The Bureau of Buildings issues building permits in the City of New Rochelle. It is on the ground floor of 515 North Ave., New Rochelle, NY 10801, phone (914) 654-2035, fax (914) 654-2031, with office hours of Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 2:30pm.
This guide covers the Bureau of Buildings, the fees in the city fee code, CitySquared filing, the site safety program and the zoning and Westchester County licensing steps. The Buildings pages do not publish how to request an inspection, so ask the Bureau of Buildings.
What requires a building permit in the City of New Rochelle?
The city lists the work that needs no permit at a 1- or 2-family home:
- resurfacing an existing driveway without expanding it;
- siding applied over an existing exterior without replacing sheathing;
- emergency roof repairs under 100 square feet with no sheathing replacement;
- painting.
The roof-repair and painting exemptions do not apply in the Historical district.
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
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in the City of New Rochelle?
| Office | Handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Buildings | Building, electrical and plumbing permits, certificates of occupancy; ground floor, 515 North Ave.; Monday to Friday 8:30am to 2:30pm | (914) 654-2035; fax (914) 654-2031 |
| Department of Buildings (zoning) | Zoning questions; Zoning Board applications in CitySquared | (914) 654-2035 |
| Department of Development | Planning Board, Historical Landmark Review Board, Municipal Art Commission | See the city’s Development page |
| Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection | Home improvement contractor and trade licences; 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains | (914) 995-2155 |
Site safety, insurance and zoning in New Rochelle
Site safety superintendents
New Rochelle requires a registered site safety superintendent on new buildings of six or more stories (or 75 feet), new buildings of 20,000 square feet or more, and work needing underpinning or support of excavation. New 1-, 2- or 3-family buildings are exempt. Registration costs $300.00 for a 3-year term.
Contractor insurance
The city’s Contractor Information Form requires workers’ compensation and New York State disability insurance naming the Bureau of Buildings, City of New Rochelle, NY as certificate holder; liability insurance is also required when a structure is to be demolished.
Zoning Board and Board of Standards and Appeals
Zoning Board applications are filed in CitySquared under Buildings, Zoning Board Approval. The city fee code sets a $600.00 fee for an application to the Board of Standards and Appeals.
City of New Rochelle permit costs and fees
From the city fee code, last amended 12-2-2025:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building permit, 1- and 2-family dwellings | $95.00 for the first $1,000 of cost or fraction, plus $13 for each additional $1,000 |
| Building permit, all other buildings | $105.00 for the first $1,000, plus $17 for each additional $1,000 |
| Application for construction already done before a permit | $2,000.00 or triple the building permit fee, whichever is greater |
| Amendment to plans | $95.00 |
| Repeat plan review | $120.00 |
| Reinspection | $100.00 |
| Certificate of occupancy | $75.00 for 1- and 2-family dwellings; $120.00 for all others |
| Flood zone certificate | $36.75 |
The city’s online fee calculator works from the first $1,000 of estimated construction cost and each additional $1,000, rounded up.
Electrical and plumbing permits in New Rochelle
Electrical and plumbing permits are filed in CitySquared with a photo of the trade licence, a signed copy of the city’s permit application and the insurance certificates. Fees can be paid online (no fee for ACH; a card fee of 2.35% or minimum $1.95) or at the Building Department. Westchester County requires plumbers and electricians to hold a county trade licence.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical fees in the city fee code include $100.00 for a new or increased service, $120.00 for a new 1- or 2-family dwelling, and $100.00 for alterations up to 20 outlets plus $5.00 per outlet over 20. The plumbing fee schedule charges $240.00 for sewer connections, sewer repairs or sewer cappings and a $75.00 reinspection fee.
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 New Rochelle
Driveway resurfacing, siding over an existing exterior, small emergency roof repairs and painting are listed; the roof and painting items do not apply in the Historical district.
Westchester County requires home improvement contractors to hold a county licence; from January 1, 2026 the application fee is $750.00.
Choose the Buildings department and the permit type, then upload the insurance certificates and a PDF of the plans.
Plan amendments are filed as a request under Buildings, then Amendment.
Complete the certificate of occupancy form that comes with the issued permit; it can be downloaded from the permit’s Document link in the CitySquared dashboard.
Rather not deal with the City of New Rochelle building department?
Get a free quote →Every permit carries an expiration date set by the City of New Rochelle, 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 New Rochelle
The Bureau of Buildings lists outside electrical inspection agencies, among them New York Electrical Inspection Services (150 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, 914-347-4390) and State Wide Inspection Services (8 North Lawn Ave, Elmsford, 914-909-4471). A building reinspection costs $100.00. The Buildings pages do not say how to book building inspections; ask the Bureau at (914) 654-2035.
Official City of New Rochelle 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 →- New Rochelle Bureau of Buildings
- New Rochelle: how to apply for a permit
- New Rochelle: electrical and plumbing permits
- New Rochelle building permits and exemptions
- New Rochelle fee code
- New Rochelle building permit fee calculator
- New Rochelle site safety program
- New Rochelle Zoning Board applications
- Westchester County home improvement contractor licensing
Frequently asked questions
Does painting need a permit in New Rochelle?
Not at a 1- or 2-family home, except in the Historical district, where the painting exemption does not apply.
What if work was done without a permit in New Rochelle?
The application costs $2,000.00 or triple the building permit fee, whichever is greater.
Who needs a site safety superintendent in New Rochelle?
New buildings of six or more stories (or 75 feet), new buildings of 20,000 square feet or more, and work needing underpinning or support of excavation. New 1-, 2- or 3-family buildings are exempt.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Simplify City of New Rochelle permitting with Alliance Permitting
- Confirm the office for the parcel and the zoning, historic or street approvals that go with the permit
- Prepare the application, insurance certificates and plans and file them online or at the counter
- Schedule the 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 City of New Rochelle permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.