Press Release

For Immediate Release: April 14, 2025
Contact: lpcpressoffice@lpc.nyc.gov, 212-669-7938

Celebrating a Year of increased Efficiency: LPC Releases New Analysis Showing Permit Application Portal Has Made Permitting Process Dramatically Easier, Faster

Since Portico's Launch in March 2024, LPC Has Reduced the Average Amount of Time in Which it Issues the Most Common Types of Permits by More Than 30%

Number of Applications Received and Reviewed by LPC's Expedited Review Services Increased by More than a Third Since Portico, with Explosive Growth in the Number of Applications Reviewed Utilizing LPC's Business Express Service

New York – Today, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) celebrated the first year of operation for its web-based permit application portal, Portico, with the release of new analysis showing that Portico has driven a dramatic increase in the efficiency of the agency's permitting process – making it both faster and easier for property and small business owners considering work on their landmark buildings to receive the permits they need.

"Portico is a game-changer for landmark property owners and small businesses across the five boroughs," said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. "By cutting red tape and delivering real efficiency, this tool makes it faster, easier, and more transparent to invest in the upkeep of our city's historic buildings, many of which anchor local communities. The Landmarks Preservation Commission is not just streamlining a process but is empowering New Yorkers to preserve the character of their neighborhoods, support smart small business growth, and take pride in the legacy of our city."

"With Portico, LPC has truly transformed our permitting processes and helped us deliver on our commitment to provide the best-in-class customer experience to landmark building owners citywide, which in turn helps LPC continue to fulfill its mission to preserve and protect New York City's historic resources by building community support for designation and preservation efforts going forward." said Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll. "The numbers tell the story: a faster, easier, more transparent experience for property and business owners."

Portico's impact since its launch in March 2024 is visible in the speed with which LPC is issuing permits. The vast majority (95%) of LPC's permit approvals are issued at staff level, meaning they do not require full review by the Commission at a public hearing. Since Portico's introduction, LPC has reduced by more than 30% the average time in which it issues the three most common types of staff-level permits once a completed application is submitted, cutting the amount of time needed for landmark building owners to get their permits by nearly two days. On average, LPC now issues several permit types in under 4 days from completed submission; and for some expedited permit types the agency has cut the average time needed to issue a permit for completed submissions to just under a day (.5).

Staff-level permits are also eligible for a variety of expedited permits and special services, and Portico makes it easier for users to take advantage of them. The portal's application assistant, or "wizard," streamlines the application process by asking users simple questions to direct applicants to the appropriate application type, and automatically determines whether an application qualifies for one of LPC's expedited review services – meaning many more applications are being immediately routed to these faster processes for which their proposed work may qualify.

Because of the portal's smart design, since Portico's launch there has been a 36% increase in the number of LPC applications reviewed  through LPC's expedited review services, and today nearly half (45%) of all applications take advantage of services that allow LPC's expert staff to review and more quickly issue permits.

Additionally, there has been explosive growth (429% increase) in the number of applications reviewed through LPC's Business Express Service, launched by LPC to support New York City's small business in landmark buildings and historic districts, which includes a hotline and dedicated LPC team offering focused application review. The number of applications reviewed as Expedited Certificates of No Effect (XCNE) has doubled in the past year.

Portico represents a transformation of LPC's permitting process, which only transitioned to an email application in 2020, after decades of a paper-only permitting process. Portico's benefits extend beyond efficiency, offering increased transparency and accessibility by making it easier for applicants to file an application on their own without needing to hire a professional, allowing multiple users to access the same application, and offering access to detailed status updates from start to finish.

More information about Portico, including user guides and video tutorials, can be found on LPC's website: https://www.nyc.gov/site/lpc/applications/apply.page

More information on LPC permit types can be found here: https://www.nyc.gov/site/lpc/applications/permit-types.page

About the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)

The Landmarks Preservation Commission is the mayoral agency responsible for protecting and preserving New York City's architecturally, historically, and culturally significant buildings and sites. Since its creation in 1965, LPC has granted landmark status to more than more than 38,000 buildings and sites, including 1,464 individual landmarks, 123 interior landmarks, 12 scenic landmarks, and 157 historic districts and extensions in all five boroughs. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/landmarks and connect with us at www.facebook.com/NYCLandmarks, www.instagram.com/nyc.landmarks/ and www.x.com/nyclandmarks.