Gutter cleaning in Philadelphia: city code, combined sewers and free downspout fixes
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
What does Philadelphia require of gutters?
The city makes it an owner's duty to keep them working. Section PM-304.7 of the Philadelphia property maintenance code says roof drainage must be adequate to prevent dampness or deterioration in the walls or interior, that roof drains, gutters and downspouts shall be maintained in good repair and free from obstructions, and that roof water must not be discharged in a way that creates a nuisance.
Why does Philadelphia's housing make gutters different?
Because the city's housing is old. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 estimates show that 39.9% of Philadelphia's 748,270 housing units were first built in 1939 or earlier, against 25.0% for Pennsylvania. The median home has 5.4 rooms, the smallest of the five counties, and 64.1% of units are single-family houses, a figure the Census Bureau says combines detached homes with attached ones such as row houses. Nearly half of occupied homes, 48.2%, are rented.
For a renter, PM-304.7 is the owner's obligation. For an owner, the age of the house points to the next question: where does the roof water go?
Where does the roof water go in Philadelphia?
Often into the sewer. In much of the city a single pipe carries both stormwater and household wastewater to a treatment plant. The Philadelphia Water Department says that in heavy rain or snowmelt this combined sewer system can be overwhelmed and overflow into rivers and streams, and it names stormwater runoff as the number one cause of pollution in them.
The same overload can push water back into homes. In a 2019 post, the department said basement backups happen in areas served by the older combined system, with low-lying parts of Germantown, Kensington, Northern Liberties, Center City, South Philadelphia and Port Richmond the most affected. Where a downspout is connected to the house's sewer pipe, roof water can be part of what backs up.
What help does the city offer?
Two programs touch gutters directly.
- Basement Backup Protection Program. For homeowners who get water backing up through basement fixtures in wet weather, the city provides free backwater valves and, if needed, free downspout modifications where water from the roof's gutter is flowing back into the home through the sewer pipe. Licensed contractors do the work with a one-year warranty, after which repairs and maintenance are yours. Your water bill must be current or on a payment agreement, earlier city violations must be addressed, and the pipe from the house to the sewer must be in good condition. To report a backup while it is happening, call (215) 685-4901.
- Rain Check. For any Philadelphia residential property, the Water Department's Rain Check program offers a free rain barrel and cost-share tools such as a metal downspout planter, a rain garden or permeable pavers. You must first attend a virtual workshop; workshops run January through October. Cost-share tools need a $25 property consultation. As of November 2026, barrel installations were paused until March 2027.
The department's 2019 post also warns that many basement floods have other causes, including poor drainage around a home that lets water seep through the walls, which the backup program does not cover.
On the bill, the department says the residential stormwater charge is a flat fee based on the size and hard surfaces of the average city property, rather than on your own roof.
Does gutter work need a permit or a licensed contractor in Philadelphia?
For ordinary upkeep, often not a permit. The city's building permit page says that, as long as a property is not on the Philadelphia Historic Registry, you often do not need a permit for repairs related to regular maintenance. Ask the Department of Licenses and Inspections if your job goes beyond that, or if your house is on the register.
Where a permit is needed on an existing one- or two-family home, the city says the work may be done by a licensed Philadelphia contractor, by an owner who lives there, or by a registered state home improvement contractor holding a Philadelphia Commercial Activity License. The city also says owners should make sure contractors have the proper licenses, registrations and permits before work starts, and its online lookup lists every actively licensed contractor and any violations. For questions, call 311, or (215) 686-8686 from outside the city.
When should Philadelphia gutters be cleaned?
After the leaves fall, which in 2026 was late. The state's final foliage report of the year, for the week of November 5, listed Philadelphia at peak color. Published price ranges for a visit are in the cost guide, the state's registration rules are in what Pennsylvania requires, and businesses serving the city are on the Philadelphia gutter cleaning page.
Sources
- Section PM-304 Exterior Structure (Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code), City of Philadelphia (The Philadelphia Code)
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- Stormwater, Philadelphia Water Department
- Basement Backup Protection Program, City of Philadelphia
- Free Fixes for Basement Backup Flooding, Philadelphia Water Department
- Rain Check, Philadelphia Water Department
- Stormwater Billing, Philadelphia Water Department
- Get a Building Permit, City of Philadelphia
- Find a licensed contractor and contractor information, City of Philadelphia
- 2026 Fall Foliage Report: Week of November 5-11, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources