Resources
Guides
Plain explanations of the questions that come up most often — open permits, legalizations, property records and pool approvals.
What an open permit is, and how it gets closed
Why a permit pulled decades ago can stop a sale today, and what resolving it involves.
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Legalizing an accessory apartment on Long Island
What determines whether an existing second unit can be brought onto the record.
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What a property file review tells you before you buy
The municipal record holds things a walkthrough and a home inspection will not surface.
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Do I need a permit for a deck?
Almost always yes on Long Island, and building one without is a problem that surfaces at sale.
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Cracks in walls: when to worry and when not to
Not every crack is structural. The ones that matter share a few identifiable characteristics.
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What to do when you get a building department violation
A violation has a clock attached. What you do in the first week shapes how much it costs.
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Variances: when your project does not fit the zoning
A variance is permission to deviate from the rules. Getting one depends on how you ask.
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Restaurant build-outs: the timeline nobody plans for
Two agencies, two calendars, and one opening date. The health department is the one that slips.
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Flood zones and house lifting on the South Shore
What determines whether a house has to be raised, and what raising one actually involves.
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Pool permits on Long Island: what actually gets reviewed
The pool is the easy part. Drainage, barriers and groundwater are what hold approvals up.
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