Brookhaven, New York Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Brookhaven Building Division Contact Information

Commercial Building Division applications and residential applications filed by expeditors or licensed professionals are submitted through Digital Services. A property owner submitting their own residential application may request an in-person paper application, but the Town states that all supporting material must fit on 8½ × 11-inch paper. If any plan or document is larger, electronic submission is required.

Do You Need a Brookhaven Building Permit?

Brookhaven requires a building permit for work that must comply with the New York State Uniform Code or Energy Code, including many construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, relocation, removal and demolition projects.

Common permit exemptions

Brookhaven Town Code includes limited exemptions. For qualifying one- or two-family residential properties, examples include:

• One-story detached tool/storage sheds or similar structures not exceeding 144 square feet, when placed in a zoning-compliant location.
• Certain decks, patios and walkways that do not rise more than 8 inches above grade.
• Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting and similar finish work.
• Certain portable listed electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation or cooling equipment.
• Limited repairs that do not affect structural systems, required egress or fire-protection systems.

See the current rules in Brookhaven Town Code Chapter 16 and Chapter 85, Article II.

How to Apply for a Brookhaven Building Permit

1. Confirm permit jurisdiction. Verify that the property is handled by the Town of Brookhaven rather than an incorporated village or another authority.
2. Define the exact project. Identify whether you are applying for new construction, an addition, alteration, deck, pool, garage, shed, demolition, solar installation, generator, sign or another permit type.
3. Collect existing property certificates. Locate available Certificates of Occupancy, Compliance, Existing Use and Zoning Compliance for the site.
4. Obtain a current survey. Brookhaven’s current application guidance calls for a survey drawn to scale, signed and stamped by the surveyor, generally dated within one year of the application and showing proposed structures, dimensions and property-line setbacks.
5. Prepare construction plans. Clearly label existing and proposed work. Depending on project scope, a New York licensed architect or professional engineer may need to prepare or seal documents.
6. Collect project-specific documentation. Examples include an Agent Authorization Affidavit, plumbing/HVAC worksheet, cost estimate, gas riser diagram, equipment specifications, insurance documents or demolition documentation.
7. Open Digital Services. Go to digitalservices.brookhavenny.gov, create or sign into your account, select the applicable Building Division service and enter the property and project information.
8. Upload documents and pay required charges. Review the submission before filing. Monitor the portal for plan-review comments, requests for additional information and payment notices.
9. Wait for issuance before starting regulated work. After required Town and outside-agency approvals are complete and fees are paid, obtain the issued permit. Keep required approved documents available at the work site and schedule inspections as construction reaches each required stage.

Building Permit Document Checklist

Not every project needs every item. Prepare the standard documents first, then add the documents that apply to your work.

The Town’s consolidated requirements are available on the Building Division forms and requirements page.

Brookhaven Building Permit Fees & Processing in 2026

There is no single flat price for every Brookhaven building permit. The Town states that fees vary by the type, size and value of the project. Charges may include an application fee, building-permit fee, trade or fixture fees, optional accelerated review, reinspection charges and permit-extension fees.

Brookhaven Town Code also contains renewal and extension provisions. Do not assume an expired permit can simply be continued. Check the permit record and resolve the renewal before performing additional work.

For the amount applicable to your project, use the official Building Construction service page and the fee information provided during Town review.

How Brookhaven Building Inspections Work

Once a permit is issued, required work must remain accessible for inspection. Brookhaven Town Code states that permit holders must notify the enforcing authority when work is ready. Work that fails inspection must remain accessible until corrections are completed and the work passes reinspection.

Typical inspection stages for a new residence

The Town’s published new-residence inspection requirements identify stages such as:

1. Footing and foundation-wall inspection before backfill.
2. Underground plumbing before the slab is installed.
3. Tie-down and strapping inspection before components are concealed.
4. Rough framing and plumbing after the applicable rough systems are installed.
5. Rough electrical inspection before drywall, performed through an approved electrical inspection agency where applicable.
6. Insulation inspection before drywall covers the insulation.
7. Final electrical inspection.
8. Final building and plumbing inspection after construction is complete.

Micro-steps for requesting an inspection

1. Confirm that the permit is issued and active.
2. Check the approved plans or permit record for the next required inspection.
3. Sign in to the Brookhaven Digital Services Portal and locate the project.
4. Use the available inspection function for the permit and select the required inspection type.
5. If an inspection option is not available online, contact the Building Division at 631-451-8696 for current scheduling instructions.
6. Make sure the inspector can access the work and that approved permit documents are available.
7. If corrections are issued, fix the cited items and arrange the required reinspection before covering the work.

Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance

Passing the final inspection does not always complete the administrative process. Brookhaven requires a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) or Certificate of Compliance for applicable permitted work before the project is treated as fully complete for occupancy/use purposes.

Depending on the project, final documentation can include:

• Final survey for exterior alterations or changes to the building footprint.
• Electrical certificate for applicable new electrical work.
• Exterior photographs for new homes.
• HERS certificate for applicable new homes or substantial renovations.
• Gas supply-line test certification where gas piping was installed or altered.
• Structural steel, piling, elevator or engineer certifications when applicable.
• Final approvals from Planning, Highway, Fire Prevention, Suffolk County, NYS DOT, NYS DEC, wetlands/environmental review or historic review when those approvals were required.

Town Code also requires applicable permitted work and changes of occupancy to receive the appropriate final certificate. Do not treat a passed trade inspection alone as proof that the entire project is closed.

Brookhaven Building Codes in 2026

Brookhaven administers New York State’s Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code along with applicable Brookhaven Town Code requirements.

For permit applications submitted in 2026, the 2025 New York State Uniform Code and 2025 New York State Energy Code are the statewide code framework. New York made the 2025 code books effective December 31, 2025.

The statewide code set includes the 2025 New York State residential, building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, fire, property maintenance and existing building codes. Local zoning, permit administration and other Brookhaven requirements also apply.

Official resources: New York Department of State code adoption, Brookhaven Chapter 16 and Brookhaven Chapter 85 Zoning.

Other Brookhaven Building Division Services

Old applications after the 2026 portal transition

The Building Division states that it transitioned to the Town’s new Digital Services system in 2026. If an older Building Division application cannot be found or updated in the new portal, use the assistance option provided on the official Building Division page.

How to Avoid Common Brookhaven Permit Delays

• Verify jurisdiction first. Do not prepare a full application until you know which municipality controls the property.
• Use a current survey. Brookhaven’s published requirements generally call for a signed and stamped survey dated within one year.
• Show both existing and proposed work. Incomplete drawings are a common reason an application cannot be fully reviewed.
• Check zoning before finalizing plans. Setback, lot coverage, use or other zoning problems can create a separate BZA process.
• Resolve outside approvals early. Highway, Health Department, Fire Prevention, DEC, wetlands or historic requirements can hold up permit issuance or final certification.
• Do not begin regulated work before the permit is issued.
• Do not conceal work awaiting inspection.
• Keep permit documents and record numbers organized. They are useful for inspections, corrections and final closeout.
• Close the permit. Complete final inspections and obtain the applicable CO or compliance certificate rather than leaving an old permit open.

Before You Start Work

Confirm that the Town of Brookhaven is the correct permitting authority, identify the exact permit type, prepare the required survey and plans, and obtain all needed approvals before construction begins. Use the Town’s Digital Services Portal for the final application, payment, inspection and permit-record steps.