For any non-cosmetic construction work, the Department of Buildings must grant the project governmental approval by issuing a building permit.

Popular perception of New York paints the city as a land of towering skyscrapers and sleek, shiny offices, but a quick walk through a neighborhood says otherwise.

Emergencies requiring quick exit from a building can quickly turn catastrophic when there are many people on the premises.

Normally, the Department of Buildings requests that if you want to renew a permit, you submit a PW2 Work Permit Application (PW2) at least two weeks before the expiration date.

If you’re the owner of a landmarked building in New York City, you’re likely well-aware of what a pain the landmark status can be for your wallet.

What counts as a sign? Per the New York City Zoning Resolution, a sign is any visual graphic—whether it be emblems, pictures, or writing.

Aside from minor building upkeep, essentially all construction work requires a permit from the Department of Buildings.

The city agency charged with protecting historically, culturally, and architecturally buildings in the City is the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Here are the permits they issue.

Normally, construction can only take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays in New York City.

The 2016 NYC Energy Conservation Code gained approval in July of 2016 and went into local law on October 3, 2016.

Although canopies and awnings look similar and serve the same basic function, they’re classed entirely differently according to the NYC Building Code.

In an attempt to standardize the appearance of temporary protective structures and provide easily accessible information to the public about ongoing projects, there are new signage requirements in NYC.

Every zoning district has a unique floor area ratio (FAR), which is the ratio of total building area to the total zoning lot area.

The devastating terrorist attacks of 2001 left an indelible mark on the construction code in New York City, spurring more than 15 changes to building and fire prevention codes.

Vacate Orders are what they sound like–buildings they’re issued to must be completely vacated in the interest of public safety.

As part of the Department of Building’s recent efforts to streamline and expedite the building permit process, it made some important changes to the Post-Approval Amendments.

The answer is both yes and no. So, what does that mean for your building?

Following the 2008 revision of the building code, the Department of Buildings created a building class known as a “major building.”

Depending on your project, you may need someone to supervise the construction to meet site safety requirements.

The New York City Building Code prohibits apartments smaller than 400 square feet, yet you can rent apartments half that size. What gives?