The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) helps preserve the City's designated landmark properties by regulating changes made to these buildings and sites. We do not prevent owners from making changes, but rather work with them to ensure that planned changes are appropriate to the character and style of the building and/or historic district.
All LPC permit applications are now filed and processed through Portico, the agency’s new web-based permit application portal. By logging into Portico, owners of designated landmarked properties can apply online for LPC permits, upload supporting documents, track the progress of their applications in real-time, and seamlessly download final permits. LPC no longer accepts any filings or related materials outside of Portico.
There are two types of filing categories: New Applications and Post-Approval Actions.
The City's Landmarks Law requires owners to obtain permits from the Landmarks Preservation Commission before doing work that affects the exterior and, in some cases, the interior of a designated landmark property. Owners or representatives from the owner’s project team (e.g., architects, commercial tenants, preservation consultants) must apply for a permit from LPC before doing certain kinds of work affecting the exterior and/or interior of designated landmark properties.
To obtain a permit, applicants must file a completed application that includes supporting documentation such as photographs, architectural plans, and presentations that explain the proposed work.
Our LPC Permit Guidebook will help prepare you for submitting a completed application, including more information on staff-level approvals. If an application is complete upon submission, a permit can often be issued upon initial review.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission Rules set forth the Commission's application and public hearing procedures, and the rules and standards for work on buildings in historic districts and individual landmarks.
For additional background on LPC’s Rules, as well as more in-depth information on how the rules may apply to the type of work you are considering (including Master Plans), visit LPC’s Rules and Resources page for helpful information like guides, manuals, fact sheets, and FAQs.
Looking for more information about the permit applications received by LPC, as well as permits issued? LPC has developed a series of helpful search tools designed to increase the transparency of the agency’s regulatory work by making it easier for the public to access permit information for designated buildings and sites citywide.
Visit Permit Application Search for more information on LPC’s Permit Application Finder, as well as our enhanced interactive web map for permit applications.
