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DOB NOW: Build Payment FAQs
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How do I pay online through DOB NOW: Build?
When you are ready to pay, you will be directed to the City’s online payment portal by clicking the Pay Now button.
What payment methods can I use to make my payment?
eCheck, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit cards; debit cards with a Visa or MasterCard logo; as well as PayPal and Venmo may be used to pay on the site. If you pay with a credit card, debit card, PayPal, or Venmo, a 2% fee will be added. There is no fee if you use an eCheck. Credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and Venmo may take up to 2 or more days to be reflected on the website, but an eCheck payment can take up to 10 or more business days to be processed.
When an invalid check is submitted in DOB NOW, the job filing is placed on hold and a $20 fee is added to the original fee. A $20 fee will be added for each returned check. Once a hold is placed on a job filing, it will not be lifted until notification is received from the bank that the subsequent payment has cleared.
What is an eCheck and how do I use it?
An eCheck is an electronic payment using your checking account. Just like with a paper check, the funds will be withdrawn from your checking account. If you choose to pay with an eCheck, you will be asked to enter your check routing and account number. Your routing number is the 9 digit number on the bottom of your check. Your account number is your checking account number, which is usually 10-12 digits.
Can I make payments in person at a borough office?
No. When you file a job in DOB NOW: Build, all payments must be submitted online with a limited number of exceptions.
The following payments are required to be made at the borough office:
Payments to the Borough Office Cashier:
- CCD1 and ZRD1 Form Determinations and Appeals (if not submitted in DOB NOW, see December 2023 Service Notice)
- Reinstatements
- Work without a Permit Civil Penalties (L2) (except electrical filings that included a WWP fee)
- Record Room Copies
Payments to the Central Cashier
- Electrical Firm Accounts
- License Fees that are not payable in DOB NOW
Who can make a payment in DOB NOW: Build?
Anyone who is associated with a job can make a payment on that job. Owners, Design Professionals, Licensed Professionals, and Filing Representatives can make payments in DOB NOW: Build.
Can I submit a job filing before paying?
You will not be able to submit a filing until you have paid.
How do I estimate the fees for my application?
After completing the relevant scope of work information, Save the filing and the fees will display when the Pay Now button is selected.
How does DOB NOW calculate my fees?
DOB NOW calculates fees according to the NYC Construction Codes as amended by Local Law 56 of 2016. Please see Table 28-112.2 for further information.
Can I make a partial payment?
Partial payments are not allowed for Alteration jobs. For NB and Alt-CO jobs, an option is provided to pay minimum/50% of the filing fee. If less than the full amount of the filing fee is paid, the balance must be paid before requesting the work permit.
I am attempting to make a payment, but the system has been displaying a message saying please wait. It’s been a few minutes now and the message is still displaying. What should I do?
The pop-up blocker is preventing the payment from processing. Disable the pop-up blocker on your browser to process the payment.
I am making a credit card payment and I clicked on the back button on the Payment Method screen. The system took me to eCheck payment details on the Enter Payment Details page instead of the credit card details. What should I do?
Re-click on the credit card tab on the Enter Payment Details page to continue with a credit card payment.
On the Enter Payment Details page, I received the error message, “Invalid input: Billing – ADDRESS. Payment not processed. Please try again later.” What did I enter wrong?
You cannot enter special characters like # in any of the fields. Remove the special character(s) and continue to the next screen.
My payment has timed out, and I clicked on the link to return to the payment page. However, it took me to the CityPay site. How do I get back to the payment screen?
Go to the filing in DOB NOW and click on the Pay Now button again to continue with making a payment.
When I selected “DOB NOW: Build Payments (Department of Buildings)” from the CityPay website it took me to the DOB NOW: Build information webpage on the DOB website. How do I continue with the payment?
Go to the filing in DOB NOW and click on the Pay Now button again to continue with making a payment.
I tried to make a payment but the system displays “There was an error processing your payment. Please try again later.”?
The system was unable to process the payment. There may be a connectivity issue between CityPay and the bank. Wait a moment and then go through the process again to proceed with payment.
How do I waive the fees for the filing?
The fee exempt status of a filing is determined by the selection made in the Stakeholders section under Owner Information. If the Owner Type is selected as Non-Profit Organization, NYC Agency, Other Government Owned or NYCHA/HHC, then the fees will be removed and an ACRIS report is required to verify the building is tax exempt. See this guide.
I submitted payment for my supersede request but the status is still “Pending Payment Verification.” When will the status update?
Payments made by eCheck take up to 10 business days to be processed in DOB NOW. Once the check clears, the status will change to submitted.
When are landmark fees applied in DOB NOW?
See the Landmarks Preservation Commission Fees page for more information. If the application is for interior work, submit a waiver for the Landmark Approval letter. If the waiver is approved, then a refund can be requested for the landmark fee.
When will the filing fee appear on a filing?
The filing fee populates on an Alteration when the Estimated Job Cost is provided under Additional Information and the Building Type is selected under the Zoning Information, Building Characteristics section.
What is the maximum amount I can pay through CityPay?
The limit for credit card payments is $100,000 per transaction, while eCheck payments can go up to $10,000,000 per transaction. If you need to make a payment exceeding these amounts, reduce the estimated job cost, pay a fee below the maximum limit and then adjust the estimated job cost to pay the remaining balance.