NYC DOB NOW Guide for General Contractors: Permits, Renewals, Inspections, and Closeout

If a DOB NOW filing is not moving, identify the exact record and owner before changing anything. The applicant of record controls the job filing and plan-exam responses. The designated contractor controls the PW2 permit request. Inspection and closeout have separate prerequisites. Open the record status, required documents, and Failure Reason, then assign the next action to the person who can legally submit it.

Which DOB NOW record is holding the job?

Start with the record type, status, and owner.

A filing representative can enter information. That person cannot replace a required professional or contractor signature.

How does the initial filing move to a permit?

The job filing and the work permit are connected but separate.

Job filing sequence

1. Each required stakeholder creates an NYC.ID account for DOB NOW.
2. The Applicant of Record creates the filing.
3. Plans, DPL-1, and required documents are uploaded.
4. The owner and required stakeholders complete attestations.
5. Filing fees are paid.
6. The Applicant of Record previews, signs, and submits.
7. The design team resolves plan-exam objections.
8. DOB approves the filing.

Later changes can reset signatures. If the filing stops after a revision, check whether the owner or another stakeholder needs to attest again.

PW2 permit sequence

After approval, create the work permit request. Each work type generally requires its own permit unless the work qualifies for an allowed composite configuration.

Before the contractor submits the PW2, check:

• Site Safety Plan or waiver is approved when triggered.
• Tenant Protection Plan is approved when triggered.
• Work Without a Permit issues are resolved or supported by an approved L2.
• Required special and progress inspectors are associated and have attested.
• Contractor license and insurance records are current.
• Project-specific insurance documents are complete when required.
• Applicant and contractor statements are complete.
• Required fees are paid.

The DOB PW2 guide assigns the contractor responsibility for completing and submitting the permit request.

What do you do when PW2 is QA Failed?

Do not submit a duplicate permit. Use the failure record.

1. Open the permit from the Work Permits dashboard.
2. Read every item in Failure Reason.
3. Open the required-document list.
4. Identify whether the fix belongs to the contractor, applicant of record, owner, broker, or safety professional.
5. Correct the data or document.
6. Upload the replacement to the correct slot.
7. Resolve the listed failure where prompted.
8. Check whether the correction reset an attestation.
9. Have the designated contractor review and resubmit.

Use Why DOB Rejected Your Insurance Certificate in NYC for insurance failures. For the July 2026 superintendent validation, use the Construction Superintendent limit guide.

How do permit renewals work?

A DOB NOW permit generally expires on the earliest applicable date:

• Contractor general liability expiration
• Workers' compensation or disability expiration
• Permit applicant's license expiration
• One year after permit issuance

If a permit was shortened by an upcoming insurance or license date, DOB can extend it without a renewal fee when the record is renewed before permit expiration. DOB recommends submitting license information at least five days before expiry.

If the permit needs a renewal:

1. Find the initial permit in the Work Permits dashboard.
2. Select Renew Work Permit.
3. Choose renewal with or without changes.
4. Update the contractor, business, Construction Superintendent, or other allowed information when needed.
5. Upload the documents generated for the renewal.
6. Complete the electronic signature.
7. Pay the current fee shown in the portal.
8. Submit and track the request.

As of this update, DOB's Renewing Permits page lists a $130 renewal fee. Do not rely on older PDF screenshots showing $100.

Insurance and PGL1 at renewal

An applicable PGL1 is required again at renewal. Review the project-specific amount and current policy package before the permit expires.

Beginning June 29, 2026, DOB release notes state that an applicant can change the business on a permit through Permit Renewal with Changes when that business is already associated with the applicant's license.

How do you schedule and clear inspections?

DOB NOW: Inspections has account and record-link requirements separate from DOB NOW: Build.

An owner, licensed professional, or registered delegate can request an inspection on a linked record. Request it only when the installation or construction for that permit work type is complete and code-compliant.

Before requesting:

• The user's account is linked to the record.
• The professional license and insurance are current.
• The BIN is valid and has no blocking hold.
• The record is in an inspectable status.
• Required documents are uploaded.
• No other inspection request is open.
• An expired permit has no blocking open objection.

DOB assigns the next available appointment. You cannot choose an exact date or time.

Online cancellation is available until 48 hours before the appointment. For a later cancellation, use the phone number in the confirmation.

Certifiable and non-certifiable objections

A certifiable objection may be resolved by uploading the required proof. A non-certifiable objection generally requires corrective work and reinspection.

Record the objection owner, correction, evidence, and reinspection date in the project closeout log. Do not leave the result only in a superintendent's email.

What does closeout require?

Closeout depends on the approved filing and occupancy path. Two common outcomes are a Letter of Completion and a Certificate of Occupancy.

Letter of Completion

For eligible minor alteration work, confirm:

• Filing is in Permit Entire status.
• Final PW3 costs are verified.
• All required documents are submitted.
• Final Technical Report inspection is certified when applicable.
• Every permit has been inspected and signed off.
• Every After Hours Variance permit is approved.

The owner or Applicant of Record can start the Letter of Completion request.

Certificate of Occupancy

A final Certificate of Occupancy can require:

• Final construction, plumbing, elevator, and electrical sign-offs
• Final building survey
• Final Builders Pavement Plan
• No open applications
• No open violations
• Owner's PW3 Cost Affidavit
• Approved Schedule of Occupancy
• Certificate of Occupancy request in DOB NOW

A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy generally lasts 90 days. It does not remove the remaining final closeout work.

Use audit-ready vendor compliance files to retain contractor and subcontractor evidence with the project record.

What mistakes create repeat DOB NOW delays?

• Sending the task to someone who cannot submit that record
• Treating an uploaded document as accepted
• Fixing one QA reason and ignoring the rest
• Letting a filing change reset signatures without notifying stakeholders
• Waiting until permit expiration to update insurance
• Starting renewal without checking whether a stakeholder or business must change
• Requesting inspection before required documents and record links are complete
• Waiting until demobilization to collect closeout records
• Keeping permit actions only in email instead of an owner-and-due-date log

Example: permit renewal with three owners

A permit is two weeks from expiration. General liability expires first, the Construction Superintendent must be replaced, and the new contractor business is not yet associated with the license.

This is not one renewal task. Compliance owns the insurance update. Operations confirms the replacement CS. The contractor resolves the business association and submits a renewal with changes. The project engineer tracks the dependencies and does not schedule work from the expected renewal date until the permit is issued.

If you do not know which issue is controlling the schedule, start with 10 Reasons Your NYC Construction Permit Is Delayed.

How to prevent this from happening again

Most teams reduce DOB NOW delays by maintaining one permit action log with a record number, current status, next action, owner, due date, and proof of completion.

Keep vendor COIs, renewal dates, and mobilization clearance in a connected workflow outside DOB NOW. The permit portal shows the City filing. It does not replace the GC's subcontractor compliance process.

Policyhold is one way to manage that vendor compliance workflow.