Roof decks in Graduate Hospital

Graduate Hospital houses and roofs

Graduate Hospital, also called Southwest Center City, lies just south and west of Center City. It is mostly rowhouses. The Historical Commission designated the Christian Street Historic District (Black Doctors Row) in 2022.

What we hear about in Graduate Hospital

• Adding a deck during a full-house renovation
• Front setback questions on taller renovated houses
• Historic review on Christian Street
• Privacy between neighboring decks

What to know before you build

The Zoning Code requires a roof deck to sit at least 5 feet back from the front building line. In RSA-5, RSA-6 and RM-1 districts it also can’t be built in the front setback the Code requires for stories above the second. Between neighbors, zoning allows privacy screens up to 60 inches tall and no more than 50% opaque on the sides, within 18 inches of a side lot line. If your house is in the Christian Street district, a deck needs Historical Commission review. Staff can approve work that isn’t visible, or has limited visibility, from the street.

The rules are the same citywide

In every Philadelphia neighborhood, roof decks on homes are allowed by the Zoning Code within limits: 5 feet back from the front, a deck surface within 48 inches of the roof’s mid-plane, railings up to 42 inches, and a pilot house of limited size. Every roof deck needs a building permit, and properties on the Philadelphia Register need Historical Commission review. Read the rules guide · See typical costs

Services in Graduate Hospital

• New roof decks
• Pilot houses & roof access
• Roof deck repair & replacement
• Roofing under the deck
• Design, engineering & permits

Nearby: Point Breeze · Rittenhouse & Fitler Square · Queen Village · All neighborhoods

We are a free referral service, not a contractor. We pass your request to an independent Philadelphia contractor who quotes and does the work.