The City of Albany Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance (BRC) issues building permits in the city. Its office is at 200 Henry Johnson Boulevard, First Floor, Suite 1, Albany, NY 12210 (518-434-5995), open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
This guide covers the BRC, its Building & Zoning Permit Application Fees chart (last revised 02/2026), rental registration and the Department of Planning & Development. Online filing of building permit applications in the city’s Citizen’s Self Service (CSS) Portal is listed as a future phase and is not available yet.
What requires a building permit in the City of Albany?
The BRC fee chart prices new one- and two-family construction and additions; alterations including porches, decks, gutting, insulation and solar panels; roofs, siding, pools, garages and window replacement; and fences, sheds, wood stoves and chimneys. Work may not start until the permit is approved and issued.
On the General Building Permit Application (BRC Form 001), new structures, substantial additions or alterations, two-story decks and changes to load-bearing components need plans stamped by a licensed engineer or architect. Any exterior work in a Historic Overlay District also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness Application, and all exterior work requires photos of the building.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →New York builds on one statewide code, the Uniform Code, outside New York City; the 2025 edition and 2025 Energy Code took effect on 31 December 2025 (the all-electric provisions remain suspended by court order). Cities, towns and villages administer it, and local standards stricter than the code need Code Council approval. The Uniform Code in New York
Who handles permitting in the City of Albany?
| Office | Handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Buildings and Regulatory Compliance (BRC) | Building permits and inspections; 200 Henry Johnson Boulevard, First Floor, Suite 1; Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm | 518-434-5995; codes@albanyny.gov |
| Department of Planning & Development | Planning Board, Board of Zoning Appeals and Historic Resources Commission cases, through its own online application portal; First Floor, Suite 3; Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5 pm | 518-465-6066 |
In person, ring the BRC doorbell, which is to the right of the entrance door.
Insurance, rentals and sidewalks in Albany
Insurance on every application
Every Albany permit application needs proof of New York workers’ compensation insurance or a CE-200 exemption, including homeowners doing their own work. Where the total cost of work is more than $10,000, the applicant must also show liability insurance naming the City of Albany as additional insured.
Rental Dwelling Registry
Rental units must be registered on the Rental Dwelling Registry and inspected and certified every 24 months. The fee is $50 per unit, due with the RDR form, and each Residential Occupancy Permit needs a primary and a secondary emergency contact.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Work in the public right of way
Work that obstructs a public right of way needs a Sidewalk & Barricade Permit from the BRC: $50.00 with a building permit and $75.00 without one.
City of Albany permit costs and fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New one- and two-family construction or addition, under 2,000 square feet | $450.00 |
| Same, 2,001 to 3,000 square feet | $650.00 |
| Same, over 3,000 square feet | $800.00 |
| Residential alterations (porches, decks, gutting, insulation, solar panels) | $100.00 up to $5,000.00 in cost; $100 + $8.00 per $1,000.00 above |
| Roofs, siding, pools, garages, window replacement | $100.00 |
| Fences, sheds, wood stoves, chimneys | $50.00 |
| Commercial new construction, up to 1,000 square feet | $700.00 |
| Commercial alterations | $400.00 up to $5,000.00 in cost, plus $10.00 per $1,000.00 above |
| Stop Work Order | $300.00 |
Commercial on this chart means all non-residential buildings and residential buildings with 3 or more units.
Electrical and plumbing permits in Albany
Only licensed contractors may apply for electrical, plumbing and elevator permits in Albany. Electrical permits are filed by Class A Electricians or with a Class B License Application, and since 03/15/2022 every electrical permit needs a third-party inspection.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →On the fee chart a one- or two-family plumbing permit is $50.00 plus a $10.00 surcharge per fixture, and new one- or two-family electrical construction or total rehab is $150.00.
Where a municipality issues separate trade permits, the work is done under whatever electrical or plumbing licence that city, town or county requires; many places license neither trade. Trade licences in New York
How to get a building permit in the City of Albany
Stamped plans for new structures, substantial work, two-story decks and load-bearing changes; a Certificate of Appropriateness in a Historic Overlay District.
Workers’ compensation proof or a CE-200, and liability insurance naming the City where the work costs more than $10,000.
Email it to codes@albanyny.gov, and staff call for credit-card payment, or file it in person.
An application or permit is marked void if the applicant does not answer the office within 3 months.
A denial letter may be referred within thirty days to the Planning Department, which manages the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Rather not deal with the City of Albany building department?
Get a free quote →Every permit carries an expiration date set by the City of Albany, which may void a permit if work does not start in time; confirm the expiry on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in New York
Inspections in the City of Albany
The FAQ gives 7 to 10 business days as the usual permit review time; call the office if the inspector has not been in touch after 10 business days. The person doing the work must call for the needed inspections during the work and at completion, and a final inspection is required on every permit. An extra $100 inspection fee may be charged when nobody meets the inspector, the work is not ready, or cited corrections are not done.
The CSS Portal shows a property’s construction permits, permit status, the assigned inspector, Residential Occupancy Permits and code cases.
Official City of Albany permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Albany Buildings & Regulatory Compliance
- Albany BRC FAQ
- Albany permit fee chart
- Albany General Building Permit Application
- Albany BRC forms
- Albany rental registry and inspection programs
- Albany Citizen’s Self Service Portal
- Albany Planning and Development
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for an Albany building permit online?
Not yet. Online filing in the CSS Portal is a future phase; email the application to codes@albanyny.gov or file it in person.
How long does Albany take to review a permit?
The FAQ’s rule of thumb is 7 to 10 business days; call the office if the inspector has not been in touch after 10 business days.
How often are Albany rentals inspected?
Every 24 months, at $50 per unit, paid with the Rental Dwelling Registry form.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in New York. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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More New York permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about City of Albany permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.