New York · Chapter 12 of 26
Construction
Plans, permits and certificates of occupancy, site requirements for wells and septic systems, structural components from footing to ridge, insulation and R-value, heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems, and New York's mandated new-home and home-improvement protections.
30-minute read · Built for the Salesperson Exam
Plans, Permits, Codes and the Certificate of Occupancy
Construction starts with plans (blueprints) showing the layout and specifications describing materials and workmanship. Before building, enlarging or substantially altering a structure, the owner must obtain a building permit from the local building department, which reviews the plans against zoning and the building code and then inspects the work. New York's statewide Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code applies everywhere except New York City, which has its own construction codes; the State Energy Conservation Construction Code sets minimum insulation and efficiency standards. When work is complete and passes inspection, the building department issues a certificate of occupancy (C of O) confirming the structure may legally be occupied for its stated use. A missing or outdated C of O (for example, a finished basement or added bathroom with no permit) is a common closing problem that buyers' attorneys and lenders look for.
N.Y. Exec. Law Art. 18; N.Y. Energy Law Art. 11
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