Demolition permit
A demolition permit is an approval from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) that allows you to tear down all or part of a building.
If you don’t want to completely tear down an old house and just make a renovation* in NYC and only interior demolition, read this important notice below.
Important information
Interior demolition for renovation is usually filed as an alteration permit (for example, Alt-2), not as a full demolition permit.
Key Requirements
To demolish a building in New York City, you must first get a required permit from the Department of Buildings using their free online system called DOB NOW*. For a full demolition in New York City, the job must be filed and approved through DOB’s current filing system, and the required permit must be issued before work begins. Demolition projects must also meet applicable asbestos, utility-disconnection, rodent-control, site-safety, and notification requirements. Before full or partial demolition starts, the permit holder must notify DOB at least 24 hours, but no more than 48 hours, in advance. Adjoining property owners must receive written notice at least 10 days before the scheduled start date.
Application Steps
- Register for eFiling and NYC.ID if needed, then file a Full Demolition job in DOB NOW (options include New Work, Emergency, or Precept).
- Submit plans, site survey, proof of ownership, contractor licenses/insurance, and hazard clearances (e.g., asbestos-free ACP-5).
- Await DOB review/approval, pay fees, pull work permit within one year, schedule post-demolition inspection for sign-off and Letter of Completion.
Interior Demolition
Interior demolition means removing parts inside a building, such as walls, ceilings, floors, cabinets, or fixtures, to prepare for renovation. In New York City, this work must follow strict building codes, and a DOB permit is required if the work affects structure, utilities, or fire safety (for example, removing a load‑bearing wall or moving gas lines).
While interior demolition may look simple, in NYC, it is governed by strict building codes. The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) requires permits for work that affects structural integrity, utilities, or fire safety. Licensed contractors are trained to assess which parts of a project require approval and ensure all legal requirements are met.
Before demolishing your property in NYC, you must:
- Hire a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) to prepare and submit demolition plans, drawings and documents that show how the demolition will be done to the NYC DOB.
- Obtain a demolition permit from DOB for either full or partial demolition, depending on the project’s scope. A full demolition is when the entire building is removed; a partial demolition is when only part of the building is removed.
- Full demolition requires asbestos investigation and ACP-5/ACP-7 depending on abatement status; ACP-5 is used when areas are asbestos-free, or after abatement; there are special rules for simultaneous demo/abatement.
- Arrange an asbestos inspection and file the correct asbestos form (ACP‑5 or ACP‑7) as required by NYC DEP and DOB, to show that either there is no asbestos in affected areas or that asbestos has been properly removed.
- Submit documentation showing all utilities (gas, electric, water, steam) have been disconnected by the respective companies.
- Provide proof that pest/rodent control measures have been performed. DOB rules do require rodent extermination before certain construction/demolition.
- Notify adjoining property owners about the planned demolition.
- Prepare a site safety plan (SSP) that shows how workers, pedestrians, and neighboring buildings will be protected during demolition, and follow DOB rules about SSP review and keeping the plan on site.
- Arrange for necessary worker training in accordance with safety standards like OSHA.
- Schedule pre-demolition inspections.
Starting demolition without a DOB permit can lead to fines and other penalties. The demolition plans must clearly show the work sequence, how debris will be removed, and how people and nearby buildings will be protected.
NEXT STEP
See common errors and plan requirements for NYC demolition filings.
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 does not replace advice from a licensed professional. NYC construction and safety requirements can change, and a project may have additional DOB*, zoning, floodplain, utility, or local requirements. Before starting work, verify current requirements with a New York State licensed design professional or directly with the NYC Department of Buildings.
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.
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