How long it takes to get a project approved in New York
Most projects in New York start with the town. The planning board and the zoning board of appeals must approve the land use, and the local code enforcement official issues the building permit.
Below are the five phases of a project in New York, who approves it and how long the path to a building permit usually takes, worked out by ShovelCue from the review times it holds for New York.
How long to a building permit
- New multifamily building13 to 18 months
- Retail tenant fit outAbout 4 months
- Addition to a single family home4 to 7 months
These are estimates from typical review times, not promises. They run from the start of due diligence to the building permit. Your town, your site and how complete your drawings are can move them.
A sample list for a new multifamily building in New York
Due Diligence
- Boundary / ALTA SurveyThe property lines, the easements and what sits on the land.
- Geotechnical Investigation / ReportSoil borings that tell the engineers what the foundations need.
- Phase I Environmental Site AssessmentA look at past uses of the site for signs of contamination.
- Zoning Verification / Zoning DeterminationWord from the town on what the zoning allows.
- Topographic SurveyThe ground levels the site design starts from.
Entitlements
- Site Plan ApprovalThe board approves the layout of the building, the parking and the drainage.
- Public HearingThe meeting where the board hears the project and the neighbors speak.
- Resolution of ApprovalThe board puts its decision and its conditions in writing.
- Final Plat Filing with the County ClerkThe approval goes on the record and runs with the land.
Pre-construction
- Civil Design PackageGrading, drainage, utilities and parking.
- Architectural Design PackageThe floor plans, the elevations and the code review.
- Structural Design PackageThe frame and the foundations.
- Mechanical Design PackageHeating, cooling and ventilation.
- Electrical Design PackagePower and lighting.
Construction
Inspections and insurance are tracked here once work starts.
Closeout
- Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of ComplianceThe town signs off that people can move in.
And 45 more for your site.
The five phases in New York
- Due DiligenceBefore you commit to a site in New York, you check the survey, the soil, the flood risk and what the zoning allows.
- EntitlementsThe planning board and the zoning board of appeals must approve the site plan and any zoning relief, and the county planning board may review it too. Larger projects also go through SEQR, the New York environmental review.
- Pre-constructionThe drawings go to the local code enforcement official for the building permit and the trade permits, while the state environmental agency and the utility companies sign off on the parts of the site they control.
- ConstructionThe local code enforcement official inspects the work in stages, and each stage must pass before it is covered up.
- CloseoutThe last inspections lead to the certificate that lets people move in. Then the owner gets the warranties, the manuals and the record drawings.
Who approves a project in New York
- The planning board and the zoning board of appeals
- The local code enforcement official
- The county planning board
- A regional planning commission
- The state environmental agency, for stormwater, wetlands and flood zones
- The state transportation department, for driveways onto state roads
- The state fish and wildlife agency, for wetlands, large project review and protected species
- The state historic preservation office, for large project review and historic sites
- The water, sewer, power and gas companies
Not every project needs all of them.
Questions
How long does it take to get a building permit in New York?
ShovelCue estimates 13 to 18 months for a new multifamily building, from the start of due diligence to the building permit. A retail tenant fit out takes about 4 months, and an addition to a single family home takes 4 to 7 months. Your town and your site can change this.
Who approves a construction project in New York?
Most approvals come from the town, through the planning board and the zoning board of appeals, then the local code enforcement official. Depending on the site, 4 state agencies may also sign off, such as the state environmental agency and the state transportation department. The utility companies approve new service.
Why is the estimate a range?
The short end counts only what the rules require for every project of that type. The long end adds what is usual for that kind of project. In New York the gap is widest for a new multifamily building, about 5 months.
Does New York have its own environmental review?
Yes. New York has SEQR. A lead agency, usually the town or the county, decides how much study a project needs before it can be approved, and that can add months.
How do I see what my own project needs?
Ask for a free first look. ShovelCue builds the list for your site and shows the date the project can start.
This is general information from public sources. It is not legal advice. Confirm every item with your town and the agencies named before you rely on it.