Cost guide
What Long Island towns charge for permits
Fees the towns publish
| Office | Fee | What the office says |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Babylon | Building permit, new work | Set from the cost of construction, as calculated by the Town plans examiner or a building inspector. |
| Town of Babylon | $25 application fee, legalizing a structure | Non-refundable, and applied to the cost of the permit. |
| Town of Babylon | $20 certificate of occupancy fee, legalizing | Added to the building permit fee. |
| Town of Babylon | $50 certified, $25 uncertified | Copies of a certificate of occupancy, per request. |
| Town of Hempstead | $150 filing fee, plus $25 record search | For a mother-daughter (second kitchen) application. |
| Town of Hempstead | Fee schedule | Posted as a PDF on the Town's Fees page. |
| Town of Southampton | Permit and renewal fees | The Town says to visit the Building Division for an accurate fee. |
What a license costs the companies you hire
These are the contractor's costs, not yours, but they tell you what a licensed contractor has invested to work legally in your area:
- Nassau County: $650 for a two-year home improvement license, plus a one-time $50 contribution to the county's Home Improvement Restitution Fund.
- Town of Southampton: $250 (cash or check) for its own one-year home improvement contractor license, on top of the county license.
Fees are the small part
A permit fee is one line in a renovation budget. The numbers that decide the project are the licensed contractors' estimates after they walk through the job, plus design or engineering if the work is structural. The free call is where your real number starts: we get the scope clear so every estimate prices the same job.
How to confirm a fee
- Find the office that issues your permit: town, village or city. Our permit guides list the offices we have confirmed.
- Ask for the current fee schedule; fees change and some are set from the cost of the work.
- Ask what else is charged, such as certificate, filing or record search fees.
Questions homeowners ask
How much is a building permit on Long Island?
It depends on the town and the work. The Town of Babylon sets the fee for new work from the cost of construction; other towns publish schedules. Ask your building department for the current fee.
Who pays for the permit, me or the contractor?
It depends on your contract. The written contract should say who files for and pays the permit.
Where does the real cost of my project come from?
From licensed contractors' estimates after they see the job. Revival's free call gets the scope clear first, so every estimate prices the same project.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the office before you file anything.
- Town of Babylon, Building Department (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Hempstead, Mother-Daughter Use (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Hempstead, Fees (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Southampton, Land Management questions (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Southampton, Licensing Applications and Forms (read 2026-11-03)
- Nassau County, home improvement licensing questions (read 2026-11-03)
Checked 2026-11-03. More help: the planning guides and permit guides.
Talk the job through before you call anyone
Tell us about the house and the job in about four minutes. Revival calls you, free, to go over the scope, the budget, the timing and your town's permit office. Contractor matches open as our first licensed partners sign.