Contractor licenses come from the county, but building permits come from your local government: your town, city or incorporated village. The Attorney General recommends confirming required permits and inspections with your local building office before work begins.
Step 1: Find out if you live in a village
Long Island has dozens of incorporated villages, and each one runs its own building department. If your home is inside a village, the village issues your permit. If not, your town (or city) does. Your property tax bill shows which applies.
Step 2: Find your town or city
Nassau County
- Town of Hempstead
- Town of North Hempstead
- Town of Oyster Bay
- City of Glen Cove
- City of Long Beach
Suffolk County
- Town of Babylon
- Town of Brookhaven
- Town of East Hampton
- Town of Huntington
- Town of Islip
- Town of Riverhead
- Town of Shelter Island
- Town of Smithtown
- Town of Southampton
- Town of Southold
Step 3: Ask the building department
Call or check the building department’s website and describe the job. Rules differ from place to place, but work such as additions, decks, roofs, structural changes, new plumbing or electrical, pools, fences and sheds commonly needs a permit or approval.
Who applies?
Decide this in writing before work starts. Many contractors handle the permit for you; either way, make sure the permit is issued before work begins and that final inspections are passed before you make the last payment.
Why it matters
- Unpermitted work can delay or derail a future sale or refinance.
- Your insurer may question claims involving unpermitted work.
- Inspections catch safety problems while they are still easy to fix.
Sources
Last reviewed November 2026.