Neighborhood guide

Roof decks in Manayunk

Hillside rowhouses with river views. Wind, slope and the 48-inch rule shape decks here.

Covers Manayunk, Roxborough and Main Street · ZIP codes 19127, 19128

Manayunk houses and roofs

Manayunk sits on the steep east bank of the Schuylkill, where one of the first canals begun in the US was built. Rowhouses climb the hillsides above Main Street, which the Historical Commission designated as a historic district in 1984.

What we hear about in Manayunk

Exposed, windy roofs on the hillside
Houses with roofs at different levels
Historic review on Main Street
Getting materials up steep, narrow streets

What to know before you build

The 48-inch deck height limit is measured from a plane midway between the lowest and highest points of the roof that supports the deck. On houses with stepped or sloped roofs, ask the designer to show this on the drawings. Philly Home Collective notes that rooftop wind loads can be higher, so posts and anchors need engineered connections, which matters on exposed hillside roofs. On Main Street, Historical Commission review applies.

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 Manayunk

Nearby: Spring Garden & Fairmount · Fishtown · Northern Liberties · All neighborhoods

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