Permit and Inspection Services

Welcome and thank you for visiting the Department of Permit and Inspection Services webpage.

In January of 2010, I began laying out plans to improve the department - with the focus on convenience and better service to our visitors. Several changes have recently been implemented and we have been receiving positive feedback thus far. Among those changes:

• The Office of Licenses has been combined with the Office of Permits, and the new Office of Licenses and Permits is now located in Room 301 – adjacent to the elevators.
  
• Room 301 was remodeled to help accommodate the license employees and their furnishings. The counter was reconfigured and the employees are now spread out and available on two sides of the counter for better service. The Plan Review office is also newly accessible through Room 301, so most (if not all) visitors to the 3rd floor can exit the elevators and go directly into Room 301 for their needs.
  
• The offices of Multiple Dwelling Inspections, New Construction and Mechanical Inspections are now located side-by-side in Rooms 312 and 313. The main entrance is in Room 313 and it serves both offices. Visitors are greeted by clerical staff at the counter to assist them.

The Department has addressed nearly 19,000 citizen-requested inspections over the last 12 months, with the purpose of creating safer environments for our local residents and businesses. The Department has also led the implementation of Mayor Brown’s aggressive demolition plan - to demolish 5,000 vacant and abandoned structures in five years.

Permit and license applications are increasingly becoming available online through the use of our E-permit service. We continue to seek ways to modernize our business practices in order to promote investment and growth in Buffalo.

Please do not hesitate to contact us – we will make every effort to be of assistance.

James Comerford, Jr., Commissioner