Building a new one- to four-family home in the five boroughs is possible, but it runs through more agencies than most people expect. This is the sequence, and the questions to answer before buying a lot or demolishing a house.
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Before you buy a lot or knock anything down
- Zoning district and what it allows: building type, floor area, height, yards and parking.
- Flood zone status and elevation requirements.
- Landmarks or special district rules.
- Utilities: is there a sewer and water main in the street? Gas or all-electric?
- Demolition: tearing down an existing house is its own DOB filing, with asbestos and utility cutoffs first.
The process
- Survey, soil borings and zoning analysis.
- Design by a registered architect, with structural and MEP engineers.
- New Building application in DOB NOW: Build; resolve plan objections.
- DEP site connection approvals for water and sewer; utility service applications.
- Construction with required special inspections.
- Final inspections and a Certificate of Occupancy.
What it costs
Published estimates are rough. One NYC estimating firm puts 2026 hard construction costs for a single-family home at about $350 to $600 per sq ft in Brooklyn and $220 to $420 in Queens (NYC Estimating). Land, design, permits, financing and contingency come on top. Treat these as a starting point for a feasibility conversation, not a budget.
Cost figures are published estimates from the sources linked, not quotes from us. Prices change with labor and material costs; your number depends on your building and scope.
Timeline
Plan for the approval stage to be a large share of the schedule. [PLACEHOLDER: Naor’s real typical timeline from filing to CO, if he wants to publish one]
Who does the work
Every request is read by Naor Harari. Depending on the scope, the borough and the schedule, the job is either done by NH Construction or referred to our licensed partner contractor, an independent company that handles all trades. If your project is referred, we tell you the contractor’s name before they contact you, and you sign a contract directly with that contractor. Our partner contractor may pay iBuyAHome a referral fee. [PLACEHOLDER: attorney to approve this disclosure and the vetting steps we actually perform, e.g. DCWP license check, insurance certificate, references]
Before you sign with anyone, including us, check the contractor’s license on the DCWP license lookup and ask for a certificate of insurance.
Related: home additions · construction overview · renovation services
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a house in NYC?
One estimating firm’s 2026 figures put hard construction costs at about $350 to $600 per square foot in Brooklyn and $220 to $420 in Queens, before land, design, permits and financing.
How long does it take to build a house in NYC?
Commonly well over a year from design to Certificate of Occupancy, depending on approvals and the lot.
Do I need a Certificate of Occupancy for a new house?
Yes. A new building can’t be legally occupied without a CO or a temporary CO.
Can I build more than one home on my lot?
It depends on zoning. Some districts allow two-family or multi-family buildings, and ADU rules may allow an additional unit.