Why permits matter more in NYC than almost anywhere
In New York City, electrical permits aren't bureaucratic box-ticking — they're the difference between work that protects you and work that becomes a liability. Every permitted job ends with a Certificate of Electrical Inspection, a public record attached to your property that proves the work meets the NYC Electrical Code.
That certificate matters at three moments most homeowners don't anticipate:
- When you sell. A buyer's inspection surfaces unpermitted work fast — it becomes a price-reduction lever or a deal-killer.
- When you file an insurance claim. If a loss traces to unpermitted work, the insurer can deny the claim.
- When the DOB notices. Violations are public, carry fines, and require correction at your expense.
Our standard, no exceptions: if a job requires a permit, we pull it. We never offer to "skip the permit to save time" — that offer always costs the homeowner more later. See exactly what needs one in our NYC electrical code guide.
What we handle — the whole DOB process
Determine if a permit is needed
We tell you honestly whether your job requires a DOB permit. Switch/outlet/fixture swaps on existing circuits usually don't; panels, new circuits, service upgrades, rewiring, EV circuits, and generators do.
File with the NYC DOB
We file the electrical permit application under our master license before work begins — the borough DOB office, the forms, the fees, all handled.
Perform code-compliant work
Every installation meets current NYC Electrical Code — the inspection is something we plan to pass, not hope to.
Schedule & attend inspection
We schedule the DOB inspection and meet the inspector on site, so you don't have to coordinate or take time off.
Obtain sign-off & certificate
Inspector signs off; the Certificate of Electrical Inspection is issued and becomes part of your property record. We hand you the documentation.
Legalizing past unpermitted work
Bought a home with mystery wiring? Inherited a renovation a previous owner never permitted? You're not alone — it's one of the most common situations we resolve in NYC's older housing stock.
Legalization brings unpermitted work into compliance: we assess what's there, document existing conditions, correct anything that doesn't meet code, and obtain proper DOB inspection and sign-off. Sometimes it requires opening walls so an inspector can verify concealed work; sometimes the existing work is sound and only needs documentation and a filed permit. Either way, you end up with a clean record.
The starting point is almost always an electrical inspection — it tells you the scope before you commit to anything.
Co-op, condo & commercial documentation
Beyond DOB permits, NYC buildings layer on their own requirements. For co-ops and condos we prepare the full alteration package — scope of work letter, master license and insurance certificates naming the building as additional insured, and engineer load letters where required. For generators we add DEP fuel permits. For commercial work we coordinate with your engineer of record and handle commercial inspection requirements. This is routine for us across apartments, multi-family buildings, and commercial spaces.
Frequently asked questions
Panel and service upgrades, new circuits, rewiring, EV charger circuits, generators, and substantial new wiring all require a DOB permit. Replacing a switch, outlet, or fixture on an existing circuit generally does not. We tell you which category your job is in before quoting.
No — DOB permit and inspection coordination is included in our project quotes, not a surprise add-on. Typical permit/inspection cost falls in the $300–$900 range depending on scope and is itemized transparently.
Straightforward residential permits are typically approved within 1–2 weeks; Manhattan can run longer. We file early and schedule the inspection as soon as work completes. The whole cycle usually adds a couple of weeks to a project, which we build into your timeline.
Yes. We assess, document, correct anything not to code, and obtain proper DOB sign-off. It sometimes requires opening concealed work for inspection. Start with an electrical inspection to scope it.
Yes — the Certificate of Electrical Inspection issued at DOB sign-off. It's your permanent compliance record, required by most insurers and valuable at resale. We hand you the documentation when the job closes.
Yes — plus the additional documentation those require: co-op alteration packages, insurance certificates naming the building, engineer load letters, DEP fuel permits for generators, and commercial inspection coordination with your engineer of record.
What our customers say
"Bought a Bed-Stuy brownstone full of unpermitted electrical work. MP Electric legalized all of it, got DOB sign-off, and handed us a clean certificate. It cleared a financing hold that was about to kill our closing."
"They filed the permit, met the inspector, and got the certificate — I didn't take a single hour off work. After two contractors who 'didn't bother with permits,' this was a relief."
"Our co-op board required a mountain of documentation. MP Electric had the alteration package, insurance certs, and load letter ready on the first submission. Approved without a single follow-up."
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Need a permit pulled or work legalized?
Tell us the job — we'll confirm whether it needs a DOB permit, handle the entire filing and inspection, and deliver your Certificate of Electrical Inspection.
