19116
Roof replacement in Somerton
Part of the Upper Far Northeast planning district. Detached houses make up 41% of owner-occupied homes here, far more than the city's 14%; rowhomes and twins are 48%.
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.
64
EZ roof covering replacement permits in 19116 in 2025
48%
of owner-occupied homes are rowhomes or twins (1-unit attached)
2%
of homes built in 1939 or earlier
61%
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 19116
64 EZ roof covering replacement permits were issued in 19116 during 2025: 16th of 46 ZIP codes. Per 1,000 owner-occupied homes that comes to 7.7, a little above the citywide 6.6; landlords pull these permits as well. The count has grown from 26 in 2021. Through October 23, 2026, 20 more were issued in 2026, after 36 in 2024. Residential: 16; commercial: 48.
The homes in 19116
19116 has 14,137 homes by the Census Bureau's count; owners live in 61% of those occupied, against 52% citywide. The median year built is 1970; 2% of homes date from 1939 or earlier and 23% from 1980 or later. Median owner-reported value: $346,600 (city $243,100).
What the roof job looks like here
Where a house here has a pitched roof, the City's re-roofing standard allows asphalt shingles only on slopes of 2 in 12 or steeper, so a shingled main slope and a low rear roof can need two different systems on one house.
With 3,450 detached owner-occupied houses, 19116 has more pitched shingle and slate roofs than most of the city.
Read more: twin and detached roofs, rowhouse flat roofs , tear-off or roof-over.
Historic designation
No local historic district covers 19116, but one property here is 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 19116 from 2021 through 2025 were filed for houses on 59 streets, led by Sunflower Dr (61), Bustleton Ave (11) and Roosevelt Blvd (5). Of the 160 permits issued in 19116 from 2021 through 2025, the most came in February (29) and November (26), the fewest in April and December (6 each). December through February still accounted for 38% of them: roofs here are replaced in winter too.
- Sunflower Dr · 61
- Bustleton Ave · 11
- Roosevelt Blvd · 5
- Tomlinson Rd · 4
- Stevens Rd · 4
- Marigold Ln · 4
- Ferndale St · 3
- Rennard St · 3
Questions about a new roof in Somerton
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Somerton?
Yes. A roof covering replacement in Philadelphia goes through an EZ permit from L&I. In 2025 the City issued 64 of them in 19116 (Somerton), 16th of 46 ZIP codes.
How old are the houses in Somerton?
2% of homes in 19116 were built in 1939 or earlier (city: 40%); the median year built is 1970. 61% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners (Census ACS 2020–2024).
Is Somerton in a historic district?
No local historic district covers 19116, but one property is individually on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places; for those the Historical Commission approves the work before L&I issues the permit.
Next to 19116
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.