It depends on what you change. Cosmetic work usually needs no permit. Moving plumbing, adding electrical outlets or adding a bathroom does. And some work needs no permit but still has to be done by a licensed professional. Here is how the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) splits it. Usually no permit The DOB’s guide […]

In New York City most repair and renovation work has to be done by a licensed business, and checking takes about five minutes with the city’s own free tools. Which license to look for depends on the job, so start there. ¿Prefiere leer en español? Cómo verificar la licencia de un contratista en Nueva York. […]

Much of Riverdale and Kingsbridge lives in co-ops. Renovating one means satisfying two sets of rules: your building’s (the alteration agreement) and the city’s (permits, asbestos, lead, noise, and in some streets landmarks). Miss either and the job stalls. This checklist puts them in the order you’ll meet them. Every building is different, so get […]