General Election
New York CityProposal 4
Building and waterfront permits
Lets the Buildings Department appoint more officials who can approve construction projects, requires one system for filing permits with several agencies, and moves waterfront permitting from Small Business Services to Buildings.
The official question
Official sourceSimplify Building Permitting and Move Waterfront Permitting to Department of Buildings
Create centralized construction permits hub to simplify permitting. Move waterfront permitting from Department of Small Business Services to Department of Buildings. Allow construction approval by additional Department of Buildings officials.
Official YES and NO descriptions
“Yes” simplifies permitting by authorizing a centralized permitting hub, moving waterfront permitting to Department of Buildings, and allowing additional Department of Buildings officials to issue approvals.
“No” leaves laws unchanged.
What your vote means
More Buildings officials can approve projects, agencies must accept permit applications through one shared system, and waterfront permitting moves to Buildings by the end of 2030.
Keep the current approval structure, separate agency permitting systems and waterfront-permitting responsibilities.
Who decides
Where a decision moves if this passes.
Who can approve
Today
The Buildings commissioner, up to two deputy commissioners, or one borough superintendent per borough.
After a Yes
Also any additional deputies and citywide the commissioner appoints and designates in writing.
Who issues permits and enforces building rules for piers, wharves, docks and other waterfront structures
Today
The Department of Small Business Services.
After a Yes
The Department of Buildings, by December 31, 2030 or sooner if a waterfront-structure code takes effect.
Where builders file construction permit applications with Buildings, Environmental Protection, Fire and Transportation
Today
Each agency’s own system.
After a Yes
One system Buildings develops, which the other agencies must accept applications through; each agency still issues its own approvals.
Before you decide
Your ballot · Proposal 4
Fill in one oval. Tap it again to return to undecided.
Undecided
Inside this proposal
See every changeApproval authority
The commissioner can appoint more deputies and extra borough commissioners who act citywide, and delegate approval powers to them in writing; superintendents are retitled borough commissioners.
Shared permitting system
Buildings develops one system for applications and permits, and the other agencies must accept applications through it.
Waterfront construction
Buildings takes over that permitting and enforces zoning and construction codes along the waterfront.
Who’s weighing in
All statements
Abundance New York
October 16, 2026
“As one piece of a sprawling puzzle to meet New Yorkers’ housing needs, this amendment must be adopted.”
— Abundance New York
Their position
Recommends Yes. Says builders now need 40 approvals from 18 agencies, and that one permitting hub would give them a single interface with the city.
Common Cause New York
October 15, 2026
“A more coordinated permitting system could improve efficiency and predictability, provided that transparency, safety protections, and independent oversight remain in place.”
— Common Cause New York