Building Permits in Manhattan, New York

Updated 3d ago

How many building permits are filed in Manhattan, New York?

As of June 11, 2026, 20,668 building permits are on file in Manhattan, New York. The most common type is other (7,595 permits). Records are pulled from the New York public feed and refreshed daily.

Permits on record: 20,668
Top permit type: Other
Active permit types: 12
Open jobs, no contractor: 7

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20,668 permits

№ 621

540 West 21 StreetPro

Manhattan · NY · 10011New ConstructionM01252396-S1

Plumbing work in conjunction with NB 121187820

OwnerNzpZaM QnubRktContractorDonato Plumbing Group Inc

$12wMAY 28

№ 622

340 West 57 StreetPro

This page indexes 23,278 building permits issued in Manhattan, New York, drawn from records published by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) through May 5, 2026. Activity over the last 30 days totals 5,231 permits. Records span project categories led by miscellaneous work (8,293 permits), renovation (4,907), plumbing (3,789), HVAC (2,222), roofing (1,214). Manhattan's permit activity is concentrated in alterations and major renovation work - the borough's pre-war housing stock and dense commercial cores generate steady volumes of plumbing, mechanical, and façade filings, with new ground-up construction clustered in Hudson Yards and the Far West Side. Job filings progress through several status stages - pre-filed, filed, in-process, issued - visible in the public record. Permits are filed and tracked through DOB NOW and the legacy Buildings Information System (BIS). The records below are recent issued permits in Manhattan; click any row to see the full filing, project description, valuation, and contractor on record.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up a building permit in Manhattan?

All NYC building permits are searchable through DOB NOW (the current online system) and BIS, the legacy Buildings Information System. Search by address, BIN, block-and-lot, or permit number. Both portals are operated by the New York City Department of Buildings.

Who issues building permits in Manhattan?

All five boroughs share a single issuing authority: the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB). Manhattan does not have a separate borough-level building department.

What is a Job Filing in NYC permitting?

A Job Filing is the application that initiates a building project; permits are issued underneath an approved Job Filing. A single Job Filing can cover multiple work types (plumbing, mechanical, electrical) and often spawns several permits.

What's the difference between DOB NOW and BIS?

DOB NOW is the modern online filing and search system. BIS is the legacy database - many older permits remain searchable only through BIS. New filings since approximately 2018 generally appear in DOB NOW; both systems are publicly accessible.

Are NYC permits public record?

Yes. Permit records, job filings, complaints, and violations are all publicly accessible through DOB NOW and BIS without registration. NYC also publishes bulk permit datasets through NYC Open Data.

How long does a NYC permit take to issue?

Trade permits filed under an approved Job Filing can issue within days. Job Filings themselves require review by DOB plan examiners and typically take weeks to months depending on complexity and professional certification status.