Jackson Heights Life

Does anyone have experience dealing with DOB to share? Any tips and experiences would be helpful. Especially if it is related to condo/coop renovations on things like knocking down non-bearing walls, changing from a bathtub to a shower, and updating electrical.

How was the process? How long did it take? Any anecdotes could be helpful.

Thanks,

DD

I thought it was not needed either but apparently it is. I don’t understand why approval is needed, especially on non load bearing walls. If anyone knows please share your expertise. It would at least made me feel better.

The management company says it needs DOB approval to remove any wall.

You will need permission if you want to take more than half of any wall. Here is some info copied from the DOB website:

2. Non-fire-rated and non-load-bearing wall, permanent removal in Group R occupancies. In Group R occupancies, where the cutting away and permanent removal of any portion of a non-load-bearing, non-fire-rated partition is limited to the lesser of 50% of a given wall surface or 45 square feet in area.
Exception: a permit shall be required where the cutting away and permanent removal of any size occurs in a dwelling unit satisfying either of the following conditions:
i. The dwelling unit is located in any of the following areas**:
a. Special Hudson Yards District
b. Preservation Area P-2 of the Special Garment Center District
c. Special Clinton District
d. Special West Chelsea District
e. Greenpoint-Williamsburg anti-harassment areas in Community District 1, Borough of Brooklyn; and
ii. the dwelling unit is within a single room occupancy multiple dwelling††
**
The permanent removal of a portion of the partition resulting in a change in the layout of rooms within a dwelling unit shall constitute a “material alteration” in accordance with Zoning Resolution sections 93-90 and 96-01. Any “material alteration” to a dwelling unit located within the “anti-harassment areas” as provided for in Zoning Resolution Sections 23-013, 93-90, 96-01, and 98-70 shall constitute an alteration in accordance with the Building Code and, therefore, require a building permit.
††
applicable, a Certificate of No Harassment in accordance with section 28-107.4 of the Administrative Code.
Such work shall be considered an alteration and therefore require a building permit and, where applicable, a Certificate of No Harassment in accordance with section 28-107.4 of the Administrative Code.

https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/rules/1_RCNY_101-14.pdf

But I do not want to divert from the objective of this post. If a permit is needed or not, I am not an expert.
I just wanted to chat with people that went through this process since this could be my case.
Please DM me. I am very interested in any tips or stories.

Best,
DD