Bolthole Index

Kings County, New York

Building permits, zoning and land rules in New York City

Most construction inside New York City limits needs approval and a permit from the Department of Buildings1, and the city sets zoning by district under its Zoning Resolution2. Brooklyn (Kings County) is served by the Department of Buildings' borough office3. We could not confirm who permits on-site septic systems; sewer connections go through the city's Department of Environmental Protection4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for most construction; some minor alterations are exempt1
Zoning
Yes, by zoning district under the city's Zoning Resolution2
Certificate of Occupancy
Required for new buildings; no one may legally occupy until it or a temporary one is issued5
Sewer
DEP sewer certification for any new connection4
Wells
Health Department permit to install, drill, replace or use a water well6
Floodplain
Flood-resistant construction rules apply to buildings in the floodplain7
Short-term rentals
Legal only when the host lives in the unit; entire-unit rentals under 30 days are not allowed8

Who to call

Building permits

NYC Department of Buildings, Brooklyn Borough Office

Building permits, plan review, inspections and certificates of occupancy for Brooklyn; the Department of Buildings is the city's office, not a county one

(718) 802-3675

345 Adams Street, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Building permits

NYC Department of Buildings

Explains which work needs a permit

Zoning

NYC Department of City Planning, Zoning Resolution

Publishes the Zoning Resolution and zoning maps

Septic permits

NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Sewer Connections

Sewer certification and connection permits

Well permits

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Well Water Permit

Permits to install, drill, replace or use a water well

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in New York means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in New York City?

Yes, for most work. Most construction in New York City requires approval and permits from the Department of Buildings9, while some minor alterations can be done without a work permit1. Exempt work is still subject to other applicable laws and rules, and emergency work may start before a permit only if an Emergency Work Notification is filed within two business days after completion1. New York City has no general owner-builder exemption that we could find; filings go through the Department of Buildings with licensed professionals and contractors10.

Who issues building permits in New York City, and how do you reach them?

The Department of Buildings issues building permits for the whole city1. For Brooklyn (Kings County) the borough office is at 345 Adams Street, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, and customer service is (718) 802-36753. Certificate of Occupancy questions go to (718) 802-36803. Some applications can be submitted at a borough office, while some job filings must be submitted online in DOB NOW: Build11. Plans may need repeated review until objections are resolved11. There is no separate Kings County building department; the city's office does this work12.

Does New York City have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Yes. The Zoning Resolution consists of 14 Articles and 11 Appendices, plus 126 Zoning Maps that establish the city's zoning districts13. Rules differ by zoning district and by special-purpose district2. Lot size, setbacks, lot coverage and height therefore depend on the district your parcel sits in, and we could not confirm a single citywide number for any of them. We also could not confirm how the Zoning Resolution treats RV living, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or manufactured homes. Look up the parcel's district in the Zoning Resolution at zr.planning.nyc.gov and ask the Department of Buildings borough office before buying14.

How do septic and sewer permits work in New York City?

Most addresses connect to the city sewer. Any project that connects to a city sewer needs the Department of Environmental Protection to approve that the sewer can accept the discharge, and a sewer certification is required for any new connection4. A separate DEP sewer connection permit then authorizes the connection work4. We could not confirm which office permits an on-site septic system inside the city, so ask DEP before planning one. Wells are different: a permit from the city Health Department is required to install, drill, replace or use a water well6.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in New York City?

We could not confirm an official rule that lets a private owner live in an RV or tiny home on a city lot, and the Zoning Resolution works by district. Treat it as not allowed until the Department of Buildings tells you otherwise for your specific parcel. Separately, no one may legally occupy a new building until the Department of Buildings issues a Certificate of Occupancy or a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy5. Renting out space adds its own limits: entire homes may not be rented for fewer than 30 days8.

Building a home in New York City: the steps, in order

  1. Find the parcel's zoning district in the Zoning Resolution2.
  2. Check whether the parcel is in the floodplain; buildings there must follow flood-resistant construction rules7.
  3. File with the Department of Buildings and get plans approved11.
  4. Get DEP sewer certification for the sewer connection4.
  5. If you want a well, get a Health Department permit6.
  6. Finish the final inspection sign-offs and get a Certificate of Occupancy before anyone moves in15.

What stays with Kings County, and what to check before you buy?

Brooklyn is both a borough and Kings County, and the city's agencies, not a county office, handle building permits and zoning there12. For land outside the city, see the Kings County page. Check the parcel's floodplain status first7. Kings County's typical home value is about $957,10016, the median property tax bill is about $6,120 a year17, and the typical home insurance premium is about $3,201 a year18. These figures are county-level.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm who permits an on-site septic system inside New York City, so ask the Department of Environmental Protection before planning one4.
  • A building cannot be legally occupied until the Department of Buildings issues a Certificate of Occupancy or a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy5.
  • Entire homes or apartments may not be rented for fewer than 30 days8.

Sources

  1. Does my project require a permit? (New York), quoted and re-checked
  2. Zoning Resolution (New York), quoted and re-checked
  3. NYC Department of Buildings, Brooklyn Borough Office (nyc.gov)
  4. Sewer Certification and Connection Permits (New York), quoted and re-checked
  5. Certificate of Occupancy (New York), quoted and re-checked
  6. Well Water Permit (New York), quoted and re-checked
  7. Department of Buildings (DOB) (New York), quoted and re-checked
  8. nyc.gov (New York), quoted and re-checked
  9. NYC Department of Buildings (nyc.gov)
  10. NYC Department of Buildings - Permits by Type (2026 county census)
  11. Filing Permit Applications (New York), quoted and re-checked
  12. NYC Department of Buildings - Building Applications & Permits (2026 county census)
  13. Zoning Resolution (New York), quoted and re-checked
  14. NYC Department of City Planning, Zoning Resolution (zr.planning.nyc.gov)
  15. Certificate of Occupancy (New York), quoted and re-checked
  16. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  17. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for New York

New York’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Most construction inside New York City limits.

    • Minor alterations may be performed without a work permit.
    • Exempt work remains subject to other applicable laws and rules.
    • Emergency work may begin before permit issuance only if an Emergency Work Notification is filed within two business days after completion.
    “Most construction in New York City requires approval and permits from the Department of Buildings. Some minor alterations may be done without a work permit.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New buildings and projects seeking a Certificate of Occupancy inside New York City limits.

    • A final construction inspection sign-off is among the listed Certificate of Occupancy requirements.
    • Other listed final sign-offs include plumbing, elevator, and electrical, where applicable.
    “A CO confirms that the completed work complies with all applicable laws, all paperwork has been completed, all fees owed to the Department have been paid, all relevant violations have been resolved, and all necessary approvals have been received from other City Agencies.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New buildings and existing buildings with a change in use, egress, or type of occupancy inside New York City limits.

    • Minor alterations that do not require a new or amended CO may receive a Letter of Completion.
    • Buildings built or altered before 1938 are not required to have a CO unless later alterations changed use, egress, or occupancy.
    • No one may legally occupy a building until DOB issues a CO or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy.
    “New buildings must have a CO, and existing buildings must have a current or amended CO when there is a change in use, egress or type of occupancy. No one may legally occupy a building until the Department has issued a CO or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO).”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside New York City limits.

    • Zoning regulations differ by zoning district and applicable special-purpose district.
    “The Zoning Resolution consists of 14 Articles and 11 Appendices, plus 126 Zoning Maps, that establish the zoning districts for the City and the regulations governing land use and development.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside New York City limits.

    • Articles I through VII contain use, bulk, parking, and other applicable regulations for each zoning district.
    • Articles VIII through XIV regulate Special Purpose Districts.

    zoning maps: 126 maps

    “The Zoning Resolution consists of 14 Articles and 11 Appendices, plus 126 Zoning Maps, that establish the zoning districts for the City and the regulations governing land use and development.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Installation, drilling, replacement, or use of potable and non-potable water wells inside New York City limits.

    • Permit holders must comply with Article 141.17 of the NYC Health Code.
    • For potable use, municipal water must be inaccessible and water quality must meet State Sanitary Code standards.
    • For non-potable use, a DEP Letter of Approval for groundwater discharge to sanitary or combined sewer is required.
    “You need a permit from the New York City Health Department to install, drill, replace or use a water well in New York City. This includes water well pumps and well pumping equipment. The permit is for both potable (drinking) and non-potable (not for drinking) wells.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Projects inside New York City limits that require a connection to a City sewer.

    • DEP must approve that the sewer can accept storm and/or sanitary discharge.
    • A sewer certification is required for any new connection to a City sewer, private sewer, private drain, septic system, or approved outlet.
    • A subsequent DEP sewer connection permit authorizes the connection work.
    “Any time a project requires connecting to a city sewer, DEP must approve that the sewer can accept the storm and/or sanitary discharge. A sewer certification is required for any new connection to a city sewer, a private sewer, a private drain, a septic system, or an approved outlet.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Buildings in New York City floodplains, including certain properties in X Zones.

    • Existing buildings in the floodplain undergoing substantial improvement or that were substantially damaged must be constructed or altered to comply with flood-zone regulations as if newly built.
    • For residential buildings, the City page identifies elevating habitable spaces and filling basements or cellars to grade as included measures.
    “Any building in the floodplain (including certain properties located in X Zones) must comply with the applicable flood resistant construction requirements outlined in Appendix G of the 2014 Building Code.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals inside New York City limits.

    • Registration is limited to the permanent occupant of the housing unit.
    • Registrations are prohibited in rent-regulated and NYC Housing Authority units and must be denied for listed prohibited buildings.
    • Entire homes or apartments may not be rented for fewer than 30 days.
    • A rental is legal only when the host lives in the same unit with guests, guests have access to the full unit, and there are no more than two guests excluding children under four.
    • Guests may not stay in illegal sleeping areas unless specifically authorized by DOB.

    maximum guests: <= 2 guests (Children under age four are excluded.) · entire-unit rental duration: >= 30 days (Applies to renting out an entire apartment or home.)

    “Short-term rentals in New York City are only legal if the host is living in the same unit or apartment with the guests and guests have full access to the full unit. There is a limit of two guests (not counting children under the age of 4).”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Department of Buildings jobs that are not professionally certified inside New York City limits.

    • Some applications may be submitted at a borough office, while some job filings must be submitted online in DOB NOW: Build.
    • The published process describes borough-office filing for jobs that are not professionally certified.
    • Plans may require repeated review until objections are resolved and the plan is approved.
    “The diagram and steps below describe DOB's general process for filing an application at a borough office and obtaining a permit for jobs that are not professionally certified.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask New York or Kings County directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside New York City limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential zoning lots inside New York City limits.
  • Setbacks — Residential structures inside New York City limits.
  • Lot coverage — Residential zoning lots inside New York City limits.
  • Building height — Residential buildings inside New York City limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that New York publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Kings County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Kings County: county rules, score and offices