Village of Hempstead Building Permits

Check first. The Incorporated Village of Hempstead runs its own Building Department, separate from the Town of Hempstead around it. The Village's own FAQ says a home in West Hempstead is under the Town, not the Village. We confirm which department covers your address, then file in the right place.

Source: Village of Hempstead: Building Department FAQs (opens in a new tab)

Typical home jobs include additions, interior alterations, fences, decks, plumbing and backflow devices, and electrical work. The Village posts its building permit instructions, homeowner waivers, floor plan certification, fence height diagram and backflow device plans on its SmartGov portal.

Source: Village of Hempstead: SmartGov documents (opens in a new tab)

You register for a portal account and verify it by email. Then you submit applications, upload plans and track reviews and inspections online. We can do all of it for you, through final inspection.

Source: Village of Hempstead: SmartGov permit portal (opens in a new tab)

The Building Department. Every new business application begins with a building permit filing. Next comes a Planning Board application on the same portal. Only then comes the business license, which is filed online only.

Source: Village of Hempstead: Pre-Submission, Planning & Zoning Appeals (opens in a new tab)

No. Cellar and basement apartments are not allowed. The only allowed basement uses are a recreation room, bathroom, laundry room and furnace room, all with proper permits. This is a common source of violations.

Source: Village of Hempstead: Building Department FAQs (opens in a new tab)

Rental properties need the Village's rental permit application packet (1–3 family or multi-dwelling). We don't file rental permits; this is information only.

Source: Village of Hempstead: SmartGov documents (rental packets) (opens in a new tab)

An open or abandoned SmartGov application doesn't go away by itself. It stays on the property's record and can come up at a sale, a refinance or a rental registration. Work done without a permit, especially in a basement, can lead to violations, a summons to Village court and a stalled closing. Close old permits before you list the house.