1. Confirm the permit you need before starting
First, read the L&I service page for your specific permit. Check its applicant requirements, required documents, and approvals from other departments. An EZ permit is appropriate only when the project meets that permit’s standards—not simply because the job seems small. For building applications requiring Streets approval, L&I directs online applicants to start the Streets application first and enter its review job application number.
Sources: L&I permit application walkthrough · L&I eCLIPSE permitting basics, January 2025 · L&I EZ permit eligibility and application requirements · L&I building permit application requirements and process
2. Register and connect any professional credentials
Open eCLIPSE through an official L&I page. If you need an account, select REGISTER, complete the required fields, submit the registration, and follow the instructions in the confirmation email. Then sign in.
Contractors and licensed professionals must associate the appropriate license or registration with their online account before applying in that capacity. If a contractor’s record is missing from the Professional / Tradesperson selection, check that account association rather than selecting Owner to get past the screen.
Decide who will be the applicant before entering the project. An owner or tenant may apply, or authorize an employee or agent. A recently purchased property may require a deed or signed settlement documentation to establish the new owner’s interest.
Sources: L&I eCLIPSE frequently asked questions · L&I applicant eligibility and registration types · L&I building permit application requirements and process
3. Start the application and identify the property
From the homepage, open the permit application menu and select the appropriate permit category. Follow the instructions for that application rather than copying choices from an unrelated project. Complete fields marked with an asterisk and read the help information beside unfamiliar questions.
Select the applicant relationship that actually describes you. For the property search, L&I recommends entering only the house number and street name initially. The system uses the property location registered with the Office of Property Assessment.
Prepare a complete description of the proposed work and current ownership information. Before continuing, ask your contractor to confirm that the description covers the intended project and that any separately required trade applications have been identified.
Sources: L&I permit application walkthrough · L&I eCLIPSE frequently asked questions · L&I applicant eligibility and registration types · L&I EZ permit eligibility and application requirements
4. Upload the required documents
At Documents to Attach, review the required-document list. Scroll to Uploaded Documents, choose Upload Files, attach each file, and assign its Document Type. Documents marked Required must be uploaded to complete the application.
For applications requiring drawings, use L&I’s electronic plan submission standards rather than assuming a photograph or scanned sketch will qualify. Ask the project’s architect, engineer, or qualified contractor which documents they are responsible for preparing.
On Manage Permit Notifications, add appropriate project contacts and choose their email notifications. Make this a deliberate handoff: ask who will receive questions from L&I and who will prepare any requested response.
Sources: L&I eCLIPSE frequently asked questions · L&I permit application walkthrough
5. Pay the filing fee and finish submitting
At the submission screen, review the application and displayed charges. L&I’s permitting guide identifies the Pay Fees & Submit Application button as the route to payment and submission. Save lets you return later; it does not submit the application for processing.
Complete the payment and submission prompts, then retain the application number and payment confirmation for your records. Use the fee listed for your actual permit; an amount shown in a training example is not a project quote.
The filing payment may not be the final payment. For building permits, L&I’s process includes review followed by notice to pay the remaining balance if approved. Do not treat an application or its initial receipt as an issued permit.
Sources: L&I eCLIPSE permitting basics, January 2025 · L&I building permit application requirements and process
Once you know the permit type, related HomeFix guides walk through common Philadelphia scopes: fence permits, rowhome front-step permits, parapet wall repair permits, and when a zoning permit is needed with a building permit.
6. Resolve filing problems with the right help
If you cannot determine the permit category or complete a new electronic application, L&I’s Permit and License Center offers virtual filing assistance by appointment. Bring a focused question: “Which application covers this scope?” or “Which required attachment is missing?” Appointment services are limited to three filings per appointment.
Submission does not guarantee immediate approval. As one example—not a timeline for every permit—L&I lists 15 business days for building-permit review of alterations or additions to a one- or two-family dwelling, plus an additional business day for online preprocessing. Building-permit issuance also requires the contractor to be identified and confirm association with the project.
Keep filing eligibility separate from permission to perform the work. An owner’s ability to apply does not remove trade-license requirements. Have the appropriately licensed contractor handle safety-sensitive work and confirm their role before submission.
Sources: L&I Permit and License Center appointments and filing assistance · L&I building permit application requirements and process · L&I EZ permit eligibility and application requirements