Philadelphia Code Section A-3010 (Cool Roof Law) requires high-reflectance white or coated roofs on most low-slope roof replacements over 200 square feet. Materials must meet ENERGY STAR initial reflectance of 0.65 and three-year aged reflectance of 0.50, enforced by Licenses and Inspections.
Adopted in 2010 and incorporated into the Philadelphia Energy Conservation Code (Bill 100072), Section A-3010 mandates cool roofs on all new low-slope roofs and most replacements covering more than 200 square feet of roof area. Approved materials must meet ENERGY STAR roof products: at least 0.65 initial solar reflectance and 0.50 aged reflectance after three years, with thermal emittance of at least 0.75. Exemptions cover roofs with photovoltaic arrays, vegetative (green) roofs, ballasted systems, and roofs with documented historical preservation conflicts. The Department of Licenses and Inspections enforces compliance during permit review and final inspection. The rule complements Philadelphia's heat-mitigation and climate goals under the Climate Action Playbook.
Installing a non-compliant low-slope roof violates Section A-3010 and Philadelphia Energy Code. L&I will not pass final inspection, the certificate of occupancy is withheld, and the contractor must replace or coat the roof at owner expense plus permit re-inspection fees.
Philadelphia, PA
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See how Philadelphia's cool roof requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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