NYC Bids Farewell to Landmark Status Letters
By Penny Laughlin
Effective March 6, 2023, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) stopped issuing Landmark Status Letters, and the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) stopped accepting these documents in DOB NOW.
To find out whether a property is a designated landmark or located within a designated historic district, refer to the Discover NYC Landmarks map, which is searchable in a variety of ways, including by address.
If your property is, in fact, designated a historic landmark, you must apply for an LPC permit before performing certain types of work on it. This must be done prior to standard DOB permits.
If your property’s landmark status is “calendared,” or currently under review by the LPC, you should apply to the LPC just to be sure.
Exterior Landmark Work
For individual landmarks or buildings in a historic district, LPC permits are required for:
- Any restoration, alteration, reconstruction, demolition, or new construction that affects the exterior.
- Any project that affects the exterior envelope of the building, even at parts of the building that are not visible from the street.
NOTE: Even if your exterior project does not require a DOB permit, an LPC permit is still required.
Interior Landmark Work
For individual landmarks or buildings in a historic district, LPC permits are required for:
- Projects that require a permit from the Department of Buildings.
- Projects that affect the exterior of a building, such as HVAC louvers and vents.
- Projects that affect interior spaces that have been designated as interior landmarks.
Emergency Landmark Repairs and Maintenance
LPC permits are not required for:
- Temporarily boarding up windows and doors to prevent possible damage (i.e., due to hurricanes, vandalism, etc.) or to secure damaged windows and doors before making repairs.
- Removing broken or dislodged façade elements that pose an immediate threat to occupants or the public. (Note: historic architectural features should be salvaged and saved on site for repair or replication, and LPC staff should be immediately notified to assist you in applying for permanent repairs.)
- Installing tarps or protective coverings over holes in walls or roofs (i.e. damage from fallen trees, fire, structural collapse, etc.).
- Replacing broken glass.
- Replacing broken window and door hardware in kind.
- Replacing broken or damaged gutters and leaders in kind.
- Repainting or “touching up” painted surfaces in kind.
- Cleaning sidewalks, storefronts, and façade elements with low-pressure water washing.
- Repainting a building’s exterior or architectural feature a color that matches the existing color.
- Replacing caulk around windows and doors.
If you have any questions about or need assistance with obtaining an LPC permit, please contact Metropolis Group at 212.233.6344.