What is an After Hours Variance?

Normally, construction can only take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays in New York City.  That being said, sometimes it’s not practical or convenient to be limited to those hours.  In such cases, you can apply for an After Hours Variance permit with the Department of Buildings, allowing you to work both on weekends and earlier or later on weekdays than typically allowed

Of course, an AHV doesn’t come cheap.  In addition to an initial filing fee, there is a daily fee for each “after-hours” day (an $80/day flat fee).  You can only request an AHV for up to 14 consecutive work days, and the initial filing fees get progressively steeper the longer the AHV period:

Days of Work (Initial Filing Fee)

1-3 ($100)

4-6 ($200)

7-9 ($300)

10-12 ($400)

13-14 ($500

In order to apply for an AHV, you must complete a PW5 form, pay the initial filing fee at the Borough Cashier, and then submit both the completed PW5 form and the payment receipt to the Borough Office.