About a third of our Brooklyn work is in historic districts. The rules are clear once you know where to look.

What needs approval

Anything visible from the street: windows, doors, stoops, facades, rooflines and rear additions. Most interior work does not need Landmarks review, though it still needs ordinary building permits.

How long it takes

Plan on four to ten extra weeks for review. We file early and let the shop build in parallel, so the delay rarely reaches the construction schedule.

What it costs

Drawings and filings for a typical window or stoop approval run about $6,000. Restoration of original features costs more than replacement, but it usually adds more value.