From the Forum: Is DOB Approval Required When Moving the Location of a Duplex in a Brownstone?

A homeowner is looking to downsize and wondering if switching the layout of their two-family brownstone will require a new certificate of occupancy. The house currently has a duplex on the garden and parlor floors and a rental above. Without making any structural changes to the building they would like to now use the garden level as a single apartment and duplex the upper floors as a rental.

The current certificate of occupancy, from the 1960s, records the building as having a lower duplex unit. Does this mean that even though no construction work will take place the DOB will need to approve the change?

Please chime in with your advice.

[forumTopic id=”general-discussion:reversing-upper-and-lower-a”]

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