Rowhomes · twins · flat and low-slope roofs
A new roof on a house that shares two walls is a different job from a detached house in the suburbs: a low-slope membrane behind a parapet, flashing into the neighbors' roofs, and a City permit filed before the old roof comes off.
This number connects homeowners who are planning a new roof or a full roof replacement with independent local roofing contractors. It is not for leak repairs or patch jobs. The call must come from the homeowner who decides on the roof. Calls may be recorded.
77%
of owner-occupied homes in Philadelphia County are single-family attached: rowhomes and twins.
Census ACS 2020–2024, table B25032
2,334
EZ roof covering replacement permits issued in 2025, across 46 ZIP codes.
City of Philadelphia, L&I open data, checked October 24, 2026
$69
for the City's EZ permit to replace the roof covering of a one- or two-family house, plus surcharges.
L&I fee summary PG_012_INF, rev. 2.2026
Roofs Philadelphia connects homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We do not perform roofing work.
Most replacements in the city are one of three jobs. The call goes faster when you know which.
"Most rowhouse roofs appear 'flat', although they are actually gently sloped toward a drain," says the City's Rowhouse Manual. Replaced with a membrane, modified bitumen, EPDM or TPO, turned up the parapet and joined to the roofs next door. Rowhouse flat roofs
A steep shingled or slate face toward the street with a low-slope roof behind it: two materials on one house. Slate always means a tear-off under the City's standard. Slate roofs
Detached houses are 14% of owner-occupied homes citywide but over 40% in 19115, 19116 and 19118. Shingles only on slopes of 2 in 12 or steeper. Twin and detached roofs
Each page shows the City's roof permits there by year, the age and type of the homes, historic districts, and the ZIP codes next door. The twelve with the most roof permits in 2025:
This number connects homeowners who are planning a new roof or a full roof replacement with independent local roofing contractors. It is not for leak repairs or patch jobs. The call must come from the homeowner who decides on the roof. Calls may be recorded.