Pictured: Mayor Mary Marvin. Photo by N. Bower

By Mary Marvin, Mayor of Bronxville

Note: To learn more about what's going on in Bronxville, here is a link to the Village of Bronxville December "One Square Mile" newsletter.

Dec. 11, 2024: The Village’s Building Department is experiencing unprecedented activity, which of course augurs well for the health and beauty of the Village.

In an effort to assist our incredible second floor building staff, the Trustees passed a spending resolution at the November Board of Trustees meeting to upgrade the entire software program in the department which will allow for online applications and fee submittals in 2025.

This improvement should ease the process immensely and save those sometime inconvenient visits to Village Hall during the 9am to 4pm window.

As a general overview, construction requiring a permit is limited to work done Monday through Friday 8am to 6pm. No construction is permitted on weekends or holidays. Work that does not require a permit such as painting, but may have loud equipment associated, is regulated by the Village’s noise ordinance which prohibits loud and unusual noise regardless of the time of day. If you see unpermitted work being done out of permitted hours, kindly call the police desk at 914-337-0500.

The permit process is not designed to be time consuming or punitive, rather to ensure safety and quality of work in the Village. To ensure a high standard of work, be sure to employ only licensed plumbers, electricians and general contractors. To be licensed in Westchester County, plumbers and electricians must pass a qualifications exam that demonstrates a certain level of skill. A list of licensed plumbers and electricians is on the County website and individual professionals should have a card available with their license number for inspection.

General contractors are regulated and licensed by Westchester County though a standardized exam is not required, a license assures that a contractor has adequate insurance and Workmen’s Compensation coverage. All licensed contractors are required to display a green bumper sticker with their license number on all company vehicles. County building inspectors routinely tour municipalities for compliance and have the authority to shut down projects.

The following are the answers to the most frequently asked questions of the Village’s professional building staff.

Do I need a permit to renovate my kitchen, bathroom or to install a tub or shower?

The answer is almost uniformly yes you will need a permit to do this work with our website sharing common examples of what particular improvements require what permits. As a general rule, regardless of the size of a project, if the work includes the extension or modification of any pipes or wiring, a permit is required.

What happens if I start work without a permit?

If permits are not secured at the onset of a project, fees are automatically doubled and contractors may be required to open walls for inspection and remove unpermitted work and work is halted immediately.

Approximately how long does it take to receive a permit once applied for?

Typical review time is 3 to 4 weeks, and it is best to have all subcontractors file while review is pending to speed up the process.

Do seemingly small improvements require permits?

As a general guide, permits are required to replace fences, windows, roofs, boilers, central air conditioning, emergency generators, sheds and exterior decks.

Do I need a permit for a dumpster?

Dumpsters on private property are allowed during construction. If you are not doing construction, but need a dumpster to clean out your home, it is best to let the building inspector know in case any complaints are called in. Any dumpster placed in the roadway will need a permit from the Department of Public Works.

Do my taxes go up once a Certificate of Occupancy is issued?

Contrary to what some believe, closing out your permit does not trigger an increase in your taxes. Once your permit is applied for, the Assessor’s Office receives a set of the architectural drawings showing all improvements being done. Not closing out a permit only affects you, the homeowner, when you try to sell your house potentially causing delays in closing. To stay current, you can call the Building Department to schedule an appointment anytime to view your property folder and see if all the information is correct, most importantly, whether you have any open permits instead of waiting to crunch time near your potential home sale.

Can my permit be expedited?

We do not expedite permits since everyone is treated the same and work is reviewed on a first come first serve basis.

Do all permits need to be closed out once issued?

All permits must be closed out by either a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion, which affects minor permits only.

Who is responsible for closing out a building permit?

The homeowner, contractor or architect can close out the file, but it is not the building department’s responsibility to remind you to complete this function.

Other than the above, most questions are answered on our website or by emailing our Building Department or calling the office at 914-337-7338 during the 9am to 4pm window weekdays.

In the final analysis, properly permitted work protects the property values in the Village, allows for easy transfer of property and ensures the safety of homeowners and their neighbors.