Welcome back to Permission to Build, where we explore how regulations shape the spaces we live, work, and play in. Through conversations with owners, designers, builders, and regulators, we’re chasing one big question: How can we get you permission to build?

In this episode, we sat down with Rick Chandler, former Commissioner of the NYC Department of Buildings, to talk about the complexities of urban regulation, his career journey, and how technology is reshaping the future of permitting.

Watch the full conversation here:

Rick’s Journey to Commissioner

Rick Chandler has spent nearly four decades shaping New York City’s built environment. His career started in the 1980s as a civil engineer at a naval architecture firm before he answered a job ad for a Plan Examiner role at the NYC Department of Buildings. That decision kicked off a 20+ year journey through city government, with roles ranging from EA to the Deputy Commissioner to Borough Commissioner, and eventually Commissioner under Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Rick’s career took him across all five boroughs, giving him a front-row seat to the challenges and opportunities of building in America’s most complex urban landscape.

The Unique Challenges of Building in NYC

New York isn’t like other cities—and that’s not just a hometown bias. The city’s five boroughs each have their own governing quirks, held together under a single city charter. For example, NYC is one of the only places in the U.S. where each borough elects its own district attorney. This layered governance creates unique dynamics between agencies like the City Planning Commission and the City Council, making regulation both fascinating and, at times, frustrating.

As Rick put it, understanding how these power structures interact is key to navigating NYC’s regulatory maze.

Inside the Department of Buildings

The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) is more than just a permitting office. It’s responsible for interpreting zoning laws, maintaining building codes, and ensuring that projects meet safety standards. That means juggling everything from zoning resolutions that stretch over 3,000 pages to overseeing inspections for elevators, plumbing, and more.

“The Department of Buildings is interpreting the zoning code. It's maintaining and updating the building code to respond to changes in building practices. It's applying it to specific projects, and it's enforcing that application,” Andreas summed up.

Transitioning to a Digital Future with DOB Now

One of Rick’s most significant contributions as Commissioner was leading the rollout of DOB Now, NYC’s digital permitting platform. Before DOB Now, getting a permit meant standing in line at your local borough office with a stack of papers in a manila folder. It was inefficient, opaque, and ripe for modernization.

“When I started in 1987, you had to show up in person with your paperwork, engage with the clerical staff, and hope everything was in order. Now you can submit applications, track progress, and communicate with the department—all online.”

Digitizing the process wasn’t easy. It meant shifting not just systems, but mindsets, especially in an industry where “that’s how we’ve always done it” is a common refrain.

Overcoming Resistance to Change

Adopting DOB Now was not without its hurdles and Rick was met with plenty of resistance, particularly from the influential expediting industry. Change is hard, especially in a bureaucratic environment. The expediting community “felt threatened. They felt the department was trying to rid the industry of expediters, which was absolutely not true. What the department was trying to do was hold people accountable.”

Before DOB Now, “there was no checks and balances to the system,” which left some parties with too much control. So Rick stayed focused on the goal: transparency, accountability, and efficiency.

The result? A permitting process that's more streamlined and accessible, leveling the playing field for everyone involved.

What’s Next for Urban Development?

Rick’s career is a reminder that the built environment is always evolving—and so are the systems that support it. His  contributions and forward-thinking initiatives like DOB Now remind us of the importance of innovation in public policy. These efforts not only pave the way for more efficient building practices but ensure that the city and its architectural heritage can adapt to future demands. As cities face new challenges, from climate resilience to adaptive reuse, technology will play a crucial role in how we design, build, and regulate.

For anyone navigating the world of urban development, Rick’s story offers a valuable lesson: innovation isn’t just about new buildings. Sometimes, it’s about rethinking the systems that allow those buildings to exist in the first place.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Permission to Build as we explore how to unlock the potential of the built environment.

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