NYC: New DOB Procedure

Tom Walsh

Posted by Tom Walsh

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DOB NOW is the New York City's new Department of Building's self-service online tool, created to increase efficiency and expedite the permit process. 

Effective July 1, 2019

Owners, Design Professionals, Licensees, and Contractors will need to register with DOB NOW in order to obtain permits and approvals. 

dob_now_logo

Each profession will have a slightly different registration process. This document provides a step-by-step registration process for each profession.

It is important to follow the correct filing format related to your profession.

Building owners and building managers will follow the same four step process (page 1) 
Professional Engineers (PE) and Registered Architects (RA) will follow the same ten step process, (page 2)
General Contractors (GC) have their own ten step process, (page 3)
and Qualified Exterior Wall Inspectors (QEWI) will have their own 14 step process (page 4).

Register here

Burnham recommends registering as soon as possible, as it will decrease delays in the permitting process. 

New York Office

Has the DOB NOW login process changed since this post was written?
Yes, significantly. As of June 3, 2024, DOB NOW integrated with NYC.ID, requiring all returning and new users to have an NYC.ID account to log in - replacing the original DOB NOW-only registration process described in this post.
If I already had a DOB NOW account from before June 2024, do I need to re-register?
You need to create an NYC.ID using the same email address associated with your existing DOB NOW filings - using the same email ensures all your existing filings appear on your dashboard automatically without any additional steps.
Do licensed architects, engineers, and contractors follow a different registration process than building owners?
Yes - licensees need to associate their DOB-issued license or registration numbers to their NYC.ID account, and may need to submit an authentication form with a copy of their driver's license or DOB ID as part of the profile setup. Building owners and non-licensees follow a simpler process without the license association step.
Are all license types now managed through DOB NOW?
As of February 23, 2026, several additional license types moved to DOB NOW: Licensing - including Electrician, Filing Representative, Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor, Master Plumber, and Special Inspection Agency, among others.
Does the NYC.ID account work for other city services beyond DOB NOW?
Yes, NYC.ID is a single sign-on account for all NYC.gov online services, so the same login works across DOB NOW, 311, HPD, and other city portals as part of the city's broader MyCity initiative.
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