DOB New Building (NB) job — ground-up construction: New York City restaurant guide

NYC DOB

What it is

A ground-up building is filed as a New Building (NB) job in DOB NOW: Build, not an alteration. It carries full plan review, structural and foundation work types, special inspections, and ends in a new Certificate of Occupancy (a TCO can be issued first).

When a restaurant needs it

Building a new structure (or when DOB determines the alteration must meet New Building requirements).

How to apply

Your Registered Architect or PE files the NB job (General Construction with Foundation and Structural work types, combined or as subsequent filings) in DOB NOW: Build; only one NB job may be in progress per Building Identification Number.

Documents you’ll need

Full construction drawings (architectural, structural, MEP)
Zoning analysis
Site safety plan where required
Energy code compliance
TR1 special-inspection designations

Fee

New buildings under 7 stories and under 100,000 sq ft: $0.26 per sq ft, not less than $280; 7+ stories or 100,000+ sq ft: $0.45 per sq ft, not less than $290 (NYC Admin Code §28-112.2)

Processing time

Many months — plan review plus construction

Renewal

Permits renew per work type ($130 per work type)

Who files

Filed by a Registered Architect or Professional Engineer.

Good to know

Nearly all NYC restaurants are tenants in existing buildings and never see an NB job; if you are, the restaurant fit-out is usually a separate Alteration filed after the shell gets its TCO.

Official source

DOB — Job types in DOB NOW (NB / Alt-CO / Alt) · DOB NOW: Build — New Building FAQs

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.