Syracuse building department

The City of Syracuse Central Permit Office (CPO) handles permits, licensing, and periodic inspections for the city in one place. It issues:

• Residential and commercial construction permits
• Exterior demolition permits
• Trade permits
• Right-of-way and event permits
• Business licenses
• Rental registry certificates

The office is on the first floor of One Park Place, 300 South State Street; use the East Onondaga Street entrance. It is open Monday 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Plumbing is the main exception. Plumbing permits for city properties come from Onondaga County, not the CPO. Projects are reviewed under the New York State Uniform Code, and applications filed on or after December 31, 2025 fall under the 2025 edition.

Which home projects need a permit

For one- and two-family homes, the CPO lists these projects as needing a permit:

• Additions and conversions, and changes of occupancy
• New decks, porches, gazebos, and pergolas
• Repairs to existing structures
• Driveways and fences
• Window and door work
• Interior remodels and sheetrock work
• Chimneys and skylights
• Pools, ramps, and retaining walls
• Roofs
• Sheds and garages
• Temporary structures
• New builds

The city says these jobs do not need a permit:

• Replacing cabinets or countertops
• Changing awning fabric
• Address plaques
• Floor coverings
• Painting and siding
• Driveway sealing
• Satellite dishes
• Carports

HVAC, electrical, fire-alarm, and sprinkler permits are separate from the building permit. For background, see do I need a permit to replace a roof.

Before applying, check with Zoning Administration, which is at Suite 700 of the same building. You can reach it at (315) 448-8640 or [email protected]. That office processes these applications:

• Site plan review
• Special use permits
• Area and use variances
• Sign and temporary use permits
• Historic preservation certificates

It also issues zoning designation letters.

Applying through the Camino portal

All applications go through the city’s Camino portal (app.oncamino.com/syracuseny):

1. Create an account with an email address.
2. Choose New Submission and pick the application category.
3. Upload your documents.

You pay by credit or debit card in the portal, and staff messages arrive there too. Trade applications require a professional license number. Portal help is available at [email protected] or (315) 448-8600.

Residential applicants should have ready:

• A property survey
• Drawings of the proposed work
• The contractor’s proposal
• Proof of insurance

Commercial projects must register for an intake meeting first. The city denies commercial permits filed before that meeting. An optional pre-development meeting is also available.

Insurance rules

Every permit needs proof of workers’ compensation (C-105.2, U-26.3, SI-12, GSI-105.2, or a CE-200 exemption) and disability benefits coverage (DB-120.1, DB-155, or CE-200). Contractors also need liability insurance naming the City of Syracuse as additional insured. Owners doing work on their own property are exempt from the liability requirement. A CE-200 must state that it is for a building permit and list the job address. It is good for one job only.

Fees (2025 fee schedule)

The CPO collects a base filing fee up front and calculates the rest once review is approved.

Fee	Amount
Base filing fee, 1–2 family	$30 per unit (new construction or addition); $25 per unit (renovation)
Base filing fee, commercial	$60 per unit (new); $40 per unit (renovation)
Permit fee (construction cost, excluding mechanical, electrical, and plumbing)	$15 per $1,000 up to $500,000; $10 per $1,000 from $500,000 to $1 million; $7.50 per $1,000 from $1 million to $5 million; $5 per $1,000 above $5 million
Plan review fee	$25, plus $0.75 per $1,000 above $33,000
Electrical permit	$2 per item installed
Mechanical permit	$6 per HVAC or refrigeration item; $2 per fire-suppression item
Certificate fee	$25 (waived for 1–3 family buildings)

Inspections and certificates

The Division of Code Enforcement schedules construction inspections at (315) 448-8695 or [email protected]. When you call or email, have ready:

• The permit number
• The building address
• The inspection type
• The building classification

Once all required inspections pass, the city inspector issues a Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Completion. On commercial projects, this close-out step comes before utilities are connected or the building opens to the public.

Rental registry and periodic inspections

These programs also run through Camino. For questions, call (315) 448-4700.

Program	Applies to	Renewal	Fee
Rental Registry	One- and two-unit rental properties	Every three years, or after a sale	$150
Certificate of Compliance	Buildings with three or more units, mixed-use buildings, dormitories, and Greek housing	Every three years, or before title transfer	$55, plus $20 per unit above two

Vacant properties with exterior violations must register on the vacant property registry and renew each year.