Maintenance repair or replacement project
L&I's building permit page says a permit is needed for major repairs that aren't part of regular maintenance. It also says that, as long as a property isn't on the Philadelphia Historic Registry, you often don't need a permit for repairs related to regular maintenance. Roofing isn't on that page's list of work that usually skips a permit, and the page gives no patch size or dollar figure that separates a repair from a replacement. The price of a job isn't a reliable way to tell.
Ask the roofer to describe the scope in plain terms. Is it a localized repair, a replacement of the roof covering, or work that also involves the deck or framing underneath? If a proposal only says "roof repair," ask for a clearer scope before anyone decides which permit path applies.
What an EZ roofing permit means
The City's EZ permit standards catalog includes a re-roofing standard, described as the standards for getting a permit to install new roofing without submitting plans. L&I says the planned work has to comply with the EZ standard, and if you get an EZ permit and don't follow the standard, the permit will be revoked.
Before accepting an EZ proposal, ask the contractor which standard they're relying on and how the whole job fits it. Ask whether the existing roofing will be removed or covered, whether sheathing or framing might need replacing, and what happens if hidden damage changes the scope after tear-off. If it's unclear whether the job qualifies, get that settled with L&I before more work goes ahead.
Shared roofs and party walls on rowhomes
Rowhome roofs often run across neighboring homes. L&I's building permit page lists Protection of Property documentation, including a pre-construction survey, a monitoring plan and an adjacent owner acknowledgement, for work that severs structural roof or wall covering spanning properties and for certain party wall modifications. If the job might cut into shared construction, ask who will evaluate it and who will prepare that documentation. Structural assessment belongs with qualified professionals, and a conversation with a neighbor doesn't replace L&I's requirements.
Paperwork to confirm before work starts
L&I accepts EZ applications online through eCLIPSE or in person by appointment at the Permit and License Center, and the application has to include the complete scope of work. Once the permit is approved, the inspections listed on it need to be arranged, and L&I issues a Certificate of Approval after all required inspections are passed.
Ask to see the issued permit, check that its scope matches your contract, and agree on who schedules inspections and handles scope changes. If your home is historically designated, L&I's list of work that often skips a permit only covers properties that aren't on the registry, so our guide to checking historic designation rules before exterior work is worth reading first. You can also look up a home's permit history to see what roof work was permitted before.
Our contractor hiring checklist covers questions to ask before you sign, and our list of documents to keep after a repair explains what to file with your roof paperwork.