Updated: June 8, 2026

On June 8, 2026, the New York City Department of Buildings issued a Service Notice confirming that, beginning June 29, 2026, electrical filings in DOB NOW: Build will carry new questions and requirements to comply with the 2025 New York City Electrical Code (NYCEC). Several of these changes carry direct cost and scheduling consequences. The most significant items are summarized below.

Permit duration and renewals

This is the change most likely to affect active projects. Electrical permits will now be valid for a maximum of 12 months and must be renewed, with a $130 fee for each renewal. Permit expiration will be based on the earliest of four dates: Workers’ Compensation insurance expiration, Disability insurance expiration, General Liability insurance expiration, or license expiration. Permits issued before the launch will continue under the current auto-extension process for 60 days, after which they fall under the new maximum-duration and renewal rules. Any permit that has been expired for more than 12 months after its initial issuance date will be placed in Abandoned status and must be refiled.

Filing and parts fees

The fee structure is changing in several ways. 50% of total fees must be paid in DOB NOW: Build before a filing can be submitted, and the remaining balance must be paid to request an inspection (remaining fees can be paid in Inspections Plus). Notably, the maximum Parts Fee of $5,000 is no longer in effect. A $130 fee now applies to Post Approval Amendments. Payment method matters for timing: eCheck payments can take 10 or more business days to process — during which the filing remains in Pending Payment Verification and no inspection request can be submitted — while credit card payments process immediately. For filings submitted before launch, all outstanding fees must be paid at the time of the inspection request.

Civil penalty for work without a permit

Electrical filings cannot be submitted when there are open Work Without a Permit violations on the property (BIN). To proceed, applicants must submit a Civil Penalties Review Request (L2) in DOB NOW, select the applicable reason for an override, reduction, or waiver, and upload supporting documents. The filing will not be approved until the L2 request is approved.

Code Review Year

Applicants will be required to select a Code Review Year. Filings not associated with any BIS/DOB NOW job must comply with the 2020 NEC / 2025 NYC Electrical Code. Filings that are associated with a BIS/DOB NOW job must enter the associated job number to have the option to select the same Code Review Year as that job filing.

Electrical Plan Review (EPR)

A new question will appear asking whether the scope of work includes the installation of service equipment, transformers, UPS systems, generators, generator paralleling equipment, or other power sources — such as energy storage systems, fuel cells, photovoltaic systems, DC or AC microgrids, cogeneration plants, or stationary batteries — in accordance with 1-RCNY 4000-01. If the answer is Yes, electrical plan review is required, and the applicant must upload Approved Plans and an Approval Letter stating “Approved” (not “Approval with Conditions”). Answering Yes to the additional questions that follow will require entering an Electrical Plan Review Number.

New special installation types

Applicants will be able to specify certain installation types, including eBike and car charging stations, temporary lighting or amusement rides, and billboards or newsstands. For these special installation types, cross streets or a physical building address may be entered as the work location.

Stakeholder and owner changes

Owners will be required to create an NYC.ID account to be added to an electrical filing. Two new owner types — School Construction Authority and Non-Profit Owned and Operated — have been added. Applicants can add a Filing Representative and Delegated Associates to the filing, and supersede requests for applicants and owners will now be submitted directly in DOB NOW: Build.

Legalization

Applicants may select Legalization of completed work where electrical work was performed without a permit and DOB did not issue a Notice of Violation. A civil penalty payment is required to submit the filing: $600 for a one- or two-family dwelling, or $6,000 for any other building. (See 1 RCNY §102-04 for details.)

After Hours Variances (AHV)

AHV permits for electrical work will now be requested in DOB NOW: Build under the electrical filing. They will no longer be submitted on the associated job filing or through the PW5 paper form.

Inspections

Electrical job filings will include a new Inspections tab that appears after the permit is issued. Within the job filing, applicants can submit inspection requests, view results, and add Inspection Delegates.
If you’re part of our New York City construction industry and would like to keep informed of new developments and how your project could be affected, we invite you to sign up for our mailing list. We’ll also send you our complimentary, comprehensive guide to New York City DOB’s new Chapter 33 Building Code revisions.

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The 100-page book is meticulously organized and can be used as a handy reference when many common issues arise. In each section, the specific revisions are highlighted, and the new information is presented in a clear and practical manner with further explanation on why the change is so important. All of this, reviewed and vetted by one of New York’s longest serving, former DOB professionals – Cahill Strategies’ Director of Construction Code & Safety, Bobby D’Alessio.

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Get to know Bobby D’Alessio

bob dalessioRobert “Bobby” D’Alessio, is a former New York City Department of Buildings Senior Executive Director of Construction Safety. Mr. D’Alessio’s focus is predominately in the areas of construction code and safety analysis for our clients’ major new building and renovation projects in the New York City and surrounding regions.

As Cahill Strategies’ Director of Construction Code and Safety, Bobby brings an unparalleled level of knowledge and practical experience to our growing construction solutions practice area.

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