The Building Division of the Department of Planning & Environmental administers permits, licenses, inspections and code enforcement for residential and commercial construction throughout the Town of Brookhaven. It is at Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738. The Division has transitioned to the Town of Brookhaven Digital Services portal (digitalservices.brookhavenny.gov).
This guide covers the Brookhaven Building Division, its 2026 fees and the Town planning, zoning, highway and fire prevention offices a project can run into.
What requires a building permit in the Town of Brookhaven?
The Building Division Fee Schedule 2026 prices work such as single-family homes, decks, attached and detached garages, sheds, in-ground and above-ground pools and hot tubs, residential generators, residential solar panels, CAC/HVAC, demolition and foundations, as well as alterations and repairs.
A new single-family home, or an addition of 50% or more of an existing structure, first needs a Single Family Residence application to the Planning Division, with a survey less than 1 year old. If the proposed house exceeds the allowable size, an area variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is required. No construction may begin until the Building Division issues the building permit.
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 Town of Brookhaven?
| Office | Handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Building Division | Building permits, licenses, inspections; Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville; Monday - Friday 9:00am - 4:15pm | 631-451-8696 |
| Planning Department | Planning, Environmental Protection and Engineering divisions; filings through DigitalServices.Brookhavenny.gov | 631-451-6400 |
| Division of Fire Prevention | Building construction and fire system permits, through its own online system; Monday - Friday 9:00am - 4:30pm | 631-451-6262 |
| Highway Department | Highway Work Permits for the Town right-of-way; 1140 Old Town Road, Coram, NY 11727 | 631-451-9200 |
The Board of Zoning Appeals also uses Digital Services: all commercial BZA applications, and residential ones filed by expeditors or licensed professionals, must be filed online.
Other Town of Brookhaven requirements
Work in the Town right-of-way
Residential Highway Work Permits cover work in the Town right-of-way such as driveway apron legalizations and road improvements, and need proof of insurance and stamped plans or a survey. The Highway Department’s 2026 fee schedule charges $169.00 per apron for a residential driveway apron permit and $252.00 per apron for a commercial one.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Deposits on new homes
Under the Town Code, a builder who takes a deposit to build a new home must post a bond in the amount of the deposit with the Commissioner of Finance within five business days. No building permit is issued until compliance is shown.
Town of Brookhaven permit costs and fees
From the Building Division Fee Schedule 2026:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $100 |
| Reinspection fee | $50 |
| Accelerated review fee | $715 |
| Temporary certificate fee | $275 |
| Single family | $0.55/SF |
| Residential | $0.90/SF |
| Deck | $0.50/SF |
| Garage, attached or detached | $0.55/SF |
| Alteration or repair | $90 for the first $1,000 of construction cost, plus $10 for every additional $1,000 |
| Shed | $200 |
| Inground pool | $260 |
| Above ground pool or hot tub | $135 |
| Residential generator | $135 |
| Residential solar panels | $135 |
| CAC/HVAC | $160 |
| Demolition permit | $85 |
| Foundation permit | $410 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Plumbing fixtures are charged per fixture, for example $10 per water closet and $32 per residential stack. Penalties: an expired permit costs 2x the sum of all permit fees, and improvements already built are charged 2x the permit fee. A new home or large addition also pays the Planning Division’s $680.00 Single Family Residence application fee.
How to get a building permit in the Town of Brookhaven
File the Single Family Residence application with the Planning Division through Digital Services, with a survey less than 1 year old.
A building application may need approval letters from Planning, Highway, the Health Department, Fire Prevention, Wetlands and the BZA, plus a property survey, construction plans, a cost estimate and workers’ compensation and disability insurance forms.
All commercial applications, and residential applications filed by an expeditor or licensed professional, must be filed online. A property owner filing their own residential application may file on paper at Town Hall only if every plan and document is on 8½-by-11-inch paper.
Post the deposit bond with the Commissioner of Finance within five business days.
An application stays active for 24 months from submission, and an issued permit is generally valid for 365 days (1 year).
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Every permit carries an expiration date set by the Town of Brookhaven, 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 Town of Brookhaven
The Building Division administers inspections for residential and commercial construction. Its 2026 fee schedule charges $50 for a reinspection and $275 for a temporary certificate. The Highway Department’s 2026 schedule charges a $330.00 re-inspection fee from the 2nd inspection on.
Official Town of Brookhaven 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 →- Town of Brookhaven Building Division
- Brookhaven Building Construction permits
- Brookhaven Building Division Fee Schedule 2026
- Brookhaven Single Family Residence applications
- Brookhaven Planning Department
- Brookhaven Board of Zoning Appeals
- Brookhaven Residential Highway Work Permit
- Brookhaven Division of Fire Prevention
Frequently asked questions
Can I drop off a Brookhaven building application?
No. The Building Division no longer accepts drop-offs. A property owner filing their own residential application may file on paper at Town Hall if everything is on 8½-by-11-inch paper; otherwise file through Digital Services.
How long does a Brookhaven building permit last?
An issued permit is generally valid for 365 days; an application stays active for 24 months from submission.
What does a shed permit cost in Brookhaven?
$200 on the Building Division Fee Schedule 2026, which also lists a $100 application fee.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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- Confirm the Town office for the parcel and the zoning, highway or fire approvals that go with the permit
- Prepare the application, surveys and plans and file them through the Town’s portal or counter
- Schedule the Town’s inspections and follow the permit through to the certificate of occupancy
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 Town of Brookhaven permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.