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LPC Business Express Service

LPC created the Business Express Service to serve as a one-stop shop for business owners in landmark buildings and make it easier for them to get their permits.

The LPC Business Express Service includes a dedicated hotline and team who offer pre-application consultation and focused application review to support businesses located in storefronts and other street-level commercial spaces (e.g., cellar/basement, 1st and 2nd floors) in the City’s designated buildings and historic districts, including restaurants, retail stores and offices.

All LPC permit applications are now filed and processed through Portico, the agency’s new web-based permit application portal. If your proposed work qualifies for Business Express, Portico will automatically indicate this, and your application will be reviewed by the Business Express team.

Contact the LPC Business Express Team at 646-202-3938 

Click here to download the Business Express Service fact sheet.

Work Types

The work types listed below related to commercial stores, restaurants, and offices at first or second floors and basements are eligible for LPC Business Express Service review.

  •  Interior Work     
  • Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Equipment (louvers, ductwork, condensing units, etc.)
  • Sidewalks, Vault Lights or Hatches
  • Temporary Installations or Work (temporary signs, artwork, banners, kiosks, storefront probes, etc.)
  • Minor Restoration Work (repainting, cleaning, repointing, etc.)   
  • Signs and Related Lighting       
  • Health, Safety and Utility Equipment (security cameras, light fixtures, etc.)
  • Unenclosed Sidewalk Cafes 
  • Storefronts, Windows and Doors   
  • Barrier-Free Access (ramps, lifts, changes to  doors, entrances and stairs) 
  • Awnings   
  • Permits for work subject to an approved signage or storefront master plan


Applications and Permits

Before submitting your application through Portico, please ensure that the proposed work meets LPC Rules by looking up the type of work you are proposing in the Permit Guidebook. You can also reference the Guidelines for Storefront Design.

Portico will prompt you to upload the supporting materials required for Business  Express Service. Supporting materials vary by work type, but all applications should include the following:

• Current photos of the area(s) where the proposed exterior work will take place.
• Dimensioned drawings of the proposed work. For work that also requires review by the Department of Buildings, submit signed and sealed DOB drawings.

Click here to download a checklist of required materials by work type.

Contact the LPC Business Express Team at 646-202-3938 or info@lpc.nyc.gov if you have any questions about supporting materials needed to complete your application and ensure the quickest turnaround time. If emailing, please put “Business Express” in the subject line.