WHEN YOU NEED A BUILDING PERMIT . . . 

You must obtain a building permit from the building department before making the following changes to your house:
-          Installing or replacing siding
-          Adding a bedroom or bathroom
-          Adding an addition
-          Interior alterations
-          Constructing a deck
-          Enclosing a porch
-          Installing a dishwasher
-          Replacing an electric stove with a gas stove
-          Finishing a basement
-          New kitchen
-          Central air conditioning
-          New wiring
-          New furnace, boiler, or hot water heater
-          All swimming pools
-          Erecting a fence
-          Installing or replacing a sidewalk
-          Chimney repairs
-          Installing electrical outlets
-          Increasing power service to a building
-          New roof or roof repairs
-          New sidewalks along public streets
-          Porch and stair repairs
-          New retaining walls
-          Installing hard-surface driveways
-          Creating additional off-street parking
-          Pipe leaders to existing storm drains
-          Erection of utility buildings/sheds
-          Demolition of any building
-          Water heaters
-          Water softeners 

. . . AND WHEN YOU DON'T

You don't need a permit for ordinary repairs on a one or two-family dwelling. These changes include:
-          Repairing roofing or siding material with like material, if the area does not exceed 25 percent of the roof within a year
-          Repairing and replacing duct work
-          Installing floor material, including carpeting
-          Painting the exterior or interior
-          Replacing any window or door, if no change in the dimensions or framing of the opening is involved
-          Covering walls, plastering or placing a drywall on an existing wall, if the area does not exceed 25 percent in one year
-          Replacing glass in any window or door, if the replacement glass conforms to minimum requirements
-          Replacing any faucet or valve, if the piping system doesn't have to be rearranged

          Interior or exterior painting
-          Landscape work
-          Window boxes & trellises
-          Window shutters
-          Installation of carpet
-          Window glazing or puttying
-          Installation of tile or linoleum floors
-          New gutters and leaders (excluding built-up gutters)
-          Installation of storm windows or doors
-          Repair of existing driveways or sidewalks

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AT (973) 427-5555 ext 214.