The 10 Best Philadelphia, PA General Contractors

A contractor licensed by the city of Philadelphia is required for all work that costs $500 or more. Certain work may be performed on existing one and two family dwellings by a Pennsylvania home improvement contractor registered with the State Attorney General, who also maintains an active Philadelphia commercial activity license.

The City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections regulates general contractor licensing. No examination or relevant experience or knowledge is necessary. Applicants must be financially solvent, show compliance with all City tax obligations and applicable laws of the State related to the operation of their business, have a commercial activity license and pay a $100 licensing fee. General contractors in Philadelphia must prove they have successfully completed OSHA 10 training or better. New applicants must also include the name of a supervisory employee who has attended OSHA 30 Safety Training (or an approved equivalent) within the past 5 years. Applicants must show proof of comprehensive general liability insurance, motor vehicle liability insurance, workers’ compensation and surety bond. This license must be renewed annually.

The State of Pennsylvania also requires anyone who owns or operates a home improvement business or who offers, performs, or agrees to perform home improvements to register with the with the Office of Attorney General as a home improvement contractor. No experience or examination is required. Home improvement contractors must hold general liability insurance.

City licensed general contractors must hold a comprehensive general liability policy with a minimum coverage of $500,000 per occurrence, motor vehicle liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $300,000 per occurrence and an active workers’ compensation policy. Request copies of these insurance certificates for your records before you begin any work on your property. Contractors who violate these rules risk having their license revoked for one year and are prohibited from pulling permits during that time; they also risk the imposition of fines and up to 90 days imprisonment.

Pennsylvania registered home improvement contractors must have a minimum general liability coverage of at least $50,000 for personal injury and $50,000 for property damage. There is no requirement for workers’ compensation.

Building permits are required in Philadelphia for new construction, additions, modifications, repairs, improvements, demolition and the movement of most structions or a change in occupancy classification. Common projects that require a permit include non-masonry fences over 6 feet high and masonry fences over 2 feet, retaining walls more than 2 feet, and accessory structures over 200 square feet. If you are unsure if your project requires a permit, contact the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections at 215.686.2400.

The Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections issues permits and is responsible for ensuring that all construction projects comply with applicable building codes and ordinances. You and your contractor should determine at the start of project planning who will be responsible for acquiring the permits. The Department of Licenses and Inspections offers a variety of methods to acquire a building permit depending on the type and scale of project. Most projects require you to submit construction plans. Some small renovations may qualify for a simplified ‘EZ Permit,’ which does not require plans. More details are available on the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections’ website.

General contractors licensed by the City of Philadelphia are required to hold surety bonds to conduct work on residential properties. Homeowners can file a claim against this bond to recover in case of financial loss due to faulty or incomplete work.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's registration information, which is gathered from the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; building permit data, gathered from the Department of Licenses and Inspections; and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every licensed contractor who has worked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in Philadelphia. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.