Hempstead, NY Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

The application under § 86-9B must include a description of the land, the intended use and occupancy, the valuation of the proposed work, the owner's and applicant's names and addresses, and duplicate plans and specifications; § 86-9C additionally requires a duplicate property survey by a licensed land surveyor and a recent tax bill. The Building Inspector can waive plans for minor alterations. Once issued, a building permit authorizes work to begin within 90 days, or within 15 days for demolition permits, under § 86-13A; a project not completed within one year of issuance is deemed abandoned, and a supplementary permit is required for any extension, capped at two years total from the original issuance under § 86-13C.

Extension fees run 25% of the original permit fee, with a $50 floor and $120 ceiling, per § 86-13D. The Building Inspector may revoke a permit for a false statement, an error in issuance, work not matching approved plans, or failure to comply with a stop order under § 86-16. It is unlawful to maintain any building, structure or improvement requiring a permit without one having been duly issued, and this remains true even if the unpermitted work predates the current owner's or tenant's control of the property, per § 86-9A(1)-(2).

Applications must be filed by the owner, lessee or their authorized architect, engineer or builder, and notice of at least 24 hours must be given to the Commissioner of Buildings before work covered by a permit begins, under § 86-13G.