19104
Roof replacement in University City and Mantua
Covers University City, Mantua, West Powelton and Spruce Hill, in the city's University Southwest planning district. Most owner-occupied homes here, 83%, 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.
62
EZ roof covering replacement permits in 19104 in 2025
83%
of owner-occupied homes are rowhomes or twins (1-unit attached)
45%
of homes built in 1939 or earlier
17%
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 19104
62 EZ roof covering replacement permits were issued in 19104 during 2025: 17th of 46 ZIP codes. Per 1,000 owner-occupied homes that comes to 17.4, well above the citywide 6.6; landlords pull these permits as well. It has stayed in the same range since 2021, when there were 47. Through October 23, 2026, 60 more were issued in 2026, after 52 in 2024. Residential: 52; commercial: 10.
The homes in 19104
19104 has 24,924 homes by the Census Bureau's count; owners live in 17% of those occupied, against 52% citywide. The median year built is 1948; 45% of homes date from 1939 or earlier and 30% from 1980 or later. Median owner-reported value: $266,600 (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.
Read more: rowhouse flat roofs, flat roof systems , tear-off or roof-over.
Historic designation
3 local historic districts reach into 19104: Parkside, Powelton Village Historic District and Southeast Spruce Hill Historic District. In all, 2,094 properties in this ZIP code are on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.
For a designated property the City's EZ re-roofing standard does not apply "without prior approval" of the Historical Commission, so the commission's sign-off comes before the permit, and a change of material, such as slate to asphalt, is part of what it looks at.
Which streets, which months
Roof permits issued in 19104 from 2021 through 2025 were filed for houses on 75 streets, led by Haverford Ave (21), N 39th St (11) and Walnut St (8). Of the 233 permits issued in 19104 from 2021 through 2025, the most came in December (36) and July (28), the fewest in November (7). December through February still accounted for 27% of them: roofs here are replaced in winter too.
- Haverford Ave · 21
- N 39th St · 11
- Walnut St · 8
- Spruce St · 8
- Hamilton St · 7
- Osage Ave · 7
- Poplar St · 7
- Wyalusing Ave · 7
Questions about a new roof in University City and Mantua
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in University City and Mantua?
Yes. A roof covering replacement in Philadelphia goes through an EZ permit from L&I. In 2025 the City issued 62 of them in 19104 (University City and Mantua), 17th of 46 ZIP codes.
How old are the houses in University City and Mantua?
45% of homes in 19104 were built in 1939 or earlier (city: 40%); the median year built is 1948. 17% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners (Census ACS 2020–2024).
What kind of roof do rowhomes in University City and Mantua have?
83% 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.
Is University City and Mantua in a historic district?
3 local historic districts reach into 19104: Parkside, Powelton Village Historic District and Southeast Spruce Hill Historic District. For a designated property the Historical Commission approves the work, including a change of material such as slate to asphalt, before the permit.
Next to 19104
- Point Breeze and Graduate Hospital · 19146 · 37 permits
- Fairmount and Spring Garden · 19130 · 15 permits
- Logan Square and Rittenhouse · 19103 · 19 permits
- Wynnefield · 19131 · 67 permits
- Haddington and Cobbs Creek · 19139 · 66 permits
- Kingsessing and Cedar Park · 19143 · 191 permits
- Brewerytown and Strawberry Mansion · 19121 · 55 permits
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.