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Project Checklists for Owner: 1- and 2-Family Buildings (Alterations)

This section contains a list of questions/tasks to help Owners, who are responsible for hiring professionals to provide compliance with the NYC Construction Codes and other regulations discussed in the Project Guidelines.

The project design team should be hired and assembled by the Owner prior to beginning any construction. As an Owner, if you are unfamiliar with construction regulations, consult a Registered Design Professional or reference the NYC Construction Code and other regulations referenced in this guide for more information.

Checklists include:

Initial Project Checklist

DO

  • Pre-Project: Hire a Registered Design Professional, a Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Registered Architect (R.A.), to ensure your project is Code-compliant.
  • Initial Survey: A site survey showing all existing conditions prepared by a NYS licensed Land Surveyor.
  • Boring or Test Pit, and Soil Percolation Test: If performing a horizontal enlargement, hire a licensed professional to perform the work.
  • Project Plans: Only a Registered Design Professional can submit construction documents, including drawings and other submissions, to the Department for approval.
  • Asbestos Investigation: Owner must provide their e-mail address to DOB for correspondence, inspections and final project sign-off. For additional information, please see DOBNOW.
  • Project Work: Hire a Licensed/Registered General Contractor to perform the work. When hiring a professional, have a written contract that includes the Contractor’s company name, address and license number(s).
  • Post Permit(s): Ensure permit is posted in a conspicuous place at the work site for the duration of the project work.
  • DOB NOW Requirement: When required by DOB NOW, owner must provide their email address to the Department to obtain correspondence, inspections and final sign-off of the project.
  • Work Completion: Ensure that the contractor has completed DOB inspections and obtained a sign-off to close out the completed work filed under the project permit and, if required, commissioning must be filed with DOB prior to sign-off.

DON’T

  • Work Without a Permit: Do not begin work without a DOB permit. Property owners and the people performing work without a permit may face violations with penalties, court appearances, civil and/or criminal penalties.

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Prior to Application Approval Checklist

  • Hire a Registered Design Professional (RDP), P.E. or R.A., to consult and finalize scope of work.
  • Provide necessary information and consent to project submission requirements, and authorize the Registered. Design Professional, who is the Applicant of Record, to submit project plans (construction documents) for approval by the Department.
  • If Commissioning is required, hire a commissioning agent.
  • Hire a licensed surveyor to provide a survey of the existing site conditions.

    • *Note: The Owner of the building/property is ultimately responsible for the project, and their signature/consent is required for submission of the project application by their Design Professional, and Department approval. The Owner may attend plan examination appointments only if accompanied by the Applicant of Record or the Filing Representative.*

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Pre-Permit & On-going Project Work Checklist

Pre-Permit

  • Licensed Contractor: Hire NYC Licensed/Registered Contractor to obtain work permit(s) in order to begin work.

  • Special Inspections: If the scope of work requires, hire the required Special Inspection Agency for performing Special/Progress Inspections.

  • Notify the Department: Prior to permit issuance, provide the name(s) of the SIA(s) contracted to do the Special Inspections, using an online submission.

On-going

  • Site Safety: Property Owners must maintain their properties in a safe condition during the course of work.

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Project Completion Close-out Checklist

  • Special Inspections: : If the scope of work requires Special Inspections, hire a Special Inspection Agency(s) to complete these and submit results online to Department.

  • Department Inspections: Make sure the Contractor has completed all Department of Buildings inspections and has obtained sign-off of the completed work.

  • Final Inspection and Sign-off: Confirm the Contractor has requested and passed a final sign-off inspection required by the Department.

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Project Guidelines for Owner Links

Helpful Links