Research Philadelphia contractors: local profiles, registration and permits.
Use dated company research as a starting point, then check the correct Pennsylvania registration and Philadelphia trade records for the work. Compare written proposals, confirm permits and inspections, and contact companies directly. No lead-capture form is required to use this guide.
Local guidance reviewed October 16, 2026. Company research dates appear below; ratings, complaint records, credentials and availability can change.
Published Philadelphia company research—not a ranking
For heating and cooling projects, use the Philadelphia HVAC research guide for equipment scopes, credential distinctions and mechanical-permit questions.
These four examples cover different trades. They are not a ranking, a complete list or a promise of service to every address.
- BG Electric Service LLC — Philadelphia electrical troubleshooting, panels, rewiring, lighting, outlets, generators and meter-box work. Research: October 16, 2026.
- AirMaster Heating & Cooling Specialists — Philadelphia air conditioning, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, ductless systems and indoor-air-quality work. Research: October 16, 2026. Its dated profile records one BBB complaint in three years, marked Answered—not Resolved. The customer described heat-pump performance and follow-up concerns; the business described troubleshooting and a no-charge outdoor-unit replacement. The customer disputed resolution. These are disputed source accounts, not NHA findings; read the full complaint context and responses.
- Top Tier Roofing LLC — Philadelphia roof repairs and replacement, flat, metal, rubber and shingle systems, gutters and siding. Research: October 16, 2026.
- Buzz Duzz Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. — Philadelphia plumbing and HVAC repairs and installation, drain cleaning, sewer repairs and video inspection. Research: September 26, 2026; its evidence is older than the other examples.
NHA did not independently verify these companies’ licensing, bonding, certifications or insurance. Linking a profile does not requalify a company or make its earlier rating a current observation. Confirm service to the project address.
PA registration and Philadelphia trade licensing are different checks
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s homeowner guidance explains that Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act registration is not an endorsement of a contractor’s competency or skill. Check the state registration search, references, multiple bids and complaint context. A registration number is not a guarantee of quality.
The City’s contractor research guidance distinguishes specialized trade licenses, including plumbing and electrical, from other contractor requirements. Its general Contractor License guidance describes a separate pathway for businesses working only on existing one-or-two-family dwellings without specialized trade work. Do not assume every contractor needs the same license—or that state registration replaces a required trade license.
Use the City guidance’s contractor, permit, suspended/revoked-license and Atlas property-record links. Match the legal business and relevant trade to the actual job; confirm the responsible jurisdiction for nearby municipalities. No individual registration, City license or insurance record was checked for this guide.
Match permits and inspections to the actual work
Electrical work and EV charging
The City electrical-permit guidance identifies the licensed electrical contractor requirements and a separate licensed electrical inspection agency. Ask who will obtain permits and arrange inspections. For permit applications including an EV charger, the City says valid EVITP certification must be on file with the electrical contractor license beginning July 1, 2026. This guide does not verify that any listed company holds that certification.
Plumbing, roofing and EZ permits
Review the City plumbing-permit requirements for master-plumber oversight, applicable approvals and specific minor-work exemptions. Do not treat all repairs alike.
EZ permits are permits without submitted plans for work meeting an applicable standard—not blanket permit exemptions. Some roof-covering replacement may qualify; confirm the specific building, scope and standard, including any historic-property considerations. Required trade credentials still apply.
Ask for the permit numbers, inspection responsibilities and completion records relevant to your project. NHA has not determined permit eligibility for any property.
Compare a complete written proposal
Request comparable written scopes, not just total prices. Identify equipment and materials, access and property protection, cleanup, permit and inspection costs, change orders, payment terms, warranty coverage and follow-up.
- HVAC: clarify system-design responsibility, equipment, duct work, commissioning and documented troubleshooting.
- Electrical: identify circuits, panel changes and the inspection plan.
- Plumbing: distinguish diagnosis from pipe or sewer replacement and specify restoration responsibilities.
- Roofing: distinguish repair from replacement and identify the roof system, flashing, drainage and cleanup.
Check current references for similar work and ask how service concerns will be handled. These are research questions, not project diagnoses, local cost estimates or promises of results.
Use dated evidence—and verify what the profile does not
Gold profiles document an exact BBB A+ record, a directly verifiable Google customer rating strictly above 4.3, identity matching, official service evidence and complaint-context review on the company’s research date. BBB accreditation alone is not the criterion. “Answered” does not mean “resolved.”
Licensing, bonding, certifications and insurance were not independently verified. Recognition is not a guarantee of workmanship, safety, outcomes, current availability or suitability. Verify current project-specific credentials and insurance directly.
Read NHA research standards · Search the company directory · National contractor research hub · Homeowner resources