Building Permits in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
11,017 recent building permits filed in Philadelphia. Updated daily from public records.
11,017 permits
New Construction or Additions - INSTALL NEW CT, FAI & MD.
Sign - FOR REMOVAL OF TWO EXISTING ACCESSORY SIGNS AND ERECTION OF TWO (2) ILLUMINATED FLAT WALL SIGNS ON EXISTING STRUCTURE. ALL WORK TO BE DONE PER APPROVED PLANS. IF FIELD CONDITIONS VARY CONTACT D...
Alterations - REPAIR/REPLACE CT & FAI.
Alterations - REPLACE 40 GALLON GAS WATER HEATER.
New Construction - INSTALL SEVICE EQUIPMENT , FIRE PUMP, ELEVATOR, HOUSE PANEL, WIRE THROUGHOUT. INSTALL OUTLETS, SWITCHES, LIGHT FIXTURES, SMOKE ALARMS,EMERGENCY LIGHTS, EXIT SIGNS, RECEPTACLES AND G...
Addition and/or Alteration - FOR THE ERECTION OF A REAR YARD DECK ADDITION TO AN EXISTING DETACHED BUILDING. DETAILS AS SHOWN ON THE APPLICATION/PLAN.
Addition and/or Alterations - EZ PERMIT DUCTWORK & WARM-AIR APPLIANCES - For the installation of New Ductwork, Registers/Grilles/Diffusers, and Warm-Air Appliances as per attached standards. Deviation...
Alterations - Replacing Section of house drain in the basement
New Construction or Additions - Plumbing Permit (Interior) for combo RP-2026-001124
Alterations - Curb trap replacement FAI
EZ Roof Covering Replacement - For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references codes and standards, and the at...
Alterations - Replace 5" curb trap with fresh air inlet
Commercial Make Safe Permit - FOR THE STRUCTURAL REPAIR TO EXTERIOR WALL, JOISTS AND ROOF TO RESOLVE CASE #CF-2026-024433. A SEPARATE PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL ALTERATIONS THAT ARE NOT SPE...
Alterations - Excavate pavement, replace curb trap along with partial main drain and fresh air inlet.
Alterations - REPAIR/REPLACE CT, FAI & MD IF NEEDED.
EZ Roof Covering Replacement - For minor construction work at the subject property in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Philadelphia Code, all references codes and standards, and the at...
Addition and/or Alteration - Perform electrical renovation including selective demolition of existing electrical systems as required. Install a new 800-amp electrical service from the PECO pad-mounted...
Alterations - REPLACE 40 GALLON GAS WATER HEATER.
Alterations - Replace main drain in basement
Alterations - REPLACE 40 GALLON GAS WATER HEATER.
<p>Philadelphia has 3,829 new permits filed in the last 30 days, with plumbing work leading the activity at 3,384 permits on file. Electrical work follows with 1,953 permits, while renovation projects account for 1,465 permits. HVAC jobs represent another 1,309 permits. This volume tells you there's steady work available if you know where to look.</p> <p>The most active areas for construction are concentrated in specific zip codes. The 19143 zip code leads with 516 permits, followed by 19146 with 501 permits, 19148 with 490 permits, 19134 with 487 permits, and 19125 with 468 permits. These neighborhoods account for a significant portion of the city's construction activity, making them prime areas to monitor for residential and commercial work.</p> <p>For contractors bidding on jobs, permit data is your early warning system. When a permit gets filed, the property owner has already committed to the work. Plumbing and electrical permits show the highest volume, meaning competition is fierce but the market is active. Renovation permits indicate remodeling jobs where you can bid on complete packages. HVAC permits often come with electrical work, so bundling services on these projects can increase your margins.</p> <p>DigPermit pulls Philadelphia's permit records daily from public sources, so the data you see reflects what was filed yesterday or today. Contractors who act on new permits within 48 hours of filing have the best chance of getting on bid lists before owners shop around to five different companies.</p>
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find new construction leads in Philadelphia?
Monitor new permit filings in real time. Philadelphia files hundreds of permits each week, and most are public record immediately. Set up alerts for your target zip codes and trade types. When a plumbing or electrical permit hits the system, contact the property owner or general contractor within 48 hours. Permit data shows what work has been approved and budgeted, so you're reaching out when the decision to build is already made, not when they're still thinking about it.
What are the most common permit types in Philadelphia?
Plumbing leads by a wide margin with 3,384 permits on file, followed by electrical at 1,953 permits. Renovation work accounts for 1,465 permits, HVAC for 1,309 permits, and other miscellaneous work for 1,744 permits. If you're a plumber or electrician, the volume of permits means plenty of competition but also consistent demand. If you specialize in renovation or HVAC, you're looking at a smaller but still active market where you may have less competition for individual jobs.
Which zip codes in Philadelphia have the most building permits?
The 19143 zip code is the most active with 516 permits, followed by 19146 (501 permits), 19148 (490 permits), 19134 (487 permits), and 19125 (468 permits). These five zip codes represent the neighborhoods where owners are most actively investing in construction and renovation. Focusing your marketing and lead generation in these areas gives you better odds of finding work compared to neighborhoods with lower permit volume.
What is the average building permit value in Philadelphia?
Permit values vary significantly depending on the type of work and property. A plumbing permit might represent a small repair job or a full building system replacement. An electrical permit could be for upgrading panel service or adding circuits. Renovation permits span from minor updates to complete gut jobs. Rather than relying on average value, use permit data to identify the type of work and property size, then estimate based on your experience with similar projects in that zip code.
How often is Philadelphia permit data updated?
DigPermit updates Philadelphia permit data daily from the city's public records. New permits filed today appear in the system by tomorrow morning. This daily refresh means you're not chasing cold leads from weeks ago. Contractors who check the system regularly can identify opportunities before larger competitors do, especially important in a city with 3,829 permits filed monthly.