In the City of New York, most applications to do construction must be filed with the Department of Buildings by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA). Most applications require the submission of plans along with forms. The plans and forms are usually submitted to the Department on behalf of the building owner. For more information on types of applications that can be filed with the Department, see our Building Knowledge series, Construction Permits, and How to File an Application and Get a Permit.
Plans may be professionally certified as conforming to New York City’s requirements by the licensed professionals who created them, eliminating the process of plan examination by the Department’s examiners, thus saving time. Applications that are professionally certified by PEs or RAs are routinely audited to ensure that these submissions are in compliance with applicable laws. Click here to learn more about professional certification.
Department Of Buildings Permit Process
Professionals should take advantage of our Required Items Reference Guide, which is updated periodically, in order to learn what requirements apply to particular types of applications, and at what stage in the process.
New York State publishes information regarding the Energy Conservation Construction Code requirements and compliance on its website at http://www.dos.state.ny.us/code/energycode/
nyenergycode.htm.
For information on checking the status of an application or an applicant on the Buildings Information System please review the 
Application Status (pdf -96 kb) and List of Jobs Filed by Applicant pages.
The Department also reviews applications related to materials and equipment. See Materials and Equipment Acceptance (“MEA”) Unit to learn about its review process. See Cranes and Derricks Unit to learn about its approval process.
The Alteration Repair Application (ARA) unit issues permits for minor repairs of plumbing, oil burner and fire suppression work done by licensed contractors. To learn more see ARA.
For information about the licensing of architects and engineers, please contact the Office of the Professions of New York State:
Online License Verifications
Licensing Information:
Architects;
Engineers
For more information regarding architects and how to work with one, please contact the American Institute of Architects:
AIA Local Chapter contact information
AIA New York Chapter
