Quick answer
In New York City, most construction work is filed with the Department of Buildings (DOB) through DOB NOW by a New York-licensed Professional Engineer or Registered Architect, who prepares and seals the drawings. Projects are reviewed under the 2022 NYC Construction Codes, and a new NYC Existing Building Code will govern alteration applications filed on or after July 17, 2027.
Code change alert
Alteration applications filed with NYC DOB on or after July 17, 2027 follow the new NYC Existing Building Code.
New York City is different from the rest of the state. It writes and enforces its own construction codes, runs its own filing system, and many apartment projects need building or board approval before the city ever sees them.
Which codes apply in NYC
- 2022 NYC Construction Codes (Administrative, Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas), in effect for applications since November 7, 2022.
- NYC Electrical and Energy Conservation Codes, both updated to 2025 editions.
- NYC Existing Building Code, enacted in January 2026. It governs alteration applications filed on or after July 17, 2027 and replaces the option of using the 1968 Building Code for older buildings. Until then, alterations follow the 2022 codes, or the 1968 code where the owner chooses that option for a prior-code building.
Outside the five boroughs, New York State’s 2025 Uniform Code has applied since December 31, 2025.
Who can file
Applications are filed by a registered design professional: a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect licensed in New York State. They prepare the drawings, file them in DOB NOW and, for eligible jobs, can professionally certify the application to speed up approval.
Common NYC projects that need engineering
- Apartment renovations that remove or open walls, especially in older buildings where walls may be bearing
- Kitchen and bathroom relocations that move plumbing or gas lines
- Rear yard extensions, rooftop additions and roof decks
- Cellar and basement work, and changes of use that need a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy
- Structural repairs after water damage, settlement or deterioration
Co-ops and condos: the approval before the permit
Most co-op and condo buildings require an alteration agreement and a review of your plans by the board’s architect or engineer before work, and sometimes before DOB filing. Build this review into your timeline; it often takes as long as the city review.
Cost and turnaround
Residential PE quotes one fixed fee before work starts: review and stamp from $249, engineered plans from $599, and multi-discipline packages from $1,999. Most residential review-and-stamp jobs are back in 48 to 72 hours. See our New York engineering page and pricing.
What to send us
- Building address, borough and apartment number
- Existing floor plans or measurements, and photos
- A description of the work, and your board’s alteration requirements if it is a co-op or condo
- Any DOB objections you already received
Common questions
Do I need a permit to renovate my NYC apartment?
Cosmetic work usually does not. Moving walls, plumbing, gas or electrical work, and anything structural usually does, and your building will have its own requirements as well.
Can an engineer from another state file in NYC?
Only if they hold a New York State license. Filings require a New York-licensed engineer or architect.
What changes on July 17, 2027?
Alteration applications filed from that date follow the new NYC Existing Building Code, which reorganizes how work on existing buildings is regulated.
What is professional certification?
A DOB program where the filing engineer or architect certifies code compliance for eligible jobs, which can shorten the wait for approval.