Work Requiring Permits or Licensure
Is there a form/booklet somewhere that tells what kinds of work can be done by a homeowner without a permit or license? I have searched the DOB website and can only find bits and pieces and they all seem to be related to specific projects such as decks, room additions, etc. We are going to…
Is there a form/booklet somewhere that tells what kinds of work can be done by a homeowner without a permit or license? I have searched the DOB website and can only find bits and pieces and they all seem to be related to specific projects such as decks, room additions, etc. We are going to start rehabbing the house we just bought after closing and can do just about anything ourselves from many years or rehabbing properties we have owned and lived in out of state. We want to hire a contractor to remove a few walls, beam as necessary, etc and I’m sure permits would be needed for that, but am more curious for things like swapping out light fixtures, wall switches, receptacles, new toilets and sinks, adding a dishwasher, swapping out the gas range, replacing the entry doors (in a non LPC area), laying tile or new wood floors, wall tiling, etc. This is a legal 2 family but we are going to be using the whole house as a one family – although for future resale purposes we would like to keep it as a legal 2 in case someone ever wanted to convert it back. I assume you can legally use a 2 family as a one without doing anything special right?
Here’s a basic brochure with a paragraph about work that does not require a permit:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/consbroch.pdf
you can alter non load bearing walls without a permit so long as you do not increase the over all room count of the building or alter its use as per CofO. as mentioned above you can replace bathroom fixtures as long as the location is not altered. Technically you are supposed to get a permit for any electrical work, even as simple as changing a light switch. Installing hardwood floors, kitchen cabinets, doors and appliances does not require a permit. The problem is that if you are doing a lot of extensive work, even if none of it requires a permit, you may attract unwanted DOB attention. DOB inspectors love fishing expeditions and if you let them into your house they will undoubtedly write you up with numerous violations. they have quotas. However you don’t need to let them in even though they can be quite aggressive. they must have a warrant to enter and they get those only in 1% of complaints.
If you are going to do the clandestine rehab here are some tips; cover all windows with the disposable blinds from HD. Never put out construction trash for Sanitation to pickup, they will rat you out to DOB. Never show evidence of work at the front. Be nice to the neighbors but dont talk about the work, monitor your building on the DOB BIS website nightly for complaints. If you get a priority A you will see an inspector in days, most are priority B which they are supposed to inspect in 30 days, more likely 60. Hopefully by then you are done. If they cannot get in, complaints will be dismissed. NEVER let them in your house, even after you have completed work.
It a risk calculus. some play it safe and pay big bucks for architects, permits, licensed contractors. others take their chances, fines start at $5000.
The general rule of thumb is that one for one replacement does not require a permit, be it a toilet, appliance, light fixture, or some sheetrock. If you relocate anything or have to rune new wire / plumbing you’re almost certainly going to need a permit.
taking down walls and beams requires a permit.