Job Type per Borough (Q1-Q3 2017)
Permits Time Series (Q1 2000 - Q3 2017)
NB & A1 Total Square Footage (Q1 2000 - Q3 2017)
Permit Types by Community District (Q1-Q3 2017)
Top 20 Development Projects (Q3 2017)
Permit Types by Community District (2016)
2016 Construction Permit Activity
Construction activity has been on the rise in NYC with varying trends in the total volume and type of permits issued. In 2016, the majority of New Building (NB), Demolition (DM), and Alteration Type 1 (ALT1) permits were issued in Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. However, smaller jobs types such as Alteration Types 2 (ALT2) and 3 (ALT3) were more prevalent in Manhattan. The permitting data presented in this report are aggregated by both initial and renewed permits.


  • New Building (NB): Brooklyn had the most NB permits issued in 2016 (2,604 total, 35% citywide). The Community District with the greatest number of NB permits issued in 2016 was CD503 in Staten Island (518 total, 7% citywide).


  • ALT1: Brooklyn had the greatest number of ALT1 permits issued in 2016 (2,975 total, 35% citywide). CD407 in Queens had over 400 ALT1 permits issued in 2016, 5% of the citywide total.


  • ALT2: Manhattan had the greatest number of ALT2 permits in 2016 (61,187 total, 50% citywide). The Community District with the most ALT2 permits in 2016 was CD105 in Manhattan (14,885 total, 12% citywide).


  • ALT3: Manhattan had the greatest number of ALT3 permits in 2016 (10,669 total, 44% citywide). The Community District with the greatest number of initial and renewal ALT3 permits in 2016 wasCD105 in Manhattan (1,778 total, 7% citywide).


  • Demolition (DM): Brooklyn had the greatest number of DM permits in 2016 (862 total, 38% citywide). The Community District with the greatest number permits issued in 2016 wasCD407 in Queens (135 total, 6% citywide).


  • Total Permits: Manhattan had the greatest total number of permits issued in 2016 (75,109 total, 45% citywide). The Community District with the greatest number of permits issued in 2016 was CD105 in Manhattan (17,205 total, 10% citywide).


Job Type: Top 10 Community Districts (2016)
The greatest number of New Building permits was issued in CD 503 in Staten Island, whereas CD 407 in Queens had the most A1 and Demolition permits issued. Smaller alteration jobs are more prevalent in Manhattan with CD 105 having almost 15,000 A2 permits issued.
Permits Time Series (2000 - 2016)
The greatest year-to-year increase in total number of permits issued occurred from 2003 to 2004 where New Building permits increased by 20% and Demolitions increased by 27%. This upward surge continued through 2005, but was followed by a six year period of decline. However, since 2013, New Building and Demolition permits have again steadily increased.
NB & A1 Total Square Footage (2000 - 2016)
In 2009 there was a 68% reduction in New Building square footage from the previous year. The 2008 economic crisis can be attributed toward this decline in New Building construction. In 2015 there was a 142% increase in New Building square footage from the previous year. This spike can be attributed to the 2015 expiration of a tax benefit (421-a) for new construction.
Demolition Permits Density Time Series (2000 - 2016)
This map shows concentrations of demolition permits between 2000-2016 (press play or click and drag time slider to iterate over years). Darker shades of red indicate higher concentrations of demolition permits while darker shades of green indicate lower concentrations.
New Building Permits Density Time Series (2000 - 2016)
This map shows concentrations of new building permits between 2000-2016 (press play or click and drag time slider to iterate over years). Darker shades of red indicate higher concentrations of new building permits while darker shades of blue indicate lower concentrations.
NYC Employment: Construction of Buildings (2000 - 2016)
Employment in the industry of building construction has steadily increased in New York City since 2010. There was a 44% increase in 2016 since 2010 and a 7% increase from the previous year. There is also a strong correlation between construction employment numbers and permitting activity.

Source: US Department of Labor

Top 20 Development Projects (Q4 2016)
This map shows the top 20 approved NB and A1 permits issued with the highest estimated cost in the 4th quarter of 2016. A 10,000 square-foot training facility at 100A Rodmans Neck Path in the Bronx was the largest development project during this period with an estimated cost of $740 million. Construction costs are self-reported by the applicant.
Job Type per Borough (2000 - 2016)
Since 2000, Queens and Brooklyn have seen the largest proportion of New Building, ALT1, and Demolition permits issued, whereas the most A2 and A3 permits have been issued in Manhattan. There are more A2 permits issued in Manhattan than the other four boroughs combined.
NB Total Square Footage & Dwelling Units (2015 - 2016)
This map shows initial new building permits issued in 2015 and 2016, with the larger/darker circles indicating higher total volume of square footage and dwelling units. Over the two-year period, Queens and Brooklyn had the highest number of NB permits issued. Manhattan had 90% fewer NB permits issued than Queens but 40% more square footage and 25% more dwelling units, with the bulk of development happening in midtown Manhattan.

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