How It Works

How It Works

  • email
  • print

What Requires a Permit or Review?

Browse this list to see which of the following agencies require waterfront permits or reviews for an activity:

The four agencies are the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps), New York State Department of State (NYS DOS), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), and New York City Department of City Planning (NYC DCP).

permit_button

Maintenance and Repairs

In-kind, in-place replacement of existing, functional and authorized bulkheads and similar structures

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Bulkhead Repairs

Maintenance or repair of other previously authorized structures

Army Corps, NYS DEC,  NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Maintenance or repair of structures in a wetland adjacent area (within 150 feet of a tidal wetland and 100 feet of a freshwater wetland boundary)

NYS DEC

Restoration of upland areas damaged by storms resulting in discharges of dredged or fill materials into a water body

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Beach re-grading

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

New Shoreline Stabilization Structures

Bulkheads and Retaining Walls

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Riprap installations

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Riprap Installations

Jetties, groins, berms, breakwaters and other methods of wave attenuation

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Other bank or shoreline stabilization construction projects

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Building and Development On or Near Wetlands

New residential construction, renovation or modification

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Development Near a Wetland

New commercial, industrial, or institutional construction

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Development Near a Wetland

Substantial renovation of an existing building

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Development Near a Wetland

Accessory structures

NYS DEC, and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Development Near a Wetland

Temporary construction activities

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Development Near a Wetland

Construction activities disturbing one or more acres of soil

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Development Near a Wetland

Docking, Mooring, and Structures over Water

New docking facilities (catwalks, piers, wharfs, floating docks)

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Floating Docks | More about Piers

Changing use of existing dock

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps , NYS DOS, and NYC DCP

Boat ramps

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

New marina construction

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Modifying existing marina

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Installing buoys, floats, and mooring devices

Army Corps and sometimes NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Aids to navigation

Army Corps and sometimes NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Structures in artificial canals

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Mooring of vessels as dwellings or buildings

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Removing wrecked or abandoned vessels

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Other structures, construction or fill below the Mean High Water mark (in tidal waters)

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

All structures and fill on freshwater wetlands and waterways

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Stormwater Management and Water Control

Stormwater management facilities

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Outfall structures and associated intake structures

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Upland construction, reconstruction or removal of berms, levees, dikes, dams, and other control structures

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Discharges of dredged or fill material associated with maintenance of flood control facilities

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Return water from upland contained disposal areas

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Construction activities disturbing one or more acres of soil

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Development Near a Wetland

Dredging and Excavation

Dredging

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Dredging

Discharges or disposal of dredged material into a waterway

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Dredging

Maintenance dredging of existing marina basins

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Dredging

Excavation activities related to construction

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Construction or reshaping of drainage ditches

Army Corps, NYS DEC and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Placement of fill

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Grading

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS, and NYC DCP

Drilling (water wells)

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS, and NYC DCP

Installing a dry well, retention basin, filter, swale or pond

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Temporary discharges of decant waters from dredge material disposal sites or from barges or vessels

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS, NYC DCP

More about Dredging

Discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters for the construction or expansion of recreational facilities

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

More about Dredging

Fishing, Harvesting and Aquaculture

Commercial shellfish aquaculture operations

Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP and sometimes NYS DEC

Trapping or harvesting fish or wildlife

Army Corps and sometimes NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Depositing or removing the natural products of wetlands in the process of recreational or commercial fishing, shellfishing, aquaculture, hunting or trapping

Sometimes Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Land Management near Wetlands

Constructing roads over waterways or wetlands

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS, and NYC DCP

Clear-cutting trees

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Cutting vegetation

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Establishing plantings

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Removing or breaching beaver dams

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Subdividing land

NYS DEC

Habitat Restoration

Establishing, enhancing or restoring an aquatic habitat

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Moist soil management for wildlife

Army Corps and sometimes NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Energy and Utilities

Connecting electric, gas, sewer, water, telephone or other utilities from an existing distribution utility facility to an existing structure near a wetland

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Construction, maintenance repair and removal of utility lines and associated facilities in a waterway

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Construction, expansion, modification, or removal of water-based wind or hydrokinetic renewable energy generation pilot projects and their attendant features.

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Chemicals, Waste and Pollutants

Use and storage of pollutants and toxic substances

NYS DEC

Application of chemicals and pesticides

NYS DEC

Discharge of pollutants requiring a SPEDES permit

NYS DEC

Disposal of solid wastes (garbage/refuse)

NYS DEC

Installation of septic systems

NYS DEC

Emergency Response Operations

Cleanup of hazardous or toxic waste

Army Corps, NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Work done or funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for a situation requiring immediate action under its emergency Watershed Protection Program

Army Corps and sometimes NYS DEC

Response operations for oil and hazardous substances

Army Corps, NYS DEC, and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Other Activities near a Shoreline, Wetland or Waterway

Disturbance of bird nesting / breeding areas

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS, and NYC DCP

Disturbance of protected stream

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Draining and altering water levels

NYS DEC and sometimes Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Motor vehicle use

NYS DEC, NYS DOS and NYC DCP

Placement of scientific measurement devices

Army Corps, NYS DOS and NYC DCP, and sometimes NYS DEC

Surveying activities

Army Corps and sometimes NYS DOS and NYC DCP