Building and Fire Prevention

The Department of Building and Fire Prevention is charged with the responsibility of administering the “New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code” as applicable to all buildings and construction in the unincorporated areas of the Town of Brookhaven.

The Department is charged with the enforcement of the code related to the erection, repairing, remodeling, altering, moving, and inspection of all buildings in the unincorporated areas of the Town of Brookhaven.

The Department is also charged with the responsibility of enforcing regulations consistent with nationally recognized good practice for the safeguarding, to a reasonable degree, of life and property from the hazards of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices and from conditions hazardous to the life or property in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises.

The two key roles of the Building Division is the issuance of Building Permits, which are required before construction can be started, and Certificates of Occupancy, which are needed before a building can be occupied. In this regard, The Division implements the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Codes, Article 18 of the Executive Law of the State of New York as well as various provisions of the Town Code.

The Division thus reviews plans, inspects construction, and issues approvals before and after construction. In addition, this Division is responsible for issuance of Accessory Apartment Permits.