Village of Lawrence Building Permits

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Lawrence is a village in the Town of Hempstead, and permits go to the Village. The Village's rule: all construction needs a permit, repairs included.

Village of Lawrence Building Department (not us)

Address: 196 Central Avenue, Lawrence, NY 11559
Phone: 516-239-3987
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm.
Permit portal: None. Lawrence has no online permit portal; applications go to the Building Department.
Permit rules: Building Department
Local code: Code of the Village of Lawrence
Forms: Building Department forms

Permits We Handle in Lawrence

Village of Lawrence Building Permit Fees

A building permit in Lawrence costs 1.5% of the cost of construction, as calculated by the Building Department, plus an application fee of $100 to $400 based on that cost.

Fees charged by the Village of Lawrence Building Department
Permit	Fee
Building application	$100 up to $10,000 of cost, rising to $400 over $60,000
Building permit	1.5% of cost of construction
Pool	$2,500
Fence	$100
Demolition	$1,000 structural, $500 interior, $500 pool
Certificate of occupancy, alterations or additions	$100
Permit renewal	Percentage uncompleted times the original permit fee, at least $1,000

Source: Village of Lawrence: Building Department Fee Schedule, revised 8/2021. Checked October 23, 2026.

How Filing Works in Lawrence

Every jobEven repairs, fences, generators and A/C units need a permit.
Design boardThe Board of Building Design reviews referred jobs.
Flood zoneAny change to your building or land needs a permit.
24-hour noticeCall before you start and before work is covered up.

Selling your house? Close your open permits first.

Open permit close-outs

How We Help in Lawrence

We file before the deadline. The zoning board turns away late applications.
We prepare the design board review for additions, pools, decks and fences.
We keep the clock in view. A Lawrence permit lasts six months from the date it's issued.

Decks, fences, sheds and pools: about 2–4 weeks. Other jobs: about 4–8 weeks on average.* It varies by village and scope.*Typical time is based on an average job in the Village of Lawrence, 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

Lawrence Permit Questions

What work needs a permit in Lawrence?

All construction, including repairs, renovations, additions and demolition. That covers pools, fences, recreational structures, surface coverage, generators, air conditioners and other mechanical equipment. The Building Department also licenses plumbers and electricians.

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

What does the Board of Building Design review?

Jobs the Building Inspector refers to it, including new homes, exterior additions and alterations, pools, decks, recreational structures and new or replacement fences.

Source: Village of Lawrence Code, Ch. 12 (opens in a new tab)

I'm in a flood zone. What changes?

Any alteration to your building or land needs a permit from the Building Department. Flood maps are kept at Village Hall.

Source: Village of Lawrence: Flood Protection (opens in a new tab)

How long is a Lawrence permit good for?

Six months from the date it's issued. A minor permit stays good up to a year if the work is moving along. Extensions are six months at a time, and you apply within the 30 days before it runs out.

Source: Village of Lawrence Code §70-20 (opens in a new tab)