Permit guides
Who issues your building permit on Long Island
- Nassau CountyTown of HempsteadHow building permits work in the Town of Hempstead: the Building Department, the Online Permit Center, mother-daughter use, the Board of Appeals and villages.
- Nassau CountyTown of North HempsteadBuilding permits in the Town of North Hempstead: which projects need one, the online portal, villages that run their own departments, and zoning appeals.
- Suffolk CountyTown of BabylonTown of Babylon building permits: the Town's own list of projects that need one, deck, shed, fence and pool rules, certificates of occupancy and how to apply.
- Suffolk CountyTown of BrookhavenFiling a building permit in the Town of Brookhaven after the move to Digital Services: who files online, the paper option for owners and what to prepare.
- Suffolk CountyTown of SouthamptonBuilding permits in the Town of Southampton: decks, sheds, fences and conversions, the Town's own home improvement license, wetlands, flood zones and close-out.
- Nassau CountyTown of Oyster BayBuilding permits in the Town of Oyster Bay: the Building Division, its online portal, the Town's permit list, the code worksheet, flood zones and the ZBA.
- Nassau CountyCity of Glen CoveGlen Cove building permits from the City's own pages: what needs one, sealed drawings, the permit clock, the certificate of occupancy, variances and fees.
- Nassau CountyCity of Long BeachLong Beach building permits: who may pull one, the City's list of work that needs a permit, City-licensed trades, the flood zone and what we could not confirm.
- Suffolk CountyTown of HuntingtonTown of Huntington building permits: villages that handle their own, decks, fences, sheds and patios, how to file, accessory apartments, wetlands and fees.
- Suffolk CountyTown of SmithtownSmithtown building permits: three villages with their own departments, deck, fence, shed and pool rules, online filing, roofing, windows and the 1947 letter.
- Suffolk CountyTown of IslipTown of Islip building permits: the Building Division's desks, electronic filing on the Town portal, inspections through Records, and the zoning board.
- Suffolk CountyTown of East HamptonTown of East Hampton building permits: online only filing through OpenGov, counter hours, online payments, clearing surveys and the updated certificate.
- Suffolk CountyTown of RiverheadRiverhead building permits: original notarized applications, stamped plans, pool, shed and fence rules, CAC wetland review, certificate deadlines and fees.
- Suffolk CountyTown of SoutholdSouthold building permits: what the application needs, sealed plans, Trustees and DEC wetland distances, the 12 and 18 month limits, fees and the zoning board.
- Suffolk CountyTown of Shelter IslandShelter Island building permits: the Town's own home improvement license, online filing, sheds, driveways and generators, surveys, outside approvals and fees.
Town, village or city
On Long Island, building permits come from local government. A town handles the areas that are not part of any incorporated village. A village with its own building department handles permits inside its limits. Two examples from the towns' own words: North Hempstead's building department says it administers the codes "within the unincorporated areas of the Town", and Nassau County's permit page tells residents to "call your city, town or village directly".
So the first planning question is not what the permit costs, but which office it comes from. The answer decides the forms, the fees, the review, the inspectors, and the zoning board that hears a variance.
How to find your office
- 1Find out whether the address is in a villageVillage residents pay village taxes. Revival's request form also looks the address up in U.S. Census records, which name the town and any village. Our list of village and city offices has each village hall.
- 2Go to that office's own pageUse the town or village government site, which usually ends in .gov, rather than a permit service.
- 3Ask what your project needsEach office keeps its own list of work that needs a permit, and its own fees and filing rules. See what towns charge for permits.
What every building department does
- Reviews plans and applications against the building and zoning codes.
- Issues the permit, then inspects the work as it goes.
- Signs off at the end, with a certificate of occupancy or a similar certificate, which insurers and lenders often ask for.
- Sends projects that do not meet zoning to its zoning board of appeals for a variance hearing.
Questions homeowners ask
Who issues building permits on Long Island?
Your local government, not the county or the state: the town for unincorporated areas, an incorporated village inside its limits, or a city. Start by finding out which one covers your address.
How do I know if my house is in a village?
If you pay village taxes, you live in an incorporated village. Revival's request form also checks your street address against U.S. Census records, which name the town and any village.
Does my contractor pull the permit?
Often the contractor, an architect or an expeditor files for you, and some towns now require professionals to file online. Revival never pulls permits, so ask each contractor who will file.
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 North Hempstead, Department of Building, Safety, Inspection and Enforcement (read 2026-11-03)
- Nassau County, Building and Zoning Permits (read 2026-11-03)
Checked 2026-11-03. More town guides are added as we confirm each town's own pages.
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.