19122
Roof replacement in West Kensington and Old Kensington
Covers West Kensington, Hartranft, Yorktown and Old Kensington, in the city's Lower North planning district. 68% of owner-occupied homes here are rowhomes or twins and 9% are detached, so the roofs on one block can be a low-slope membrane and on the next a pitched shingle roof.
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.
10
EZ roof covering replacement permits in 19122 in 2025
68%
of owner-occupied homes are rowhomes or twins (1-unit attached)
1992
median year homes here were built
32%
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 19122
10 EZ roof covering replacement permits were issued in 19122 during 2025: 41st of 46 ZIP codes. Per 1,000 owner-occupied homes that comes to 3.2, well below the citywide 6.6; landlords pull these permits as well. It was higher in 2021, with 17 permits. Through October 23, 2026, 15 more were issued in 2026, after 16 in 2024. Residential: 9; commercial: 1.
The homes in 19122
19122 has 10,662 homes by the Census Bureau's count; owners live in 32% of those occupied, against 52% citywide. 54% were built in 1980 or later, a large share for Philadelphia, and the median year built is 1992. Median owner-reported value: $349,800 (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.
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.
The Rowhouse Manual notes that some rowhouses "have almost flat roofs and no attics," and that "when a new roof is installed, it's possible to add rigid insulation between the decking and beneath the roofing material."
Read more: rowhouse flat roofs, flat roof systems , tear-off or roof-over.
Historic designation
No local historic district covers 19122, but 31 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 19122 from 2021 through 2025 were filed for houses on 35 streets, led by N 4th St (5), Howard St (4) and N 3rd St (4). Of the 70 permits issued in 19122 from 2021 through 2025, the most came in November (11) and May (9), the fewest in April and September (2 each). December through February accounted for 21%.
- N 4th St · 5
- Howard St · 4
- N 3rd St · 4
- N 7th St · 4
- N 6th St · 4
- N 11th St · 3
- Susquehanna Ave · 3
- Franklin St · 3
Questions about a new roof in West Kensington and Old Kensington
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in West Kensington and Old Kensington?
Yes. A roof covering replacement in Philadelphia goes through an EZ permit from L&I. In 2025 the City issued 10 of them in 19122 (West Kensington and Hartranft), 41st of 46 ZIP codes.
How old are the houses in West Kensington and Old Kensington?
54% of homes in 19122 were built in 1980 or later, and the median year built is 1992. 32% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners (Census ACS 2020–2024).
What kind of roof do rowhomes in West Kensington and Old Kensington have?
68% 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 West Kensington and Old Kensington in a historic district?
No local historic district covers 19122, but 31 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 19122
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.