Painting, papering, or similar wall finishes in one- or two-family dwellings. (City of Philadelphia)
- Replacing doors/windows in a one‑ or two‑family dwelling if there’s no change in size, etc. (City of Philadelphia)
- Other minor exterior work and small accessory structures under certain size thresholds. (City of Philadelphia)
If the work is more substantial (changing structure, moving walls, plumbing/electrical work, etc.), you likely do need a permit. (City of Philadelphia)
Types of permits
Here are some kinds of permits you might need depending on the repair:
- EZ Permits — permits for certain minor repairs or renovations which don’t require full plan review. (City of Philadelphia)
- Building Permits — for larger work: structural changes, additions, demolition, etc. (City of Philadelphia)
- Trade Permits — for plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire suppression, etc. (City of Philadelphia)
- Make Safe Permits — for dangerous buildings needing urgent repairs. (City of Philadelphia)
- Water/Sewer/Connection Permits — for work affecting water or sewer lines, meters, etc. (Philadelphia Water Department)
Steps to get a repair permit
Here are the steps generally:
- Identify what work needs to be done and whether it needs a permit
Determine whether your repair is allowed without a permit (see above). If not, figure out what kind of permit (EZ, Building, Trade, etc.) it is. -
Prepare required documents
- A detailed description/scope of the work. (City of Philadelphia)
- If recently sold, proof like deed or settlement sheet. (City of Philadelphia)
- If tenant/applicant, a lease agreement. (City of Philadelphia)
- If work is structural and/or over certain cost thresholds, you may need stamped plans by a licensed architect/engineer. (City of Philadelphia)
- If it’s a dangerous structure, possibly an engineer’s report. (City of Philadelphia)
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Hire a licensed contractor (if required)
Some trade work requires a licensed contractor. For one‑ or two‑family dwellings, owner‑occupied properties might have more leeway, but many repair types (especially plumbing, electrical, fire suppression) do require licensed professionals. (City of Philadelphia)
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Submit application
- Online via the City’s eCLIPSE portal. (City of Philadelphia)
- Or in person at the Permit & License Center at Municipal Services Building (MSB), 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd. (City of Philadelphia)
- Pay applicable fees
There are:- A filing fee (non‑refundable) (City of Philadelphia)
- Permit fee, which depends on scope, size, type of trade. (City of Philadelphia)
- City & state surcharges for permits. (City of Philadelphia)
- Review process
- If plans are required, those will be reviewed. Could take ~15‑20 business days for many building permits. (City of Philadelphia)
- For EZ permits without plans, it’s often much faster. (City of Philadelphia)
- Inspection
After permit is issued and work starts, you’ll need to schedule inspections. The inspector will check the work meets code. (City of Philadelphia) - Receive certificate of approval / legal sign off once inspection passes. The permit is “closed out.” (City of Philadelphia)