Step 3: Preparation of Land Use and Environmental Applications

The following boilerplate legal documents may be downloaded and modified to apply to a particular application. Instructions included within each document explain how the boilerplate forms may be used and the requirements for submission directly to the Counsel's Office. The current set of boilerplate legal documents is not comprehensive. Additional documents will be added in the future.

Please be advised that the Department of City Planning reserves the right to modify the provisions of its boilerplate as it deems necessary and may provide a more current version at any time. These provisions are not negotiable. The City of New York will not accept any alteration, deletion, or modification that reduces or otherwise changes the obligations of the Owner/Declarant or the rights of the City of New York.

Prior to executing or recording one of the following legal instruments, read the instructions at the bottom of this page, AND carefully review the "PDF Document Common Errors To Avoid", which can be printed out and used as a checklist.

  • Executing or Waiving/Subordinating Restrictive Declaration
    • All fee owners must execute a Restrictive Declaration
    • The following form waiver/subordination, (Word Document Download Waiver/Subordination Form), is to be used by mortgagees that are parties-in-interest but are not executing a Restrictive Declaration.
  • Certifications of Parties-In-Interest to a Zoning Lot
    • The Department of City Planning (“DCP”) will not accept such certification if certified by the title company more than four months prior to the date the associated Restrictive Declaration is executed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, DCP reserves the right to request a more recent certification.
  • Requirements for plans attached as exhibits
    • The plans attached as an exhibit must be signed and sealed.
    • The plans attached as an exhibit must be legible in a reduced format (8 ½ x 11 or 8 ½ x 14.) If not fully legible at this reduced size, larger plans must be segmented onto 8 ½ x 11 or 8 ½ x 14 pages.
    • Segmented plans should show overlap along the common edges.
    • A segmented plan need only be signed and sealed on one page. Each page of the exhibit with the segmented plans should contain the following notation: Exhibit B, [plan number], page 1 of X, 2 of X, etc. (where X is the total number of pages in the plan.)
  • Recording


    A. In Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens:

    • DCP must receive for review and sign-off, prior to recordation, two original versions of the fully executed Restrictive Declaration, Notice of Restrictions or Notice of Certification, including Exhibits. One of the originals will be returned to the applicant’s representative following approval for recordation, and the other will be retained by DCP.
    • DCP-approved Restrictive Declarations, Notices of Restrictions or Notices of Certification must be recorded by the applicant/applicant’s representative at the Office of the City Register in the Borough in which the property is located.
    • Restrictive Declarations, Notices of Restrictions and Notices of Certification must be filed as a "Sundry Miscellaneous" document type.

    B. In Staten Island:

    • DCP must receive for review and sign-off, prior to recordation, two original versions of the fully executed Restrictive Declaration or Notice of Restrictions, including Exhibits. One of the originals will be returned to the applicant’s representative following approval for recordation, and the other will be retained by DCP.
    • DCP-approved Restrictive Declarations and Notices of Restrictions must be recorded by the applicant/applicant’s representative at the Office of the Richmond County Clerk.
    • Restrictive Declarations must be filed as a "Declaration" document type.
    • Notices of Restrictions must be filed as a "Notice" document type.
  • Proof of recordation
    • All documentation should be submitted directly to DCP Counsel's Office, to the
      attention of the attorney assigned to the application
    • In Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, submit the documentation
      described below in:
      Two copies of the document, including the recording and endorsement cover page bearing the City Register File Number (CRFN), as recorded at the ACRIS website.
    • In Staten Island, submit the documentation described below in 1. or 2.,
      depending on the applicant’s preference, and 3., if applicable:

      1. Two copies of the document, including the recording and endorsement cover page, as recorded at the website of the Richmond County Clerk.

        Or

      2. • One certified copy of the recorded document, including the recording and endorsement cover page, as certified by the Richmond County Clerk with a multicolor stamp and raised seal.
        • One additional copy of the Certified document

        And, IF APPLICABLE

      3. If more than 1 tax lot is affected, also provide the "index page." The index page identifies all of the tax lots against which the document was recorded.
        PDF Document View a sample index page.

To continue with filing and paying fees for your applications, please move on to Step 4: Filing of Applications and Paying Fees.