Frequently Asked Questions

The Town of North Castle Building Department reviews applications on a first-come, first-served basis. However, we are committed to processing your plans as quickly and efficiently as possible. The Towns goal is to complete the plan review within 2 to 4 weeks. All re reviews may take up to 2 weeks.

Please be advised, depending on the amount of permits received this time frame may be extended at any point in time.

Building permits are mainly about safety. By enforcing construction standards, they give you and the other occupants of the building the best chance to avoid fire, structural failure or something as simple as a child getting his head caught between stair posts. If you decide to move, the permit process also protects future owners.

The first reason to obtain a building permit is that it's illegal not to. If you fail to get a permit for work that requires it, you can be fined. You may be forced to remove a building or tear out completed work. But there are plenty of positive reasons for following the permit process as well:

• It keeps your contractor honest. To beat out the price of a competitor, a profit-driven contractor might be tempted to cut corners. Would you know it if he did? Most construction work ends up hidden behind walls and under floors. A building permit requires that a contractor use sound and safe methods and materials. And inspections assure you that he does so.
• It guides your do-it-yourself project. No matter how handy you are, you aren't likely to know everything about modern building practices. When you get a permit, you'll have to show the building department your plans. If they don't follow the codes, the building inspector will ask you to revise them. But if you never apply for a permit, you might go ahead with work that's dangerous or unsound.
• It keeps your insurance valid. Building done without a permit can mean that your insurance company may not honor your policy. A fire resulting from work without a permit could leave you holding the bag. If someone falls off a deck that was built without a permit, your liability insurance may not cover his or her injuries [source: Redondo Beach].

It's valuable when you sell your home. If you perform work without a permit, you can assume a potential buyer will know about it. The permit process is a matter of public record. Having all the necessary permits makes the sale proceed much more smoothly [source: Oregon Association of Realtors].

Please fill out our online FOIL request form and we will email your entire building file.

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A Building Permit is required for new construction, additions, alterations, decks, swimming pools, driveways, fences and walls over 4 feet, gutting kitchens and bathrooms, enclosing a screened in porch, replacing a boiler or hot water heater, adding central air conditioning or altering an existing system, roof replacement, window replacement, adding skylights and tree cutting. A Plumbing and Electrical permit is also required for any work that falls under the NYS Uniform code. For additional questions about when a building permit is required, please contact our office at (914) 273-3000 x44.

• One Family Dwellings
• Additions
• Pools
• Retaining Walls
• Sheds
• Fences
• Accessory Structures