Building permits in New York City, NY

Short answer: In New York City, permits are issued by NYC Department of Buildings (DOB); of the 16 common projects we checked, 1 always need a permit, 0 do not, and 9 depend on the details (6 unverified).

Permitting authority: NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). Covers all five boroughs. Landmarked properties need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval even when DOB needs no permit. Many projects must be filed by a licensed professional or licensed trade.

Permit rules in New York City
Project	Answer	Verified
ADU or garage conversion	Unverified, confirm locally We did not find an official NYC page on ADU or garage conversion permits that we could quote.	2026-10-19
Deck	Permit required Yes. A deck or porch needs DOB-approved plans and a permit, designed by a licensed engineer or architect, before construction starts.	2026-10-19
Driveway or patio	Unverified, confirm locally We did not find an official NYC statement on driveway or patio permits.	2026-10-19
Electrical panel upgrade	Unverified, confirm locally We did not find an official NYC page on electrical panel permits that we could quote.	2026-10-19
EV charger	Unverified, confirm locally We did not find an official NYC page on EV charger permits that we could quote.	2026-10-19
Fence	Depends on your project For one- and two-family homes, no DOB permit for fences 6 ft or less; homeowners may install their own. Zoning limits front-yard fences to 4…	2026-10-19
HVAC / AC replacement	Depends on your project A packaged A/C unit up to 5 tons in an existing building (including window and sleeve units) can be exempt. Other HVAC work may need a permi…	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Direct replacement of toilets, sinks and faucets (no change to shutoff valves or traps) needs no permit. Altering, rearranging or relocating…	2026-10-19
Pool or hot tub	Depends on your project DOB requires a work permit for pools, with limited exceptions: small pools up to 400 sq ft at a one- or two-family home can be exempt if set…	2026-10-19
Retaining wall	Depends on your project Retaining walls under 4 ft (top of footing to top of wall) can be exempt if they do not support a surcharge.	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Depends on your project No permit for roof repair or re-roofing limited to the membrane, coverings and insulation above the deck/sheathing (if no added insulation i…	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project No permit for one portable backyard shed up to 120 sq ft and 7 ft 6 in tall, at least 3 ft from lot lines, at a one- or two-family home. Lar…	2026-10-19
Siding replacement	Unverified, confirm locally NYC's permit rule covers stucco and masonry cladding but we found no statement on other siding.	2026-10-19
Solar panels	Unverified, confirm locally We did not find an official NYC page on solar permits that we could quote.	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Depends on your project No permit for replacing a gas water heater (350,000 BTU or less, gas cock not moved, chimney inspected) in a home of five families or fewer,…	2026-10-19
Window and door replacement	Depends on your project Replacing existing windows can be exempt if the window is not on the lot line, masonry openings are not changed, and light, ventilation and …	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/property-or-business-owner/plumbing-permits.page

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Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.