City
Building permits
Photo: Jim.henderson · CC BY 4.0
Proposal 4 · New York City Charter
One place to get building permits.
Puts building permit applications in one online system and moves waterfront permits to the Buildings Department.
Your vote
Yes
Create a central permitting hub and move waterfront permits to the Department of Buildings.
No
Leave the current permitting system as it is.
Each side
For
One system for about 40 approvals from 18 agencies means fewer delays, so housing and other projects can start sooner.
Against
Moving permit power into one agency and more officials could weaken review, and parts don't require changing the city's charter.
On the ballot as
Simplify Building Permitting and Move Waterfront Permitting to Department of Buildings
Sources
NYC Votes (NYC Campaign Finance Board)
2026 Ballot Proposals
↗
League of Women Voters of the City of New York
Proposals on the Ballot in New York City in the 2026 General Election
↗
NYC Mayor's Office · 2026-07-23
COGE Releases 5 Ballot Proposals and Final Report
↗