19107
Roof replacement in Washington Square West and Chinatown
Covers Washington Square West, Center City East and Chinatown, in the city's Central planning district. Only 18% of owner-occupied homes here are rowhomes or twins; most owners live in apartment and condominium buildings, whose roofs belong to the association rather than to one owner.
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.
9
EZ roof covering replacement permits in 19107 in 2025
18%
of owner-occupied homes are rowhomes or twins (1-unit attached)
50%
of homes built in 1939 or earlier
16%
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 19107
9 EZ roof covering replacement permits were issued in 19107 during 2025: one of the fewest among the 46 ZIP codes with any. Per 1,000 owner-occupied homes that comes to 6.0, a little below the citywide 6.6; landlords pull these permits as well. It has stayed in the same range since 2021, when there were 10. Through October 23, 2026, 4 more were issued in 2026, after 13 in 2024. Residential: 3; commercial: 6.
The homes in 19107
19107 has 10,480 homes by the Census Bureau's count; owners live in 16% of those occupied, against 52% citywide. The median year built is 1940; 50% of homes date from 1939 or earlier and 30% from 1980 or later. Median owner-reported value: $458,600 (city $243,100).
What the roof job looks like here
If you own a rowhouse or a whole small building here, the roof is yours to replace. If you own a condominium unit, the roof is a common element and the decision sits with the association, which is not a call this line handles.
Read more: rowhouse flat roofs, flat roof systems , tear-off or roof-over.
Historic designation
3 local historic districts reach into 19107: Chestnut St East, Society Hill and Washington Square West. In all, 957 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 19107 from 2021 through 2025 were filed for houses on 19 streets, led by Spruce St (10), Locust St (6) and Clinton St (5). Of the 58 permits issued in 19107 from 2021 through 2025, the most came in May (9) and March (7), the fewest in July (1). December through February still accounted for 26% of them: roofs here are replaced in winter too.
- Spruce St · 10
- Locust St · 6
- Clinton St · 5
- Pine St · 5
- Juniper St · 4
- Camac St · 4
- Market St · 4
- S 9th St · 3
Questions about a new roof in Washington Square West and Chinatown
Does a roof replacement in Washington Square West and Chinatown need a City permit?
Yes. A roof covering replacement in Philadelphia goes through an EZ permit from L&I. In 2025 the City issued 9 of them in 19107 (Washington Square West and Center City East), 42nd of 46 ZIP codes.
When were the homes in Washington Square West and Chinatown built?
50% of homes in 19107 were built in 1939 or earlier (city: 40%); the median year built is 1940. 16% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners (Census ACS 2020–2024).
Does the Historical Commission review roofs in Washington Square West and Chinatown?
3 local historic districts reach into 19107: Chestnut St East, Society Hill and Washington Square West. 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 19107
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.