Print

Project Checklists for Owner: 1- and 2-Family Mixed Use (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 DOB, FDNY and any other agency requiring approval.
  • Asbestos Investigation: Have asbestos investigation performed on site to check for Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) that will be removed or disturbed.
  • 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).
  • Required Street Trees: All new street tree plantings and work on existing street trees shall comply with the current DPR rules and specifications, and shall  be coordinated with BPP components such as corners or curb cuts.
  • Post Permit(s): Ensure permit is posted in a conspicuous place at the work site for the duration of the project work.
  • 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.
  • DOB NOW Requirement: Owner must provide their email address to the Department to obtain correspondence, inspections and final sign-off of the project.
  • Commissioning: If your project requires NYCECC commissioning (all projects where the total permitted equipment is greater than or equal to a total heating input capacity of 600,000 BTU/h and/or a total cooling capacity of 480,000 BTU/h), ensure that you have a qualified commissioning agent to perform the work.
  • Eligibility as an Historic Building: Historic buildings that are eligible or listed on the State/National Registers of Historic Places (SHPO) may be exempt from the NYCECC, however, buildings only in NYC LPC and Districts are not exempt from the NYCECC.

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.

Get a printable version.

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.
  • Project approval is required prior to beginning work

  • 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.*

Get a printable version.

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.

  • If commissioning is required, it must be completed prior to sign-off.

On-going

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

Get a printable version.

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.

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

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

  • If commissioning is required, it must be completed prior to sign-off.

Get a printable version.

Project Checklists for Owner Links

Helpful Links