Cal. Civ. Code § 301
Permits
Operative Text
§ 301. Permits. 1. It shall be unlawful to commence the construction or alteration of a multiple dwelling or any part or section thereof, or of any building or structure on the same lot with such a dwelling, or the alteration or conversion of a building for use as a multiple dwelling, or the moving of a dwelling from one lot to another, until an application or plans have been filed in and a permit issued by the department. The department shall have the power to charge and collect a reasonable fee for each application filed and for each permit issued. 2. No person shall be recognized as the agent of the owner unless he shall file with the department a written instrument, signed by the owner, designating him as such agent. Upon the filing of such instrument, the person designated therein as such agent shall be deemed to be and shall be known as the certified agent of the owner. 3. The department shall have power to issue, refuse, revoke or cancel any permit or approval in case of any failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter, or in case any false allegation or representation is made in any plans or statements submitted or filed for such permit or approval. If such permit is refused, revoked or cancelled, the reason for such action shall be recorded by the department. 4. All plans, statements and permits filed in any department shall be public records and shall not be destroyed or removed from the department.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 301, no construction, alteration, conversion, or relocation of a multiple dwelling may begin until the appropriate plans have been filed and a permit has been issued by the relevant department. Any agent acting on behalf of an owner must be formally designated through a written, owner-signed instrument filed with the department. The department retains authority to issue, refuse, revoke, or cancel permits when legal requirements are not met or when false information has been submitted, and all plans and permits on file are treated as permanent public records.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners and property managers operating under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 301 generally ensure that permit applications and plans are filed and approved before any covered construction, alteration, conversion, or relocation work begins on a multiple dwelling or any structure on the same lot. When delegating permit-related responsibilities to a representative, compliant operators file a written, owner-signed agency designation with the department so that person is recognized as a certified agent. Because the department can revoke or cancel permits based on inaccurate submissions, operators typically verify that all plans and statements filed are complete and accurate, and they retain awareness that those documents become permanent public records.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 301 gives tenants a basis to inquire whether construction or alteration work affecting their building was properly permitted before it commenced, since unpermitted work may constitute a violation of this provision. Because all plans, statements, and permits filed under § 301 are designated as public records, tenants can generally request access to those documents through the relevant department to verify compliance. Tenants who believe work was carried out without a required permit may consider raising the issue with the local housing or buildings department, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether the violation is relevant to any existing housing proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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