New York County Construction Hours Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

Section 24-222 of the NYC Administrative Code makes it unlawful to engage in construction work other than on weekdays between the hours of 7 AM and 6 PM. This is one of the strictest construction time restrictions of any major U.S. city — notably, the cutoff is 6 PM, not 7 PM as in many other jurisdictions. All weekend work and any work outside these hours requires an After Hours Variance (AHV).

The After Hours Variance process is governed by Section 24-223. An agency authorized to issue construction permits (typically the Department of Buildings or Department of Transportation) may issue an AHV along with the construction permit. To obtain one, the permit holder must demonstrate undue hardship from unique site characteristics, unforeseen conditions, or scheduling commitments outside their control. The NYC Department of Environmental Protection must also approve an alternative noise mitigation plan under Section 24-221.

When an AHV is granted, strict noise limits apply. After-hours construction must not exceed 7 dB(A) above ambient inside a residential dwelling, 75 dB(A) measured outside the property line at 50 feet or greater from the source (when within 200 feet of residential property), or 85 dB(A) for street construction at the same measurement distance. DEP can issue violations for AHV sites that exceed these thresholds.

There is a narrow exception for owner-occupied one- or two-family dwellings: homeowners may perform alteration or repair work on Saturdays and Sundays between 10 AM and 4 PM, provided the dwelling is more than 300 feet from a house of worship. Emergency construction connected to an immediate hazard may proceed without a variance for up to 12 hours, during which time the contractor must submit an AHV application. All construction sites must have a noise mitigation plan on file per Section 24-220.