Letter of completion and its importance
Letter of Completion (LOC) – A document from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB*) that says your permitted construction work is finished and passed the final inspection. It is used when your project does not need a new Certificate of Occupancy.
What is included in LOC?
It typically includes several key pieces of information to confirm the satisfactory completion of a construction project or specific phase of work. Some of the main details that are included are:
- Project Information: The address of the property and any DOB job or permit numbers,
- Description of Work Completed: A short description of what work was done (for example, new bathroom, new boiler, or interior renovation),
- Dates: The start date and the date the work was finished,
- Contractor Information: The name and contact details of the contractor and sometimes subcontractors,
- Conditions or Requirements: Any things that still must be done before everything is fully finished, such as other approvals or small corrections,
- Compliance Statement: A sentence saying the work was done according to the approved plans and DOB rules,
- Signatures and Seals: Signatures and sometimes official stamps from the DOB or design professionals.
Why it matters
For a homeowner, a Letter of Completion is proof that your permitted work was inspected and accepted by the DOB, even though your project did not need a new Certificate of Occupancy. For most jobs, the contractor or applicant must file a PW7 form (Certificate of Occupancy/Letter of Completion) so the DOB can review the completed work and issue the Letter of Completion.
NEXT STEP
See how letter of completion looks in real NYC examples
Good to know
This page is for general education only and is based on public New York City sources when available. Some technical and legal terms are simplified into plain English to help homeowners and ESL readers. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace guidance from a licensed professional. NYC construction and safety rules change often, and your project may have extra DOB*, OSHA*, or local requirements. Before you start work, always check current rules with a licensed design professional or directly with the NYC Department of Buildings.
Feel free to comment on this post
This is an advertisement box
If you see any capital letter abbreviations on this page or in an official letter you received from the city and you do not understand them, you can try to look them up on our NYC Violation Codes HUB page with the search tool.
Revised