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.
What changes
3 provisions1Approval authority
The commissioner can appoint more deputies and extra who act citywide, and delegate approval powers to them in writing; superintendents are retitled borough commissioners.
Approval authority
The commissioner can appoint more deputies and extra who act citywide, and delegate approval powers to them in writing; superintendents are retitled borough commissioners.
Today
Only the Buildings commissioner, two deputy commissioners or one borough superintendent per borough can approve .
What stays in place
Deputies with approval powers must be registered architects or licensed professional engineers, and delegated decisions can be appealed to the .
When: Upon certification of voter approval
2Shared permitting system
Buildings develops one system for applications and permits, and the other agencies must accept applications through it.
Shared permitting system
Buildings develops one system for applications and permits, and the other agencies must accept applications through it.
Today
Builders apply to Buildings, Environmental Protection, Fire and Transportation through each agency’s own system.
What stays in place
Each agency still issues its own permits and approvals.
When: Target: 2029-12-01; later date permitted for feasibility
Conditions and exceptions
- Depends on budget funding; the commissioner can allow more time.
3Waterfront construction
Buildings takes over that permitting and enforces zoning and construction codes along the waterfront.
Waterfront construction
Buildings takes over that permitting and enforces zoning and construction codes along the waterfront.
Today
Small Business Services issues permits and enforces building rules for certain waterfront structures, such as piers, wharves and docks.
What stays in place
Existing permits stay in effect, and Small Business Services still manages city-owned waterfront property.
When: 2030-12-31 or the effective date of a new waterfront-structure code, whichever is sooner