City of Glen Cove Building Permits

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Glen Cove is a city, not part of a town. The City's rule: structural changes need a permit.

City of Glen Cove Building Department (not us)

Address: Glen Cove City Hall, 9 Glen Street, Glen Cove, NY 11542
Phone: 516-676-4448 or 516-676-2000 (City Hall main line)
Email: buildingdepartment@glencoveny.gov
Hours: City Hall: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm. Building Department: by appointment only.
Permit portal: OpenGov
Permit rules: What needs a permit
Local code: Code of the City of Glen Cove
Forms: Forms & permits

Permits We Handle in Glen Cove

City of Glen Cove Building Permit Fees

A residential building permit in Glen Cove costs $250 for the first $1,000 of construction value, plus $20 for each additional $1,000.

Fees charged by the City of Glen Cove Building Department
Permit	Fee
Building permit, residential	$250 for the first $1,000 of value, plus $20 per additional $1,000
Certificate of occupancy	$250
Swimming pool, gunite	$350, plus $250 certificate and $100 plumbing
Swimming pool, vinyl	$300, plus $250 certificate and $100 plumbing
Demolition or moving a building	$250
HVAC unit and ductwork	$250

Construction value for a house is figured at $150 per square foot.

Source: City of Glen Cove: Fee Schedule, as amended December 23, 2024 (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Checked October 21, 2026.

How Filing Works in Glen Cove

File onlineBuilding, plumbing, gas and A/C applications go through OpenGov.
Open permits firstThe City closes old permits before it looks at new work.
Plans and surveySigned and sealed drawings, a PDF copy and a current survey.
Legalizing a home?The City asks for a Certificate of Existing Use (CEU).

Selling your house? Close your open permits first.

Open permit close-outs

How We Help in Glen Cove

OpenGov filings and CEUs. We close old permits first and track your job to final inspection.
We tell you up front what the City will likely ask for.
Need a variance? We refer you to a zoning/land-use attorney and keep the permit moving.

Decks, fences, sheds and pools: about 2–4 weeks. Other jobs: about 4–8 weeks on average.* It varies by town and scope.*Typical time is based on an average job in the City of Glen Cove, assuming no extra work or construction needs to be done and the building department accepts the permit application.

Rolled blueprints and a permit folder on a pickup tailgate in front of a home renovation

Glen Cove Permit Questions

Is Glen Cove part of a town?

No. Glen Cove is one of Nassau County's two cities, so it isn't part of any town. Its Building Department enforces the City's own building and zoning rules along with the New York State codes.

What work needs a permit in Glen Cove?

The City's list includes additions (garages, porches and decks), structural interior work, finished basements, pools deeper than 18 inches (a half in-ground pool counts as in-ground), sheds including prefab sheds, wood and gas stoves and fireplaces, roofing, siding and replacement windows, signs, demolition, electrical service changes, A/C units and generators, PODS storage units, and home occupations.

Source: City of Glen Cove Building Department (opens in a new tab)

Do fences, trees, tents and solar need a permit?

Fences, tree removal, tents and solar each have their own applications.

Source: City of Glen Cove Forms & Permits (opens in a new tab)

What goes in a building application?

Signed and sealed drawings from a licensed architect or engineer, a PDF copy, and a survey that shows current conditions. Plumbing must be filed with the building application by a plumber licensed in Glen Cove.

Source: City of Glen Cove Building Permit Application Checklist (PDF) (opens in a new tab)

What is a Certificate of Existing Use (CEU)?

If you're legalizing (maintaining) a dwelling, the City requires a CEU application. If the evidence doesn't show the layout predates 1953, you'll need applications to maintain the structures as they are now.

Source: City of Glen Cove Certificate of Existing Use Application (PDF) (opens in a new tab)

I'm selling. What if work was done without a permit?

The City says you'll need an architect or engineer, a permit for the work and an inspection. That can hold up the closing. Many lenders also want proof of a final inspection. Fixing it before you list is cheaper and calmer than fixing it with a buyer waiting.

Source: City of Glen Cove Building Department (opens in a new tab)

History of Building Codes