A co-op or condo alteration agreement explains how a building reviews and manages work inside a unit. The exact forms and rules differ by property, so owners should obtain the current package from the managing agent and coordinate it with their architect and contractor.
What the agreement does
The agreement sets a process for proposed alterations and establishes conditions for work affecting the unit or shared areas. A board, managing agent, building architect, or engineer may review plans and scope. The agreement may also set insurance requirements, deposits, work hours, seasonal limits, elevator procedures, protection, noise expectations, and close-out steps.
Treat the agreement as project input, not a form to complete at the end of design. A restriction on plumbing, exhaust, gas, or work timing can affect the layout and equipment. Read it with the design team before finalizing drawings or ordering materials.
Build the submission package
Buildings commonly request drawings, written scope, contractor information, certificates of insurance, proposed schedule, signatures, and deposits or fees. The building’s own checklist controls what is needed. Confirm drawing format, submission method, review contacts, and how comments are returned.
The architect supplies design documents; a registered design professional or expediter confirms agency filing requirements; the contractor supplies construction scope and coordinates logistics. Insurance certificates should be prepared by the appropriate broker or insurer using the building’s wording. Keep a copy of the exact package submitted and track revisions.
Rules that affect daily work
Check permitted work hours, holiday or summer restrictions, elevator booking, hallway and elevator protection, delivery windows, debris handling, noise limits, plumbing shutdowns, and access to the superintendent. Wet-over-dry restrictions can influence bathroom and kitchen locations. Requirements vary; do not assume a rule from another building applies.
Make a practical responsibility list. Identify who requests the elevator, installs protection, gives notices, confirms shutoffs, handles waste, and removes protection. That list can be shared with the owner, building staff, and trades before mobilization.
DOB filing and the 2026 attestation
Keep the board’s written alteration consent distinct from the agency application. Starting February 2, 2026, DOB NOW: Build requires a board representative to record authorization for job filings under the Condo Unit Owner and Co-Op Tenant-Shareholder owner types. This is an additional system step.
Your architect or expediter confirms whether the project is covered and coordinates the filing workflow. Read the DOB service notice. The notice does not replace the building’s alteration submission or establish that every project needs a filing.
Plan for review and avoid preventable revisions
Board review can take weeks and may include comments. Submit a coordinated scope and complete documents, then allow time for responses. Do not promise a start date before written approval and any required agency path are understood. If scope changes after approval, ask the building whether revised documents are needed.
Frequent gaps include an outdated scope, missing signatures, unclear insurance wording, incomplete equipment information, or a schedule that ignores building hours. Use the alteration checklist below to review the package before sending it.
Owner checklist
Ask the managing agent for current forms, fees, submission deadlines, review contacts, permitted work periods, and elevator rules. Confirm whether the building has special restrictions on wet-over-dry, gas, exhaust, structural work, plumbing shutoffs, or seasonal activity.
Coordinate the drawings and construction scope with the architect and contractor. Confirm who prepares each form, who obtains COIs, who requests board authorization in DOB NOW when applicable, and who tracks comments. Record approval dates and keep the final approved scope accessible on site.
Useful references
For permit questions, review the NYC DOB work permit toolkit and ask the project architect or expediter what applies. For contractor licensing questions, see the NYC DCWP home improvement guidance and DOB general contractor registration information.
Organize revisions and communication
When the building returns comments, route them to the architect or other responsible professional and maintain a list of each question, response, and revised sheet. Avoid circulating old and new drawings together without identifying which set controls. The managing agent can confirm whether the updated package needs a formal resubmission or another review.
Share the approved scope with the site team and superintendent before mobilization. Explain any limits on shutdowns, access, deliveries, elevator use, and work hours to each trade. If the owner requests a change during construction, pause to check whether it affects building approval, insurance, filings, or the agreed scope.
Track the package from submission to close-out
Keep a dated copy of the initial package and every revised sheet. Note who has the current set, when comments arrived, and which person is preparing the response. If the building requests changes, make sure the architect’s response is included in the next submission rather than relying on an informal verbal approval.
Before mobilization, provide the superintendent with the approved scope, access plan, contacts, and any required notices. Confirm the service elevator, protection, waste route, and utility coordination with the building. If work conditions change, ask management whether the approval or schedule needs updating.
At the end, confirm how the building releases deposits and accepts close-out. Gather requested inspection records, sign-offs, and proof that shared areas are restored. Agency sign-off and building acceptance are related project tasks but remain separate responsibilities.
Prepare a concise owner handoff
Before construction, the owner should know what approval was granted, which scope and drawings govern, and what conditions must be observed on site. Share the approved information with the contractor, superintendent, and relevant building contacts. Keep the alteration agreement available so a question about work hours or protection can be resolved against the actual rule.
A change to the plan may affect more than the board submission. Ask the architect whether drawings or agency documents need revision and ask the managing agent whether the building needs an amended package. Document the decision before the trade proceeds. This protects the record and keeps the site aligned with the approved scope.
At completion, follow the building’s written close-out instructions. Those may include an inspection, restoration of common areas, sign-off records, permit documents, or a request related to a deposit. Assign each item and retain confirmation from the building.
Related resources
About this guide
Prepared by AZRL NYC, founded by Benjamin Azeroual. Use the linked agency notice and your building’s current documents for project-specific steps.