NYC Building Permit Fees for One- to Three-Family Homes

Quick Facts

From our city pages and each city's open permit data (refreshed October 30, 2026).

The Fee Schedule for Small Residential Buildings

Section 28-112.2 of the Administrative Code sets the fees. These are the lines that matter for one-, two- and three-family homes:

Each fee line carries the same note: the rates are subject to increases as provided by department rules.

Section 28-112.1 also waives these fees for a new building or alteration of a one-, two- or three-family home that qualifies as a green building project under section 28-104.7.9. The application has to show how the work will cut emissions enough to qualify.

Every Project Type in New York

These summaries come from the same official sources as our city pages and were last checked October 30, 2026. Permit counts are the city's own open-data records for the last 12 months.

Roofing: Sometimes

Under 1 RCNY §101-14, replacing roof coverings, membrane and insulation above the roof deck can be an ordinary repair that is exempt from a DOB permit, as long as the Energy Conservation Code does not require added insulation. Replacing the roof deck or sheathing requires a permit.

• Roof covering replacement above the deck may be exempt (1 RCNY §101-14).
• Replacing roof deck or sheathing requires a permit.
• Landmarked buildings still need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval.
• New York issued 803 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 393 days from application to issue.

Source: 1 RCNY §101-14: Work that may or may not require a permit · Full details: Do You Need a Roofing Permit in New York?

HVAC: Usually Yes

Most heating and central air work needs a DOB permit. 1 RCNY §101-14 exempts a packaged air-conditioning unit of 3 tons or less installed in an existing window or sleeve, and some voluntary systems serving one floor that do not penetrate a roof, floor or fire-rated wall.

• Exempt: packaged AC units up to 3 tons in existing windows or sleeves.
• Exempt: voluntary AC/ventilation serving one floor with no lot-line openings or penetrations.
• Gas and oil-burning equipment work requires licensed trades.
• New York issued 3,878 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 52 days from application to issue.

Source: 1 RCNY §101-14: Work that may or may not require a permit (linked above) · Full details: Do You Need an HVAC Permit in New York?

Solar Panel: Yes

No solar work can be done in New York City without a DOB work permit, a licensed contractor and a Registered Design Professional. Only solar landscape lights are exempt.

• A DOB work permit is required for every solar energy system.
• A licensed contractor and a Registered Design Professional are required.
• Solar landscape lights are the only exemption.
• New York issued 5,225 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 4 days from application to issue.

Source: NYC DOB: Project Requirements for Owner – Solar System · Full details: Do You Need a Solar Panel Permit in New York?

Step-by-Step: What to Do

1. Check whether the work needs a DOB filing at all under the minor alteration and ordinary repair rules.
2. Have your registered architect or engineer state the full cost of the work on the filing.
3. Apply the formula: $130 for the first $5,000, plus $2.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction.
4. Use the $170 minimum instead if the job is an Alteration Type 1.
5. Budget for separate plumbing, electrical and other filings, and for your design professional's fees, which usually far exceed the DOB fee.

What Owners Declared on DOB NOW Filings

We took DOB NOW Build job filings for one-, two- and three-family buildings with a first permit date from October 30, 2025 to October 29, 2026, and applied the alteration formula to the median declared initial cost. Each row counts filings, and one job can have several.

Brooklyn (5,893) and Queens (5,745) accounted for most of the alteration filings on small residential buildings, followed by Staten Island (2,151), the Bronx (1,382) and Manhattan (783).

Why the DOB Fee Is the Smallest Part of the Bill

Most alteration work that DOB reviews has to be filed by a registered design professional, and that professional's fee, the plumber's or electrician's own filings, and any sidewalk shed, scaffold or construction fence will usually cost far more than the filing fee. In our data, NYC took a median of 36.5 days to issue kitchen permits and 39 days for bathroom permits, so time and professional costs matter more than the fee.

Some work needs no permit at all. Before paying for drawings, check NYC Work That May Not Need a DOB Permit (1 RCNY 101-14). For how NYC's formula compares with other cities, see How Much Does a Building Permit Cost? Verified Fee Examples, and for NYC rules by project, start at New York Building Permits for Home Projects.

Who Issues Permits in New York

Residential permits in New York are issued by the NYC Department of Buildings. Its website has the current application portal, fee schedule and inspection scheduling. Issued permits are published as open data in DOB NOW: Build – Approved Permits, which is the source of the permit counts and recent permits shown on our New York pages. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the department before you start work.