Building permits in Buffalo, NY
Permits for Buffalo are issued by City of Buffalo, Permit & Inspection Services. Applications go through the portal below.
Checked against the department's own page on 6 Sep 2026
Where to file
- Department
- City of Buffalo, Permit & Inspection Services
- Phone
- 716-851-4949
- Portal
- epermits.buffalony.gov
ePermits (plan review via IDTPlans). 65 Niagara Square, Room 301. Permit office direct line 716-851-4926.
What each job needs in Buffalo
Typical requirements and fee ranges. Fees scale with project valuation, so treat these as a starting point and confirm the number with City of Buffalo before you quote.
| Project | Permits | Typical fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Remodel | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Addition | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| New Construction | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Site / Grading | $500–3,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
| Electrical | Electrical | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Plumbing | Plumbing | $50–200 | 3–5 business days |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Mechanical (HVAC) | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Roofing | Roofing | $100–400 | 1–5 business days |
| Deck / Fence | Building | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Demolition | Demolition | $50–400 | 5–10 business days |
| Commercial Build-Out | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Fire / Life-Safety Review | $300–2,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
Licensing in New York
No statewide general-contractor license — requirements are local; e.g., NYC requires a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license plus DOB General Contractor registration, and Nassau/Suffolk/Westchester each license their own.
Issued by No statewide GC license (local licensing); NYC Dept. of Consumer & Worker Protection (DCWP) + NYC Dept. of Buildings (DOB) · Verify a licence
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Other New York jurisdictions
All New York jurisdictionsDepartment, portal and phone checked against the official page on 6 Sep 2026. Fee ranges and turnaround times are typical for this kind of work and are not quotes. Requirements change, so confirm with the department before you file. SQM.AI is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.