Finishing Cellar - is DoB Approval Needed ?
We bought our house with a semi finished cellar, w. cement floor, v. dry. It came with washer-dryer and utility sink but otherwise was used mostly for storage. As the space is v. nice, with original stone exposed along the wall, we plan to turn it into a recreation room for our own use (no…
We bought our house with a semi finished cellar, w. cement floor, v. dry. It came with washer-dryer and utility sink but otherwise was used mostly for storage. As the space is v. nice, with original stone exposed along the wall, we plan to turn it into a recreation room for our own use (no new plumbing). This entails removing current ceiling, putting in new ceiling and walls, new lighting and new stairs. Through the hatch we will have fresh air by installing a skylight which opens (eventually once the budget allows). We are even contemplating one that will open all of the way for egress (though the space is not for sleeping) . Question is, is DoB approval needed for this ? To me this is cosmetic…..
if you would like to discuss this further please free to call kushner studios at 212-965-0914
thank you brooklyn expeditor. funny that a permit is needed to remove the ceiling when the old ceiling (we found) has mold in one section and is in horrible shape. (we found water leakage in one small space via cracks in the cement at the back of the house, which we have now taken care of)
How complicated is it to get such a permit?
Minard: Not all cellars have no light and ventilation. Because NYC considers the space a cellar if it is more than 50% below curb, there are lots of cellars with many windows and plenty of ventilation.
Yes you need a permit. Definitely. You can only claim cosmetic by all of the following:
1. Layout will be exactly as before.
2. No fire stopping required areas are being disturbed (ceiling)
Therefore, a permit will be required.
Thanks all. I forgot to mention the boiler etc is vented out the back of the house. We would like to have additional ventilation and egress from the front of the house, via the front hatch by putting in a skylight as well….
Who?
” I would assume that the correct answer to this question would be an unabashed “YES”. Adding livable space to a house always warrants DOB approval I believe.”
and you agred with that ML!
Technically, yes you need a permit. Basically you can only keep it as one big space with a boiler room and 1/2 Bath. That is about all they will allow. Ceilings have to be detailed properly to meet code as NYC is in a sesmic zone.
Plenty of people redo their basements without a permit, but if you are at all unsure of the proper way to wire up to code in this city, make sure you hire an electrician to do that for you. Do yourself a favor and install a proper skylight hatch plus an air exchanger first, then do the sheet rock / new electric / flooring when your budget allows. It’s foolish to do the cosmetic stuff first and worry about infrastructure issues later.
would be interesting to know difference between rec room and the bedroom. I heard that build-in closets make it bedroom.