Ballot Proposal 4

Simplify Building Permitting and Move Waterfront Permitting to Department of Buildings

What you will see on the ballot

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. 

• A “yes” vote 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. 
• A “no” vote leaves law unchanged.

What this proposal says 

This proposal would change how New York City handles construction and building permits and approvals. It would authorize additional agency officials to approve construction projects, create a centralized construction permitting system, and move waterfront construction permitting to the Department of Buildings (DOB).  

What this proposal means

• Currently, the DOB Commissioner can only appoint a limited number of officials with the ability to approve construction documents. This proposal would allow the Commissioner to appoint additional officials with this power, expanding the number of officials authorized to sign off on permits. In the Charter, Borough Superintendents would be formally called Borough Commissioners to reflect their present-day titles. 
• Applicants seeking construction permits must currently submit documents to multiple City agencies through separate systems. Under this proposal, DOB would be required to develop a single, centralized system for submitting permit applications and receiving approvals, by 2030, and all City agencies would be required to use that system.  
• Lastly, the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) currently manages construction permitting for certain waterfront structures, including maritime buildings. Under this proposal, that responsibility would move from SBS to DOB, but existing permits and approvals would remain unchanged. 
• These changes would go into effect immediately upon voter approval certification, except for the transfer of waterfront construction permitting, which would go into effect on December 31, 2030, or as soon as a new waterfront-structure code is adopted and goes into effect.