19134
Roof replacement in Port Richmond and Harrowgate
Covers Richmond, Harrowgate, Upper Kensington and Port Richmond, in the city's River Wards planning district. Most owner-occupied homes here, 86%, 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.
87
EZ roof covering replacement permits in 19134 in 2025
86%
of owner-occupied homes are rowhomes or twins (1-unit attached)
72%
of homes built in 1939 or earlier
54%
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 19134
87 EZ roof covering replacement permits were issued in 19134 during 2025: 9th of 46 ZIP codes. Per 1,000 owner-occupied homes that comes to 7.5, a little above the citywide 6.6; landlords pull these permits as well. The count has grown from 53 in 2021. Through October 23, 2026, 50 more were issued in 2026, after 71 in 2024. Residential: 86; commercial: 1.
The homes in 19134
19134 has 24,595 homes by the Census Bureau's count; owners live in 54% of those occupied, against 52% citywide. 72% 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: $135,400 (city $243,100).
What the roof job looks like here
On a rowhome the main roof is usually low-slope: the City's Rowhouse Manual says most "appear 'flat', although they are actually gently sloped toward a drain." The new membrane is turned up the parapet and tied into the neighbors' roofs at both party walls.
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 19134, but 12 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
Roof permits issued in 19134 from 2021 through 2025 were filed for houses on 79 streets, led by St (50), Tioga St (20) and Water St (17). Of the 341 permits issued in 19134 from 2021 through 2025, the most came in December (41) and March (39), the fewest in February (16). December through February still accounted for 25% of them: roofs here are replaced in winter too.
- St · 50
- Tioga St · 20
- Water St · 17
- Ontario St · 13
- Clearfield St · 12
- Ella St · 9
- Willard St · 8
- Aramingo Ave · 8
Questions about a new roof in Port Richmond and Harrowgate
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Port Richmond and Harrowgate?
Yes. A roof covering replacement in Philadelphia goes through an EZ permit from L&I. In 2025 the City issued 87 of them in 19134 (Richmond and Harrowgate), 9th of 46 ZIP codes.
How old are the houses in Port Richmond and Harrowgate?
72% of homes in 19134 were built in 1939 or earlier (city: 40%); the median year built is 1938. 54% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners (Census ACS 2020–2024).
What kind of roof do rowhomes in Port Richmond and Harrowgate have?
86% 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 Port Richmond and Harrowgate?
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 Port Richmond and Harrowgate in a historic district?
No local historic district covers 19134, but 12 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 19134
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.