Item | Key fact |
|---|---|
Track an application | L&I permit tracker with the number on your application receipt; anyone can use it |
Building permit review | 15 business days for alterations or additions to a one- or two-family house, 20 for most other work, plus 1 day of pre-processing |
Request or check an inspection | eCLIPSE, or the phone line at (215) 255-4040 |
Inspection hours | Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. |
Site not ready | A $100 Inspection Rescheduling Fee may be charged |
General questions | 311, or (215) 686-8686 from outside Philadelphia |
Checked on City pages November 2, 2026. Other permit types have their own times on L&I's permit processing times list.
How do I check a permit application's status?
Keep the application receipt yourself rather than relying on a contractor's description of the job. The tracker can lag: the City says actions from the last 48 hours may not show yet, so a filing from yesterday and an unchanged screen aren't a contradiction. If you've lost the number, the tracker page links to an online form to recover it and ask about permit problems.
If someone else filed (usually your contractor), you won't see the permit in your own eCLIPSE account unless they add you. L&I's eCLIPSE FAQ says adding a co-applicant gives full online access to a permit and is meant for cases like an owner who wants to track progress. Ask the applicant for the application number and to add you as co-applicant.
If you do have access, the Permits & Certificates Dashboard shows only the 10 most recently updated permits by default. Change the filter or the rows per page before deciding a permit is missing.
What does each eCLIPSE permit status mean?
L&I's permit status list defines the words you'll see. The ones homeowners ask about most:
Status | What it means | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
Application Incomplete | Information is missing, incomplete or inaccurate | What's missing, and who fixes it |
Applicant Revisions | An agency wants changes or more information; the applicant must respond | Who answers, and by when |
Ready for Issue | Reviews are done, but items such as a licensed contractor or tax compliance may be outstanding | Which item is holding it up |
Issued | The balance was paid and the permit is issued | When the first inspection is |
Stop Work | An inspector stopped all work; only inspection staff can lift it | What must be fixed first |
Expired | An open permit reached its expiration date | Whether a new permit is needed |
How long should a building permit review take?
For a building permit, the City's building permit page lists review times of 15 business days for alterations or additions to a one- or two-family house, 20 for most other work, plus a day of pre-processing. If the application is approved, the applicant gets a notice to pay the balance. If not, they get an email saying what's missing. The permit still can't be issued until the contractor is identified on it.
How do I request or check an inspection?
The City says the contractor must schedule required inspections; inspectors won't enter requests for you. If the job isn't ready when the inspector comes, L&I may charge a $100 rescheduling fee. Mandatory inspections go in order: the next opens only after the lower-numbered one is done.
In eCLIPSE, open the permit from the Dashboard and use Request under Request Inspection on the Permit Activities page. You'll pick a date, a morning, afternoon or any-time window, and contact details. Keep the confirmation, but a confirmation only shows the request went in, not that the inspection happened or passed.
The inspection phone line at (215) 255-4040 can request, cancel or reschedule inspections and check results. Have the 2-letter, 10-digit permit number from the top of the permit certificate and the 3-digit inspection code from the City's phone-system information sheet. Keep a simple log: date requested, date scheduled, result.
Why can't I request an inspection?
L&I's FAQ lists why an inspection request may be blocked:
- Fees are still outstanding on the permit.
- The contractor isn't the applicant and hasn't been associated with the permit.
- An older account from L&I's previous system (Hansen) needs to be merged.
- The permit has a hold, listed in the Permit Holds table under Actions Required on the Dashboard. Some holds clear automatically once the missing information is added; others need you to tell L&I through its online help form.
Who can I ask about a stuck permit?
For questions, the tracker page points to 311 (or (215) 686-8686 from outside Philadelphia). L&I's district offices can give a permit status and help with general eCLIPSE questions, but they can't process applications or payments. Before you call, have the application or permit number, the exact status wording, and the date of your last submission or notice, and ask one specific question, such as "What has to happen before the next inspection can be requested?"
Offices include the East District, 7522 Castor Ave., (215) 685-0580. For a late review or a hold release, L&I points to its online help form.
Which permit guides cover my project?
See which plumbing jobs need an L&I permit, Philadelphia electrical permits, what permit a furnace or central air replacement needs, when a rowhome roof replacement needs a permit, whether a deck repair needs a permit and when a project needs a zoning permit too. For older work, see how to look up a home's permit history; for a violation notice, see what to do after an L&I code violation notice.