4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in New York County, New York.
Verified from official government sources
In Manhattan, temporary portable freestanding sheds under 120 sq ft and no taller than 7'6" on one- or two-family dwelling lots are exempt from building permits, provided they meet setback and use requirements. Larger sheds require DOB permits.
Fences of 6 feet or less associated with one-family dwellings in Manhattan are exempt from building permits. All other fences, including those on multi-family properties and construction site fences, require DOB permits.
NYC Administrative Code §§ 28-105.4.1, 28-105.4.2, 28-105.4.4, 28-105.4.5; 1 RCNY 101-14
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. [...] The NYC Administrative Code §28-105.4.5 clarifies exempt permit work. These projects still require compliance with other laws or rules enforced by the Department. Property owners are obligated to comply with requirements of other City...
Decks and patios in Manhattan generally require DOB permits unless they are ground-level and meet specific exemption criteria. Roof decks on Manhattan buildings almost always require permits and may need structural engineering review.
Most renovation work in Manhattan requires DOB permits. NYC uses three types of alteration permits: Alt-1 (major changes affecting use, egress, or occupancy), Alt-2 (multiple types of non-major work), and Alt-3 (single type of minor work). Manhattan has the highest permit volume in NYC.
1 cities in New York County have their own permit requirements rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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