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Information for Homeowners

The Energy Code May Affect New Home Construction or Home Alterations

Since 1979, new construction and major alterations have been required to comply with the State Energy Code. In July of 2010, New York City initiated its own New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC), applicable to all alterations. For homeowners, this means that when you add an addition to your home or renovate it, you will have to comply with the NYCECC and your home will be more energy-efficient.

Whether you are building a new home, or adding onto or renovating your current home, your architect or engineer may advise you that certain additional requirements must be incorporated into your plans in order to be in compliance with the NYCECC. You can always verify the status of your application and what requirements need to be met before construction begins, by using the Buildings Information System (BIS) search tool.

Complying with the NYCECC

The purpose of the NYCECC to:

  • Make sure buildings are properly sealed by providing a tight and insulated envelope (roof, walls, windows, foundation) to keep heating and cooling inside the building while still providing fresh outside air;
  • Illuminate buildings' interiors using efficient lighting and as much daylight as possible to accomplish this; and
  • Heat and cool buildings using as much recycled energy as possible to reduce buildings' power consumption, i.e. using furnaces and air conditioning units that are sized appropriately for the size of your home.

When creating plans for your home, in order to comply with the NYCECC your architect and/or engineer must meet certain values for the insulation, windows, heating system, ventilation system, air conditioning, hot water equipment, lighting, and the power system.

To demonstrate compliance with the NYCECC, all New Building and Alteration Type-1, -2, and -3 applications require the following:

  • Professional Statement (mandatory for all);
  • Energy Analysis (mandatory unless the application is exempt); and
  • Supporting Documentation (mandatory unless the application is exempt or compliance is not required - see Energy Analysis).

Additional Assistance

Department borough offices  are open for Buildings After Hours on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Read the service notice for the 2024 schedule. During Buildings After Hours, staff from the borough commissioner’s office, borough operations, development inspections, enforcement inspections, and plan examination are available to answer questions and provide the information needed to:

  • plan for a home renovation or construction project
  • address an open violation on a property
  • obtain more information about a property
  • use online resources including the Buildings Information System (BIS) and DOB NOW.

Staff from the Administrative Enforcement Unit will be available in the Manhattan borough office. Please continue to use DOB NOW and eFiling for all applicable online services.

  • Records Requests - Requests for records are required to be submitted in advance in DOB NOW: BIS Options. If an email notification has been sent that the records are available, they may be picked up during Buildings After Hours.
  • Certificates of Correction - To correct an OATH/ECB summons, a Certificate of Correction is required to be submitted in DOB NOW: BIS Options. Administrative Enforcement Unit staff will be available in the Manhattan borough office during Buildings After Hours to answer questions about OATH/ECB summonses and Certificates of Correction that have been submitted in DOB NOW.

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