DOB Filing Services in NYC
Building Violations Solutions prepares and files your DOB applications through DOB NOW: Build — from the PW1 and job type selection to permit issuance and final sign-off. We manage professional certification or standard plan examination, respond to every plan examiner objection, and drive the job to completion so you avoid delays and violations. Free consultation.
We File It, We Track It, We Close It Out
Whether you're building ground-up, running a major alteration, or handling a single work type, BVS manages the full DOB filing lifecycle — from the PW1 through DOB NOW: Build to the sign-off or Letter of Completion that closes the job. You avoid the objection cycles and delays that stall owners who file on their own.
We prepare and submit the correct job type for your scope:
- •New Building (NB) — ground-up construction and new condominium development.
- •ALT-CO — alterations that change the Certificate of Occupancy, including change-of-use and occupancy conversions.
- •ALT-GC — general construction that doesn't affect occupancy or use.
- •Temporary Use Permits (TUP) & temporary structures — tents, stages, and event spaces, filed as GC alterations in DOB NOW.
Along the way we coordinate professional certification or standard plan examination, respond to every plan examiner objection, and secure permit issuance. To understand which permit type your scope requires, see our NYC building permits guide.
How the DOB Filing Process Works
A DOB filing is a multi-stage process: select and submit the correct job type in DOB NOW: Build, choose professional certification or standard plan examination, clear every plan examiner objection, secure permit issuance, and pass the required inspections through sign-off. Miss a step — or file the wrong job type — and the job stalls, accrues objections, and delays your construction schedule.
Ready to file your project with the DOB?
Contact BVS for a free consultation. We'll confirm the right job type, map the filing strategy, and outline the fastest path to permit issuance.
Want to understand the filing process first?
Read our DOB Filing Guide — a plain-English walkthrough of DOB NOW: Build, professional certification vs. plan examination, objections, and sign-off.
Why Owners Trust BVS With Their DOB Filings
Correct Job Type, First Time
Filing an ALT-GC when the scope needs an ALT-CO — or vice versa — triggers objections and reclassification mid-review. BVS confirms the right job type before anything is submitted.
Full DOB NOW: Build Management
We prepare the PW1, assemble drawings and documents, submit the job, and manage the electronic filing end to end — including fee payment and every associated work type.
Objections Cleared Fast
Plan examiner objections are where most filings stall. We respond to each one directly and coordinate with your architect or engineer to clear them in as few rounds as possible.
Carried Through to Sign-Off
Approval isn't the finish line. We schedule inspections, resolve open items, and secure the sign-off, Letter of Completion, or new Certificate of Occupancy that officially closes the job.
How BVS Handles Your DOB Filing
Scope Review & Job Type Selection
We review your project scope, existing conditions, and prior DOB history to determine the correct job type (NB, ALT-CO, or ALT-GC) and whether professional certification or standard plan examination is the better path.
Application Preparation & Filing
BVS prepares the PW1 and all associated work-type applications, assembles the drawings and supporting documents from your design team, pays the filing fee, and submits the job through DOB NOW: Build.
Plan Exam & Objection Resolution
We manage plan examination, respond to every plan examiner objection, and coordinate revised drawings or code citations with your architect or engineer until the filing is approved.
Permit Issuance & Sign-Off
Once approved, we secure permit issuance so construction can begin, then schedule inspections and obtain the final sign-off, Letter of Completion, or new Certificate of Occupancy that closes out the job.
Related Services & Resources
DOB Filing Guide
The filing process explained — DOB NOW: Build, professional certification, objections, and sign-off.
NYC Building Permits Guide
ALT-1, ALT-2, ALT-3, NB, and DM permit types explained — and when each one applies to your scope.
Permit Expediting
Speed your filing through DOB review — objection turnaround, follow-up, and permit pickup.
Zoning Analysis
Confirm FAR, use, and setback compliance before you file to avoid zoning objections at plan exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DOB filing and why do I need one?
A DOB filing is the formal application you submit to the NYC Department of Buildings before construction, alteration, or demolition work can legally begin. It puts your project's scope, drawings, and code compliance in front of DOB for review. Without an approved filing and issued permit, the work is unpermitted — which risks violations, penalties, and a Stop Work Order. BVS prepares and files the correct application type so your project starts clean.
How does BVS file my project with the DOB?
BVS prepares the application in DOB NOW: Build — the required job type (NB, ALT-CO, ALT-GC) and the PW1 Plan/Work application — assembles the drawings and supporting documents from your design team, and submits the job. We then manage plan examination, respond to every objection, secure approval and permit issuance, and carry the job through inspections to sign-off or a Letter of Completion.
What is the difference between professional certification and standard plan examination?
Under professional certification, a licensed architect or engineer certifies that the plans comply with all applicable codes, and DOB issues the permit without a full plan review — which is faster but carries audit risk and professional liability. Under standard plan examination, a DOB plan examiner reviews the drawings and issues objections that must be resolved before approval. BVS advises which path fits your project and manages either route.
What are DOB plan examiner objections and how are they resolved?
Objections are the specific code, zoning, or documentation issues a plan examiner flags during review. Each one must be answered — with revised drawings, a code citation, or additional paperwork — before the filing is approved. Objection resolution is often a multi-round back-and-forth. BVS responds to objections directly and coordinates with your architect or engineer to clear them quickly.
How long does a DOB filing take to get approved?
Timelines vary widely by job type, filing method, and how quickly objections are resolved. A single-work-type filing under professional certification can move in days, while a New Building or change-of-occupancy job under standard plan examination can take weeks or months across multiple objection rounds. BVS works to compress the timeline by filing correctly the first time and turning objections around fast.
What is a Letter of Completion and when do I need one?
A Letter of Completion (LOC) is DOB's confirmation that a job not resulting in a new Certificate of Occupancy has been finished and signed off. Jobs that do change occupancy conclude with a new or amended CO instead. BVS schedules the required final inspections, clears any open items, and obtains the sign-off, LOC, or CO that closes out your filing.
Can BVS take over a DOB filing that's already stuck?
Yes. We regularly step into jobs stalled by unresolved objections, expired permits, or filings submitted under the wrong job type. BVS pulls the DOB NOW record, diagnoses what's holding the job up, and drives it back to approval and permit issuance. If the wrong application type was filed, we correct the classification.
Ready to File Your Project With the DOB?
Contact BVS today for a free consultation, or call (212) 292-7900. We'll confirm the right job type, prepare your DOB NOW: Build filing, and drive it through to permit issuance. Learn more about the agency on our NYC Department of Buildings page.