When a job doesn’t need a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy, it doesn’t end with a C of O. It ends with a Letter of Completion (LOC). DOB issues an LOC for minor alterations to show the job has been completed and closed out. Without one, the filing stays open on the building’s record. Open filings tend to come up in a title search when the property is sold or refinanced.
LOC, C of O or LNO?
- Letter of Completion: minor alterations that don’t need a new or amended C of O.
- Certificate of Occupancy: new buildings, and alterations that change use, egress or occupancy. See how to obtain a C of O and Temporary Certificates of Occupancy.
- Letter of No Objection: proof of the existing legal use of a building from before 1938 that has no C of O. See Letter of No Objection.
What must be done before an LOC can be requested (DOB NOW: Build)
DOB lists these requirements:
1. The application is in Permit Entire status.
2. The Cost Affidavit (PW3) final cost details are verified.
3. All required documents are submitted.
4. The Final Technical Report inspection is certified (if applicable).
5. All permits have been inspected and are Signed Off.
6. All After Hours Variance (AHV) permits are in approved status.
The owner or the applicant of record requests the LOC from the DOB NOW: Build dashboard (+Requests, or “Request LOC” in the Filing Action column). Once it is approved, the LOC is emailed to the stakeholders on the filing, and anyone can view it on the DOB NOW public portal.
Temporary construction equipment
Construction fences, sidewalk sheds, supported scaffolds, support of excavation, and protection and mechanical methods don’t need a final technical report. Any stakeholder on the filing submits a removal notification. The permit then shows Signed Off, and the job moves to “LOC Issued” once every permit on the filing is signed off (Local Law 146 of 2021). See our sidewalk shed permit filing page.
Older BIS jobs
For jobs filed in DOB’s older Buildings Information System (BIS), DOB’s PW7 form is the Letter of Completion request. For those jobs, upload it through eSubmit with the request type set to LOC. The PW7 lists the usual reasons a request is disapproved: unpaid fees, missing sign-offs, missing items or forms, open ECB/DOB violations, and pending audits. Very old filings may first need to be reinstated by an architect or engineer. See closing out old permits or filings.
Violations hold up the LOC
DOB won’t issue an LOC (or a C of O) while DOB violations on the job are active. Clear them first; see violation removal.
What we do
S & M Expediting is a Class 2 filing representative and NYC-certified M/WBE, with more than 75 years of combined NYC expediting experience. We check what is still open on the filing (sign-offs, the PW3, documents, technical reports, AHVs, violations), prepare the missing paperwork, and prepare the LOC request for the owner or applicant of record to submit.
Who does any remaining work
We will work with the contractor you have, or if not, we will recommend one from our network.
Contact us with the address or job number.
