Improving your home is something everyone wants to do eventually. And this is good, as it comes with a lot of benefits depending on the renovation. However, you need to keep in mind that certain renovations, even if they don’t seem like it, need a permit. These restrictions tend to be more serious within NYC, so knowing which renovations require a permit is even more important. As such, if you want to avoid any legal issues with renovating your home, be thorough in your research. Still, in order to help you out, we’ve put together a guide to NYC home renovations that require a permit, and we hope it helps answer your questions.

Removing or adding walls

If you plan on expanding your home in NYC, you’re definitely going to need a permit. Of course, the same applies if you plan on removing rooms from your home. Generally speaking, any modification to your home’s layout will need a permit. NYC authorities are quite serious about this as well, so make sure you go through the proper process in order to avoid legal issues. It doesn’t matter how small of a wall you’re removing or adding, or whether it’s inside or inside your home, a permit is going to be a must for this kind of renovation. Additionally, you might want to know how to protect your home’s exterior, especially if the walls you’re modifying are exposed to the outside. After all, the last thing you want is for the walls to fall into disrepair shortly after the renovations. And, taking care of your home is always important.

Adding or removing walls in your home will always need a permit

Any kind of room conversion

One of the most common NYC home renovations these days are room conversions. More specifically, converting a lesser used room (like a garage) into a home office. And while it might not seem like this sort of renovations needs a permit, it does. Any sort of modifications to the home’s layout generally needs a permit. And while this requirement depends quite heavily on the local area, in NYC it’s always required. Needless to say, with the rise of work from home, this specific kind of renovation has become quite popular recently. However, if you plan on converting a room in your home, think ahead about storing the items in the room. Generally speaking, renting out a storage unit is your best call, but getting your belongings into it can be difficult, even if it’s not too far away. As such, experts are the best assistance in this case, so consider hiring movers.

Changes to the home’s plumbing

If you plan to change anything to do with your home’s plumbing, you’ll need a permit first. Even if it’s something as simple as redirecting a pipe, or adding a single pipe. Of course, it’s even more important if the changes you’re planning are on a larger scale. Additionally, large scale repairs such as full home re-piping also need a permit before they can be done. To an extent it makes sense, as the process involves ripping up and replacing every single pipe in your home. As such, if you plan to do any work with your home’s plumbing, chances are you’ll need a permit before you begin. And when it comes to remodeling in general, you should look into remodeling safety, especially if you have children. They can easily get in the way during the renovations, so make sure you know how to keep your kids safe while renovating.

Any change to your home’s plumbing, no matter how minor, needs a permit.

Changes to the roof or re-roofing to the roof

Every homeowner eventually needs to deal with replacing their roof. After all, rooves have a lifetime, and should be replaced when they get too old in order to be safe. Ignoring this fact can lead to some serious property damage, so make sure you know how old your roof is. However, before you plan on having your roof replaced, make sure you get a permit for it. When it comes to NYC home renovations, a roof replacement is considered as a big one, and needs a permit. Or if you only plan on modifying your roof, you’ll still need a permit for it. If you’re unsure about it, at the least ask your municipality if a permit is needed. Additionally, remember to think about the belongings stored in your attic during the renovation. Experts from Teddy Moving and Storage recommend that you rent out a storage unit during the process.

Demolition of any part of the house

As we mentioned before, any change to the layout of your house needs a permit. Demolishing a part of your home, no matter how small, falls into this category. As a matter of fact, demotion is considered a very serious change by the authorities, so you can be certain that a permit is needed whether you’re in NYC or somewhere else. This is because demolition comes at a risk not only for your house, but every property next to it as well. Which, speaking of, you should make sure that the people you hire to do the demolition know what they’re doing. This process isn’t something you want left in the hands of amateurs, so do your research thoroughly beforehand. Additionally, you may want to consider ways to make your home more modern, if you’re doing some extreme renovations anyway. Of course, if you like the style of modern homes.

Demolishing any part of your home needs a permit, no matter where you are.

Guide to NYC home renovations that require a permit – wrap up

Generally speaking, any major renovation in NYC requires a permit. However, even something as simple as converting a room requires a permit. A good thing to keep in mind is that any renovation which involves changing the layout of your home requires a permit. Additionally, you need to think about the fact that some home repairs, such as replacing the plumbing or roof, require a permit as well. If you’re ever feeling unsure if something needs a permit, remember that you can always ask your municipality about it. We hope this guide to NYC home renovations that require a permit has helped you figure out if the changes you planned require a permit, and we wish you a great rest of your day.