19148
Roof replacement in East Passyunk and Whitman
Covers Lower Moyamensing, Whitman and East Passyunk, in the city's South planning district. Most owner-occupied homes here, 90%, are rowhomes or twins: houses that share at least one wall, so a new roof has to meet the neighbors' on one side or both.
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.
17
EZ roof covering replacement permits in 19148 in 2025
90%
of owner-occupied homes are rowhomes or twins (1-unit attached)
65%
of homes built in 1939 or earlier
66%
of occupied homes lived in by their owners
Permits: City of Philadelphia L&I open data. Homes: Census ACS 2020–2024.
Roofs Philadelphia connects homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We do not perform roofing work.
Roof permits in 19148
In 2025 the City issued 17 EZ permits for roof covering replacement in 19148, 38th of 46 ZIP codes. That is 1.2 per 1,000 owner-occupied homes, well below the city's 6.6 (rented houses get permits too, so read it as a yardstick). It has stayed in the same range since 2021, when there were 16. Through October 23, 2026, 20 more were issued in 2026, after 30 in 2024. Residential: 15; commercial: 2.
The homes in 19148
The Census Bureau counts 23,133 homes in 19148, 66% of the occupied ones owner-occupied (city: 52%). 65% were built in 1939 or earlier, against 40% citywide. On houses that old the roof has usually been replaced more than once, and the next replacement often starts with finding out what is underneath. Median owner-reported value: $307,000 (city $243,100).
What the roof job looks like here
The City's own Rowhouse Manual puts it plainly: "Most rowhouse roofs appear 'flat', although they are actually gently sloped toward a drain." Replacing one means a low-slope membrane, run up the parapet and sealed where it meets the roofs next door.
On houses this old, check for slate, including a slate mansard front, and for more than one layer. The City's EZ standard requires every existing layer to come off first where the roof is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, or already has two or more coverings.
Read more: rowhouse flat roofs, flat roof systems , slate roofs, tear-off or roof-over.
Historic designation
No local historic district covers 19148, but 11 properties here are individually listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. For those, the Historical Commission approves the work before L&I issues the permit.
Which streets, which months
From 2021 through 2025, roof permits in 19148 went to addresses on 53 different streets. The most were on Jackson St (5), S 3rd St (4) and McKean St (4). Of the 103 permits issued in 19148 from 2021 through 2025, the most came in January (13) and December (12), the fewest in 5 months with 6 each. December through February still accounted for 30% of them: roofs here are replaced in winter too.
- Jackson St · 5
- S 3rd St · 4
- McKean St · 4
- S 7th St · 4
- S 10th St · 3
- Tree St · 3
- S 11th St · 3
- Watkins St · 3
Questions about a new roof in East Passyunk and Whitman
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in East Passyunk and Whitman?
Yes. A roof covering replacement in Philadelphia goes through an EZ permit from L&I. In 2025 the City issued 17 of them in 19148 (Lower Moyamensing and Whitman), 38th of 46 ZIP codes.
How old are the houses in East Passyunk and Whitman?
65% of homes in 19148 were built in 1939 or earlier (city: 40%); the median year built is 1938. 66% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners (Census ACS 2020–2024).
What kind of roof do rowhomes in East Passyunk and Whitman have?
90% of owner-occupied homes here are rowhomes or twins. Most rowhouse roofs look flat but slope gently toward a drain, so a replacement means a low-slope membrane turned up the parapet and sealed to the roofs next door.
Does the old roof have to come off on an older house in East Passyunk and Whitman?
Under the City's EZ re-roofing standard, every existing layer comes off first where the roof is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, or already has two or more coverings. On houses this old, check for slate and for more than one layer.
Is East Passyunk and Whitman in a historic district?
No local historic district covers 19148, but 11 properties are individually on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places; for those the Historical Commission approves the work before L&I issues the permit.
Next to 19148
Sources: L&I permits (OpenDataPhilly) and City map layers, queried October 24, 2026; Census ACS 2020–2024; L&I EZ re-roofing standard; Rowhouse Manual. All sources. Checked October 24, 2026.