Expediters are licensed by the City of Philadelphia to acquire permits on behalf of others. Kosten Expediting specializes in the strategy and coordination needed to turn your vision into a reality through permitting acquisition.

Though our applications are not reviewed more quickly, we know what the City wants and how to get it, freeing you up to handle other aspects of your project or life with confidence.

Everyone! Whether you are a first-time homeowner, seasoned contractor, or developer, we feel that our services can make your life less stressful while still accomplishing your goals.

There are countless permits in Philadelphia, but the most common ones are Building Permit, Trade Permit, and Zoning Permit.

Building Permits are needed for most work being done on or inside a structure. There are some exceptions, which can be reviewed here.

Trade Permits are needed for most work being done involving Plumbing, Electrical, and Mechanical work. Most 1-2 Family dwellings will only require the EZ Permit version of Trade Permits.

Zoning Permits are required if you want to change the use of a structure or if you want to add an addition.

You can review the types of permits needed on Philadelphia’s website here.

If that leaves you feeling overwhelmed - don’t worry - we offer phone consultations for all of our clients. Consultation fees may be credited towards fees for permit acquisiton services.

The short answer is that it varies depending on what your scope of work is and who you need documents from. Generally speaking, the timelines from submission are as follows:

• Building Permits: 3-6 weeks.

• Zoning Permits: 10 days - 2 weeks.

• EZ Permits: 10 days - 2 weeks.

• Make Safe Permits: Less than 10 days.

Each permit type comes with a quoted processing time by Licensing & Inspections (L&I). This is the amount of time it takes the examiners to review the application and provide revisions, denial, or approval. Kosten Expediting will always provide you with financial and timeline estimates prior to services to make sure that you know what to expect.

We know that violations can be frustrating. They can be costly to your timeline as well as your finances. At Kosten Expediting, we know how to clear most violations. Many violations come with penalties. The most common violations are listed below:

• Unsafe/Imminently Dangerous: This violation means that the City has deemed aspects of a structure unsafe to habitation. Resolved by acquiring a Make Safe Permit to resolve only the dangerous aspects of a structure. Requires specific plans and engineer’s letter to resolve.

• Work Done Without a Permit: This violation means that someone has worked on a property without first getting a permit and was caught. Easy to resolve, but results in a doubling of all permit fees.

Again, it varies widely.

The City imposes filing fees on all permit submissions, which range from $25-100.

After that, permit fees are calculated according to set rules. The most up to date permit fee information can be found here.

At Kosten Expediting we love working on strange and complex permitting issues. If you didn’t see your question answered here, make sure to reach out using our contact form at the top of the page.