North Hills is an incorporated village with its own building department. Permits for work here are issued by the Village of North Hills — not by the Town of North Hempstead and not by Nassau County. North Hills has moved its building department entirely online. Every new application must be filed through the village portal — paper submissions are no longer accepted for new work.
That distinction catches homeowners out constantly. A contractor who files with the wrong authority loses weeks.
The Superintendent of Buildings addresses property owners directly on the village site, and the scope he describes is broad:
“Please be aware that all construction or alterations to existing dwellings require a building permit from the Building Department. This includes exterior extensions, alterations, decks etc., interior alterations including finished basements or parts thereof.”
— Village of North Hills Building Department
Read that carefully: interior alterations, including finished basements or parts thereof. Finishing part of a basement is permitted work in North Hills.
Do You Need a Permit in North Hills?
The Village of North Hills Building Department issues permits for:
- All construction or alterations to existing dwellings
- Exterior extensions and additions
- Decks
- Interior alterations, including finished basements or parts thereof
For a kitchen or bathroom renovation, the practical answer is nearly always yes. Anything touching plumbing, electrical, or structure requires a permit and inspection.
Village of North Hills Building Department — Contact and Hours
| Address | One Shelter Rock Road, North Hills, NY 11576 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 516-627-3690 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Website | northhillsny.gov — Building Department |
Boards That Can Affect Your Project
North Hills projects may require review beyond the building department itself:
- Board of Appeals — for appeals and variances relating to permits
- Architectural Review Board — for design review
Each meets on its own schedule. This is where North Hills timelines are won or lost. A project that needs board review and misses a filing deadline waits for the next meeting — and that delay is invisible until it has already happened.
Applications Are Online Only — and the C.O. Warning Is the Real Point
North Hills has digitised its building department. All new applications must be submitted through the village’s online portal at northhillsvillageny.viewpointcloud.com. Applications already in progress continue as paper submissions, but new work does not.
The village’s stated reason for the permit requirement is worth quoting in full, because it is the argument homeowners actually respond to:
“The purpose is to protect you as an owner to insure any work that is performed is to code and is safe. In addition, if you do not have a C.O. (Certificate of Occupancy) for any alteration work it could delay the resale of your home.”
— Peter A. Cinquemani, R.A., Superintendent of Building Department
That last sentence is the one that matters. Unpermitted work does not usually cause a problem while you live in the house. It causes a problem when you sell it, at the least convenient possible moment.
How We Handle North Hills Permits
We are a licensed general contractor (Nassau County Home Improvement License #184594) and have been building on Long Island since 1976. We file permits as part of the job — not as an extra you chase separately.
What that means on a North Hills project:
- We file with the village, not the town or the county — the correct authority, the first time
- We identify board review requirements before the application goes in, not after it comes back
- We prepare drawings to the village’s submission standard
- We schedule inspections and carry the project through to certificate of occupancy
North Hills Permit Questions
Does North Hills issue its own building permits?
Yes. North Hills is an incorporated village with its own building department at One Shelter Rock Road, North Hills, NY 11576. Permits are issued by the village, not by the Town of North Hempstead or Nassau County.
Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen or bathroom in North Hills?
In nearly all cases, yes. The village requires permits for interior and exterior alterations. Work involving plumbing, electrical, or structural changes requires a permit and inspections.
How do I apply for a building permit in North Hills?
All new applications must be submitted through the village’s online portal at northhillsvillageny.viewpointcloud.com. Paper submissions are only continued for applications already in progress.
What happens if work is done without a permit in North Hills?
Unpermitted work can result in stop-work orders, fines, and difficulty obtaining a certificate of occupancy. It also commonly surfaces at resale, when a title or municipal search reveals open or absent permits.
How long does a North Hills building permit take?
Timelines depend on scope and whether the project requires board review, which is scheduled by meeting calendar and is typically the largest variable. Contact the Building Department at 516-627-3690 for current processing times.
Planning a Renovation in North Hills?
We handle the permit process as part of the project. Free consultation, and a written line-item estimate.
516-826-8054 · Licensed Nassau County #184594 · BBB A+ since 1991 · 14× Angi Super Service Award
Related:
What a kitchen remodel costs on Long Island ·
Building permits in all 64 Nassau villages