Permits & approvals · For: owners, tenants, and homeowners planning interior work
A plain-English guide to which NYC interior work needs a Department of Buildings permit, who files it, and what building approvals come on top — with links to every official source.
Quick answer
Most construction in NYC needs a DOB permit. Painting, plastering, installing new cabinets, replacing plumbing fixtures, resurfacing floors, and non-structural roof repair don’t. Anything that touches structure, fire-rated walls, exits, or plumbing beyond fixture swaps needs a filing by a licensed engineer or architect, and electrical work needs a DOB-licensed electrician.
Key takeaways
- Cabinet and floor contractors doing home improvement work need a DCWP license even when no permit is required.
- Small non-structural partition removals can be exempt — residential limit is 50% of a wall or 45 sq ft, whichever is less.
- Weekday 7 a.m.–6 p.m. is the default; other hours need an After Hours Variance.
- Unpermitted work carries a $600 (1–2 family) or $6,000 (other buildings) penalty.
What interior work doesn’t need a DOB permit?
The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) says most construction in the city needs its approval, but it lists some common work that does not require a permit:
- Painting
- Plastering
- Installing new cabinets*
- Plumbing fixture replacement
- Resurfacing floors*
- Non-structural roof repair
*DOB notes that contractors doing cabinet installation or floor resurfacing as home improvement work must be licensed by the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). Work that doesn’t need a permit still has to follow the Building Code and other city rules.
Removing a small partition
Under DOB rule 1 RCNY 101-14, some removal of non-load-bearing, non-fire-rated partitions doesn’t need a permit:
| Situation | No permit needed if… |
|---|---|
| Temporary removal (any occupancy) | Limited to the lesser of 50% of a wall or 45 sq ft, and restored afterward |
| Permanent removal in residential (Group R) | Limited to the lesser of 50% of a wall surface or 45 sq ft — except in certain special districts and single-room-occupancy buildings, where any removal needs a permit |
| Permanent removal in business, mercantile, or storage (Groups B, M, S-1) | Limited to 50 linear feet, in Type I or II construction |
What work does need a permit?
DOB lists work that is not a minor alteration or ordinary repair, so it needs a permit. It includes:
- Cutting away any load-bearing or required fire-rated wall, floor, or roof construction
- Removing, cutting, or modifying beams or structural supports
- Removing, changing, or closing any required exit
- Any plumbing work beyond repairing or replacing plumbing fixtures, piping, or faucets
In practice, that covers most layout changes: new or moved walls beyond the limits above, kitchens and baths that move plumbing, new electrical circuits, and anything structural.
Not sure what your job needs?
We scope it on a free site walk and tell you which filings and building approvals apply before you commit.
Who files, and how
- Plans are filed by a Registered Design Professional — a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) — through DOB NOW: Build. PEs and RAs can professionally certify that plans comply, which skips DOB plan exam but is subject to audit.
- Alteration vs. Alteration-CO. Work that changes a building’s certificate of occupancy, use, exits, or number of stories is filed as Alteration-CO; other alterations are filed as Alteration.
- Limited Alteration Applications (LAA) cover certain plumbing and fire-suppression piping work and are filed by licensed master plumbers or fire suppression contractors, without a PE or RA.
Electrical and plumbing: licensed trades only
- Electrical: Most electrical work needs a permit, and DOB requires it to be performed by electrical contractors licensed by the Department. Electrical filings are submitted in DOB NOW: Build.
- Plumbing: Plumbing work, including ordinary plumbing work that is exempt from a permit, must be performed by a Licensed Master Plumber.
- Check a license: DOB publishes lookups for master electricians, master plumbers, and PEs/RAs.
Work hours and after-hours permits
Construction in NYC is allowed between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Work before 7 a.m., after 6 p.m., or on a Saturday or Sunday needs an After Hours Variance from DOB, filed at least three business days before the first work day; one application can cover days within a 14-day window. Co-op, condo, and commercial buildings often set stricter hours of their own.
Co-ops, condos, and commercial buildings add their own approvals
A DOB permit is only one layer. Most co-ops and condos require an alteration agreement, plan review by the building’s architect or engineer, and insurance certificates naming the building before work starts; commercial landlords have their own work letters and rules. See our guide to co-op alteration agreements.
Real project
Residential Kitchen & Living Space Remodel — cabinetry, coffered ceilings, electrical, and floors under one schedule.
What happens if work is done without a required permit?
DOB’s current penalty-waiver form instructions (revised March 2026) state that the penalty for unpermitted work is $600 on a one- or two-family home and $6,000 on any other building type. Work can also be stopped by a Stop Work Order until it is legalized.
How Elite handles approvals
At the site walk we flag which parts of your project need a DOB permit, a landlord or board approval, or an After Hours Variance, and we build those steps into the written schedule before demolition. Each filing is made by the licensed professional it requires; electrical work, for example, is filed by a DOB-licensed electrical contractor in DOB NOW: Build.
Permit FAQ
Do I need a permit to renovate my kitchen in NYC?
Replacing cabinets, resurfacing floors, painting, and swapping plumbing fixtures in place don’t need a DOB permit, though cabinet and floor contractors doing home improvement work must hold a DCWP license. Moving plumbing, adding circuits, or changing walls beyond the small exemptions does need a permit, filed by a PE or RA.
Do I need a permit to remove a wall?
Load-bearing or fire-rated walls always need a permit. Small removals of non-load-bearing, non-fire-rated partitions can be exempt under 1 RCNY 101-14 — in residential spaces, up to the lesser of 50% of the wall or 45 square feet — with exceptions in some special districts.
Who files the permit?
Plans are filed by a Registered Design Professional (a licensed engineer or architect) through DOB NOW: Build. Electrical work is filed and performed by a DOB-licensed electrical contractor, and plumbing by a Licensed Master Plumber.
Can construction happen on weekends?
Only with an After Hours Variance from DOB, filed at least three business days ahead. Your building may also prohibit weekend work.
What is the penalty for work without a permit?
DOB’s 2026 instructions list $600 for one- and two-family homes and $6,000 for other buildings, and DOB can stop the work until it is legalized.
How we put this guide together
Every rule in this guide comes from official NYC Department of Buildings and NYC agency pages, checked on October 28, 2026 and listed below. The draft was prepared with AI assistance, and every fact was checked against the cited sources on October 28, 2026. Sanjay D. reviews each article before publication. This guide explains how the rules generally work; it isn’t legal advice. Rules change, so confirm your project with DOB or your design professional.
Sources
- NYC DOB — Do I need a permit? — Exempt work list and categories
- NYC DOB — 1 RCNY 101-14 (work not requiring a permit) — Partition and AC unit limits
- NYC DOB — Alteration requirements (manufacturing occupancy page quoting §28-105.4.2) — Work that is not a minor alteration
- NYC DOB — Job types in DOB NOW — Alteration vs. Alteration-CO
- NYC DOB — Limited Alteration Application
- NYC DOB — Electrical permit — Licensed electrical contractors; DOB NOW: Build
- NYC DOB — After Hours Variance
- NYC DOB — Form L2 instructions (Rev. 03/26) — Penalties for work without a permit
- NYC DOB — Know your construction professional — License lookups
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