New York City is the largest and most complex building jurisdiction in the country, and permits are issued by the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). The defining feature: nearly all applications must be filed electronically in DOB NOW: Build by a licensed Registered Architect (RA) or Professional Engineer (PE) — property owners cannot file directly.
This New York City building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the DOB NOW filing process, the NB/Alt job types, trade permits, and inspections — so your NYC project moves through the city's review predictably.
NYC permits are filed by a licensed design professional. The DOB enforces the NYC Construction Codes and Zoning Resolution citywide, but two layers sit on top: a co-op or condo board almost always requires its own approval (and, as of 2026, an attestation in DOB NOW), and work on a landmark or in a historic district needs Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approval before filing.
What requires a building permit in New York City?
Under the NYC Construction Codes, a permit is required before most construction, and applications are classified by job type. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New Building (NB) — new structures and full ground-up projects
- Alteration Type 1 (Alt-1) — work changing use, egress, or occupancy (new/amended Certificate of Occupancy)
- Alteration Type 2 (Alt-2) — multiple work types with no change to use/egress/occupancy
- Alteration Type 3 (Alt-3) — one minor type of work (e.g., a curb cut)
- Structural, facade, and major interior renovations
- Plumbing and gas work (licensed master plumber)
- Electrical work (licensed electrician)
- Place of assembly, signs, and sidewalk sheds/scaffold
Typically exempt
- Ordinary cosmetic repairs: painting, plastering, tiling, and finishing
- Like-for-like fixture and cabinetry replacement
- Minor non-structural work not affecting egress, use, or systems
- (Co-op/condo board approval may still be required regardless)
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Work without a permit is costly in NYC. Expect roughly double permit fees plus Environmental Control Board (ECB)/OATH penalties and stop-work orders, on top of any code-correction work to legalize. File through DOB NOW first.
Who handles permitting in New York City?
Permitting is administered by the NYC Department of Buildings, which reviews filings through borough offices and DOB NOW. Plan examination verifies compliance with the Building Code and Zoning Resolution; professionally certified filings can be issued quickly, while standard plan exam takes longer.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 280 Broadway, New York, NY 10007 (plus borough offices in each of the 5 boroughs) |
| Phone | 311 (within NYC) / (212) NEW-YORK outside the city |
| Online portal | DOB NOW: Build (a810-dobnow.nyc.gov) — requires NYC.ID + eFiling account |
| Legacy records | BIS (Building Information System) for historical permits & C of O |
| Filed by | Registered Architect (RA) or Professional Engineer (PE) |
| Enforced code | NYC Construction Codes; NYC Zoning Resolution; NYC Energy Conservation Code |
Nearly all filings go through DOB NOW: Build. Your RA or PE creates the job filing, uploads drawings, and pulls work permits once approved; you'll need an NYC.ID and DOB eFiling account. Historical permits and Certificates of Occupancy live in the legacy BIS system.
New York City building permit cost
NYC permit costs are driven by job type and the estimated cost of work, with separate DOB filing fees for the application, each work permit, and each trade. Filing fees are calculated in DOB NOW as the filing is built.
Because fees scale with the declared cost of work and vary by job type, confirm the calculated total in DOB NOW before filing. Work performed without a permit adds roughly double fees plus ECB/OATH penalties.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Filing / application fee | Based on job type and estimated cost of work; calculated in DOB NOW |
| Work permit fees | Charged per work permit (general construction and each trade) |
| Trade permits (plumbing / electrical / mechanical) | Filed by the licensed trade; separate fees |
| Professional certification | Optional faster path where the RA/PE certifies code compliance |
| After-hours / special permits | After-hours variance, place of assembly, sidewalk shed, etc. |
| Work-without-permit | ≈ Double fees plus ECB/OATH penalties |
Want a precise number for a specific New York City project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
New York City trade permits
Trade work in NYC is filed and performed by city-licensed tradespeople, each tied to the job in DOB NOW.
Electrical permits
Electrical work must be performed and filed by a NYC-licensed electrician through the DOB electrical filing process. Required for service changes, new circuits, and most wiring alterations.
Plumbing permits
Plumbing and gas work must be filed and performed by a NYC-licensed Master Plumber (gas work requires the appropriate endorsement). Required for new plumbing, fixture relocation, and gas piping.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Mechanical and HVAC work is filed through DOB NOW; boilers, fuel-burning equipment, and refrigeration have additional DOB requirements and registrations.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Facade work (under the Facade Inspection Safety Program), sidewalk sheds, signs, and place-of-assembly filings are handled separately. Asbestos investigation/abatement (ACP-5/ACP-7) is commonly required before a DOB permit is issued.
Verify your team's licenses. NYC filings must be made by a licensed Registered Architect or Professional Engineer; plumbing/gas work requires a NYC-licensed Master Plumber and electrical work a NYC-licensed electrician. For residential jobs, a contractor generally needs a NYC DCWP Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license. The owner is responsible for ensuring permits are obtained.
How to get a building permit in New York City
Confirm scope & job type
Determine whether the work is an NB or Alt-1/2/3, and check zoning, Certificate of Occupancy, landmark status, and co-op/condo board requirements before filing.
Engage an RA or PE
Hire a Registered Architect or Professional Engineer to prepare code-compliant drawings and act as your applicant of record — owners cannot file directly.
File in DOB NOW: Build
Your RA/PE creates the job filing, uploads drawings and supporting documents (energy, asbestos, structural), and selects standard plan exam or professional certification.
Plan examination & objections
A DOB plan examiner reviews for code and zoning compliance and issues objections; your design professional resolves them in DOB NOW.
Pull work permits
Once approved, the GC and licensed trades pull their work permits in DOB NOW and pay fees. Post permits and required signage at the site.
Inspections & sign-off
Schedule required progress and special inspections; for use/occupancy changes, obtain a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy at close-out.
Inspections in New York City
Required inspections and special/progress inspections are coordinated through DOB NOW and licensed special inspection agencies, depending on the work. Keep the approved plans and permits posted at the job site.
For Alt-1 and New Building jobs, a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy is required before legal occupancy. Open permits and violations can block a C of O and complicate sale or refinance.
Official New York City permitting resources
- 🏛️ NYC Department of Buildings
- 💻 DOB NOW: Build
- 📋 Filing permit applications
- 📘 NYC Construction Codes
- 🔎 Building / permit information search
- 🪪 DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license
Simplify New York City permitting with Alliance Permitting
NYC's RA/PE filing requirement, DOB NOW workflow, plan examination objections, and the LPC and co-op/condo layers make it the toughest permitting environment in the country. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for New York City — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know DOB NOW and the borough review process, so your NYC filings move faster.
Trusted by leading builders and brands — including Dream Finders Homes, Tesla, Verizon, Hyatt, and Sunnova.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for New York City because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know the NYC DOB, DOB NOW, job-type filings, and plan-exam objections.
- Complete oversight — track every filing, permit, and inspection across all your jobs in one place.
- Error-free submissions — AI pre-checks plus expert review catch issues before they become objections.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to move your NYC project forward sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your New York City permits while you stay focused on building. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.
More New York permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the New York City Department of Buildings before filing. This is not legal advice.