Q: When exactly is a Work Permit required from the NYC Department of Buildings for construction work?
A: The Code allows 'Minor Alterations' and 'Ordinary Repairs' to buildings without the need to obtain a Work Permit provided that it meets their definition of same.
Minor Alterations and Ordinary Repairs do not include the following and therefore require the issuance of a Work Permit:
- Cutting away of any portion of a wall, floor, or roof construction.
- Removal, cutting, or modification of any beams or structural supports.
- Removal, change, or closing of any required means of egress
- Rearrangement or relocation of any parts of the building affecting loading or exit requirements
- Alterations, modifications, replacements, repair or removal of Sprinkler or Standpipe systems.
- Alterations, modifications, replacements, repair or removal of Plumbing or Sewer systems. However, replacement of Plumbing Fixtures on existing Roughing from the inlet side of a trap to any exposed stop valve does not require a Permit.
- Any other work affecting health or the fire or structural safety of the building.
ARTICLE 5 MINOR ALTERATIONS: ORDINARY REPAIRS
27-124 Minor alterations
For the purposes of this code, the term "minor alterations" shall mean minor changes or modifications in a building or any part thereof, excluding additions thereto, that do not in any way affect health or the fire or structural safety of the building. Minor alterations shall not include any of the work described or referred to in section 27-126 of this article, or any other work for which a permit is required under the provisions of articles ten through seventeen of this subchapter.
27-125 Ordinary repairs
For the purposes of this code, the term "ordinary repairs" shall mean replacements or renewals of existing work in a building, or of parts of the service equipment therein, with the same or equivalent materials or equipment parts, that are made in the ordinary course of maintenance and that do not in any way affect health or the fire or structural safety of the building or the safe use and operation of the service equipment therein. Ordinary repairs shall not include any of the work described or referred to in section 27-126 of this article or any other work for which a permit is required under the provisions of articles ten through seventeen of this subchapter.
27-126 Work not constituting minor alterations or ordinary repairs.
(a) For the purposes of this code, minor alterations or ordinary repairs shall not include the cutting away of any wall, floor, or roof construction, or any portion thereof; or the removal, cutting, or modification of any beams or structural supports; or the removal, change, or closing of any required means of egress; or the rearrangement or relocation of any parts of the building affecting loading or exit requirements, or light, heat, ventilation, or elevator requirements; nor shall minor alterations or ordinary repairs include additions to, alterations of, or rearrangement, relocation, replacement, repair or removal of any portion of a standpipe or sprinkler system, water distribution system, house sewer, private sewer, or drainage system, including leaders, or any soil, waste or vent pipe, or any gas distribution system, or any other work affecting health or the fire or structural safety of the building.
(b) Minor alterations or ordinary repairs shall include the repair or replacement of any fixture, piping or faucets from the inlet side of a trap to any exposed stop valve.
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