Philadelphia Contractor License Renewal (L&I)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) issues a Contractor License to businesses doing construction, demolition or repair work in the city that doesn't need a specialized license of its own. It must be renewed every year, online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center, and the renewal fee is $126. To renew you must be current on all City taxes and fines, have proof of active insurance, and keep a supervisor with current OSHA 30 training on file with L&I. Renewing more than 60 days after the due date adds 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

At a glance

Who needs it: Any business doing work in Philadelphia that involves construction, demolition or repair and doesn't require a specialized company license. Complete demolition, electrical, fire suppression and plumbing work need their own specialized licenses. A business that only works on existing one-or-two-family dwellings, with no work that needs a special trade license, doesn't need this license: it submits as a Home Improvement Contractor after registering with the State instead
Renews every: Every year: L&I says this license must be renewed annually
Renewal fee: $126, the same as the license fee
Late renewal: If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired
How to renew: Online through eCLIPSE, or in person at the Permit and License Center (1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., MSB, Public Service Concourse, Philadelphia, PA 19102), where you need an appointment
What renewal asks for: You must be current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and fines, have proof of an active insurance policy, and have eligible supervisor information on file with L&I
Supervisor safety training: Contractors identify at least one supervisory employee who has completed OSHA 30 Construction Safety and Health from an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer, or an L&I-approved alternative, within the five years before the license application or renewal, and submit the proof with it. A supervisor can only be employed by one company
OSHA 30 refresher: If L&I has already accepted the supervisor's OSHA 30 certificate, they can take 30 continuing education hours in construction or demolition safety instead of retaking the course, completed in the five years before the renewal, from a provider approved by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, with proof submitted with the renewal application
Insurance minimums: A certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 per occurrence of general liability (including products and completed operations), $300,000 of automobile liability, and workers' compensation with $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee and a $500,000 policy limit
Certificate of insurance: L&I's instructions for the ACORD 25 certificate name the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102 as certificate holder, and ask for the Commercial General Liability and Occur boxes to be selected. For automobile liability a declarations page from the insurer with the minimum amounts is accepted instead
No employees: If all the contracting work is done by you as the sole proprietor, a business partner or a corporate officer, L&I's instructions ask for a notarized statement or a State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF) certificate attesting that you have no employees in place of workers' compensation. If you hire employees, you must update your license with workers' compensation
Other City requirements: L&I lists a Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) ID and a Commercial Activity License among the license's requirements
On the job: Workers on a construction or demolition site complete OSHA 10 Construction (or an approved alternative), with proof kept on the job site; L&I's exceptions include delivery people, design professionals and special inspectors.

Only working on existing one-or-two-family homes? You may need the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor registration instead of this license. See the Pennsylvania HIC registration guide.

Your insurance matters all year: L&I says every contractor named on a construction permit must have current insurance on file with it, so make sure L&I has the renewed policy's certificate.

How to renew

Check you're current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and fines.
Make sure L&I has a current certificate of insurance with the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder: $500,000 general liability, $300,000 automobile liability, and workers' compensation (or your no-employees statement).
Check your supervisor's OSHA 30 certificate, or the 30 hours of construction or demolition safety continuing education that can replace a retake, was completed within the last five years.
Renew online through eCLIPSE, or book an appointment at the Permit and License Center, and pay the $126 renewal fee.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

Before the due dateSettle any City taxes or fines, and make sure L&I has your current certificate of insurance.
Each renewalCheck your supervisor's OSHA 30, or 30 hours of safety continuing education, is less than five years old.
By the due dateRenew through eCLIPSE and pay the $126 fee. More than 60 days late adds 1.5% of the fee for each month since it expired.
When a policy renewsMake sure L&I has a current certificate on file, naming the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your supervisor's OSHA 30 training (within five years of each renewal)
Your Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor registration, if you also hold one
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do I renew a Philadelphia contractor license?

Every year: L&I says this license must be renewed annually. The renewal fee is $126, online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center.

What insurance does a Philadelphia contractor license need?

A certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 per occurrence of general liability (including products and completed operations), $300,000 of automobile liability, and workers' compensation with $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee and a $500,000 policy limit.

Does my supervisor need OSHA 30 to renew?

Yes. Contractors identify at least one supervisory employee who has completed OSHA 30 Construction Safety and Health within the five years before the license application or renewal. If L&I has already accepted the supervisor's OSHA 30 certificate, they can take 30 continuing education hours in construction or demolition safety instead of retaking the course.

What if I renew my Philadelphia contractor license late?

If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I), Contractor License

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Pennsylvania guides

All Pennsylvania guides on one page

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Philadelphia Contractor License Renewal (L&I)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Who needs it: Any business doing work in Philadelphia that involves construction, demolition or repair and doesn't require a specialized company license. Complete demolition, electrical, fire suppression and plumbing work need their own specialized licenses. A business that only works on existing one-or-two-family dwellings, with no work that needs a special trade license, doesn't need this license: it submits as a Home Improvement Contractor after registering with the State instead
Renews every: Every year: L&I says this license must be renewed annually
Renewal fee: $126, the same as the license fee
Late renewal: If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired
How to renew: Online through eCLIPSE, or in person at the Permit and License Center (1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., MSB, Public Service Concourse, Philadelphia, PA 19102), where you need an appointment
What renewal asks for: You must be current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and fines, have proof of an active insurance policy, and have eligible supervisor information on file with L&I
Supervisor safety training: Contractors identify at least one supervisory employee who has completed OSHA 30 Construction Safety and Health from an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer, or an L&I-approved alternative, within the five years before the license application or renewal, and submit the proof with it. A supervisor can only be employed by one company
OSHA 30 refresher: If L&I has already accepted the supervisor's OSHA 30 certificate, they can take 30 continuing education hours in construction or demolition safety instead of retaking the course, completed in the five years before the renewal, from a provider approved by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, with proof submitted with the renewal application
Insurance minimums: A certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 per occurrence of general liability (including products and completed operations), $300,000 of automobile liability, and workers' compensation with $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee and a $500,000 policy limit
Certificate of insurance: L&I's instructions for the ACORD 25 certificate name the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102 as certificate holder, and ask for the Commercial General Liability and Occur boxes to be selected. For automobile liability a declarations page from the insurer with the minimum amounts is accepted instead
No employees: If all the contracting work is done by you as the sole proprietor, a business partner or a corporate officer, L&I's instructions ask for a notarized statement or a State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF) certificate attesting that you have no employees in place of workers' compensation. If you hire employees, you must update your license with workers' compensation
Other City requirements: L&I lists a Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) ID and a Commercial Activity License among the license's requirements
On the job: Workers on a construction or demolition site complete OSHA 10 Construction (or an approved alternative), with proof kept on the job site; L&I's exceptions include delivery people, design professionals and special inspectors.

Only working on existing one-or-two-family homes? You may need the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor registration instead of this license. See the Pennsylvania HIC registration guide.

Your insurance matters all year: L&I says every contractor named on a construction permit must have current insurance on file with it, so make sure L&I has the renewed policy's certificate.

How to renew

Check you're current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and fines.
Make sure L&I has a current certificate of insurance with the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder: $500,000 general liability, $300,000 automobile liability, and workers' compensation (or your no-employees statement).
Check your supervisor's OSHA 30 certificate, or the 30 hours of construction or demolition safety continuing education that can replace a retake, was completed within the last five years.
Renew online through eCLIPSE, or book an appointment at the Permit and License Center, and pay the $126 renewal fee.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

Before the due dateSettle any City taxes or fines, and make sure L&I has your current certificate of insurance.
Each renewalCheck your supervisor's OSHA 30, or 30 hours of safety continuing education, is less than five years old.
By the due dateRenew through eCLIPSE and pay the $126 fee. More than 60 days late adds 1.5% of the fee for each month since it expired.
When a policy renewsMake sure L&I has a current certificate on file, naming the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your supervisor's OSHA 30 training (within five years of each renewal)
Your Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor registration, if you also hold one
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do I renew a Philadelphia contractor license?

Every year: L&I says this license must be renewed annually. The renewal fee is $126, online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center.

What insurance does a Philadelphia contractor license need?

Does my supervisor need OSHA 30 to renew?

What if I renew my Philadelphia contractor license late?

If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I), Contractor License

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Pennsylvania guides

All Pennsylvania guides on one page

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet