NYC DEP Site Connection Proposal and Sewer Certification
A Site Connection Proposal is a DEP sewer-certification submission used when a project needs DEP approval for how sanitary and/or storm flow will leave the property and connect to an acceptable outlet. The proposal is not the physical sewer connection permit itself. It comes earlier in the process and establishes the approved connection and flow information that the project team relies on when obtaining the subsequent sewer permit.
DEP states that sewer certification is required for any new connection to a City sewer, private sewer, private drain, septic system, or approved outlet. Certification may also be required when an alteration or renovation increases the sanitary or storm flow generated by the site. The proposal must be submitted by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer or Registered Architect on behalf of the owner or developer.
For the complete DEP topic hierarchy, see NYC DEP Permits, Filings and Compliance.
SLK Buildings assists with NYC DEP permits, filings, approvals, records, violations, and compliance.
When a Site Connection Proposal May Be Required
- A new building requires a new sanitary, storm, or combined sewer connection.
- A development proposes new site drainage, detention, retention, or another condition that affects the amount or rate of storm flow discharged from the property.
- An alteration or renovation increases sanitary and/or storm flow enough to trigger sewer-certification review.
- A project will connect to a private sewer, private drain, septic system, or another approved outlet rather than a standard direct City sewer connection.
- An existing connection must be reused, modified, or evaluated as part of a larger development or drainage strategy.
- DOB or DEP review identifies sewer certification as a required item for the project scope.
Site Connection Proposal vs. House Connection Proposal
DEP uses both Site Connection Proposal and House Connection Proposal application types within the current sewer-certification process. The correct application type depends on the project conditions and connection arrangement. The filing professional should determine the appropriate form based on DEP criteria rather than assuming that every property uses the same proposal type.
The practical purpose is the same: DEP must be able to evaluate the proposed sanitary and storm flows, the available outlet, the proposed connections, and the relationship between the development and the existing sewer system before the legal connection permit is issued.
How the Current DEP Filing Process Works
- Review existing sewer records and drainage information to understand the fronting infrastructure, sewer type, elevations, available outlet, and known connection history.
- Coordinate the proposed building use, fixture and sanitary flow assumptions, stormwater calculations, site drainage, detention or retention strategy, and proposed connection details with the project plans.
- Prepare the Site Connection Proposal or House Connection Proposal through the appropriate PE/RA professional and obtain the owner or developer authorization required for submission.
- Submit and manage the current DEP application through PARIS, including supporting documents and responses to agency comments.
- Coordinate revisions until DEP sewer certification is issued or the agency identifies another required path.
- After certification, coordinate the subsequent sewer connection permit and the applicable licensed plumbing and inspection requirements.
Information and Documents Commonly Coordinated
- Property location, borough, block and lot, owner/developer information, applicant information, and related DOB job information.
- Existing and proposed building use and development information that affects sanitary and storm flow.
- Existing sewer, drainage-plan, sewer-card, as-built, and related infrastructure records where available.
- Proposed sanitary, storm, or combined connections, pipe sizes, invert information, and connection methods.
- Stormwater flow calculations and detention or retention information where applicable.
- Site plans, drainage information, surveys, profiles, connection details, and other technical exhibits required by the project conditions.
- Property-owner or developer authorization and other current PARIS submission documents.
- Revisions and supplemental information requested by DEP during review.
PARIS and Current Electronic Filing
DEP’s current Site and House Connection Proposal workflow is handled through the Permit and Review Information System (PARIS). The portal contains the application workflow, project information, supporting-document uploads, agency review, and special application types such as self-certified proposals where the project satisfies DEP eligibility criteria.
Because DEP has transitioned important water and sewer workflows into PARIS, older paper forms or legacy instructions should not be treated as the complete current filing procedure. The project team should confirm the active portal requirements, submission fields, supporting documents, and current eligibility rules when the application is prepared.
Sewer Certification Does Not Replace the Sewer Connection Permit
Sewer certification establishes DEP approval of the proposed sewer connection arrangement and discharge. The actual connection work requires the appropriate sewer connection permit afterward. NYC311 states that DEP accepts sewer permit requests from licensed plumbers, not directly from the general public. This means the design-professional certification and the licensed-plumber permit are related but separate stages.
For the next stage, review Sewer Connection Permits.
DOB and DEP Inspection Responsibilities
DOB also has a House Connection Unit for sanitary, storm, and combined sewer work within the property. Depending on the scope, DEP and DOB can be responsible for different portions of the connection and inspection process. The Licensed Master Plumber should coordinate the required permit and inspection path rather than assuming one agency inspection closes the entire sewer scope.
How SLK Buildings Helps
- Review available property, sewer, drainage, and agency records before the proposal is prepared.
- Coordinate the project scope, DOB information, owner documentation, design-professional work, and related water/sewer records needed for the filing.
- Organize PARIS submission materials, supporting documents, agency comments, revisions, and outstanding items.
- Coordinate with the project PE/RA and Licensed Master Plumber so the sewer certification, later permit, and inspection path remain aligned.
- Identify related DEP, DOB, DOT, stormwater, drainage, or other agency requirements that can affect the proposed connection.
- Track the filing through DEP review and carry the certified information into the subsequent sewer-permit and construction coordination.
Important Site Connection Proposal Coordination Issues
- The proposal should reflect the same project scope shown in the current DOB filing and design documents. Changes in use, building size, fixture count, site drainage, or impervious area can affect the sewer analysis.
- Existing records may be incomplete or may reveal infrastructure conditions that require additional investigation or a different connection strategy.
- Stormwater permitting can be a separate requirement even when stormwater information is also part of the sewer-certification design.
- Work within the street can require DOT permits in addition to DEP approvals.
- Private sewers, private drains, easements, pumping systems, unusual outlets, phased development, and other nonstandard conditions can add documentation and review requirements.
- Sewer certification and the final connection permit should be sequenced with the overall project schedule so agency review does not become a late construction dependency.
Contact SLK Buildings About a Site Connection Proposal
SLK Buildings assists with Site Connection Proposal and related NYC DEP sewer-certification coordination, including project and records review, filing organization, PARIS coordination, design-professional and Licensed Master Plumber coordination, agency comments, revisions, and related DEP, DOB, DOT, drainage, stormwater, and sewer-permit requirements.
Disclaimer: SLK Buildings is a private consulting and construction-management firm and is not affiliated with NYC DEP or any government agency. This content is educational and is not engineering, architectural, legal, environmental, or plumbing advice. Site Connection Proposal design, calculations, professional certification, licensed plumbing work, permit eligibility, and inspection requirements must be confirmed for the specific project by the appropriate qualified professionals and agencies.
🚧 Seeking Professional Guidance on NYC DEP Permits, Filings, and Compliance
NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) requirements can affect property owners, developers, business operators, design professionals, contractors, and project teams when work involves water or sewer connections, hydrants, backflow protection, stormwater, wastewater, asbestos, air emissions, construction noise, drilling, records, violations, or other environmental requirements administered by DEP.
Before relying on a filing path, the project team should confirm the regulated activity, existing infrastructure and property records, required DEP program, current portal or submission method, licensed professional or trade requirements, inspections, testing, and related DOB, DOT, NYS DEC, FDNY, or OATH coordination.
At SLK Buildings, we assist with NYC DEP permit expediting, agency filings, Site Connection Proposals, sewer and water coordination, hydrant work, backflow, stormwater, drainage, wastewater, asbestos, air, noise, drilling and excavation coordination, records research, violations, hearings, and related multi-agency project requirements within the confirmed service scope.
Whether you are beginning a new DEP application, responding to agency comments, researching existing water or sewer conditions, coordinating licensed professionals and contractors, correcting a compliance issue, or carrying a DEP approval into related construction permitting, SLK Buildings can help organize the records, filings, coordination, and next actions needed to move the project forward.
SLK Buildings Assists with NYC DEP Requirements
- Coordinate Site Connection Proposals and sewer-certification requirements for projects that need new or modified sewer connections.
- Coordinate sewer connection permits, water-service filings, hydrant work, and related infrastructure approvals with the appropriate licensed professionals and trades.
- Organize backflow prevention, stormwater, drainage, wastewater-discharge, asbestos, air, noise, drilling, and records requirements according to the applicable DEP program.
- Support DEP violation research, response coordination, and related OATH hearing matters where a summons proceeds to the independent tribunal.
SLK Buildings provides free educational content to help property owners, developers, business operators, design professionals, contractors, and project teams understand NYC DEP permitting, filing systems, water and sewer approvals, stormwater, environmental compliance, inspections, records, and related agency requirements.
For those who prefer professional assistance, SLK Buildings is available to coordinate DEP application strategy, filing preparation, portal submissions, agency comments, records research, licensed-professional and contractor coordination, approval tracking, violation response, and related NYC agency requirements that may affect the property or project.
Disclaimer: SLK Buildings is a private consulting and construction-management firm and is not affiliated with NYC DEP or any government agency. This content is educational and is not legal, engineering, architectural, environmental, or other professional advice. Permit, filing, design, testing, inspection, and professional-signature requirements depend on the specific property, project, regulated activity, and current agency rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Site Connection Proposal the same as a sewer permit?
No. The proposal is part of DEP sewer certification. After the required certification is approved, the applicable licensed plumber obtains the separate sewer connection permit for the physical connection work.
Who prepares a Site Connection Proposal?
DEP states that sewer certifications must be submitted by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer or Registered Architect on behalf of the owner or developer.
Can an alteration require sewer certification even if there is already a sewer connection?
Yes. DEP states that certification may be required for an alteration or renovation that increases the sanitary and/or storm flow generated on the site.
What is PARIS?
PARIS is DEP’s current Permit and Review Information System used for Site and House Connection Proposal applications and other water/sewer permit workflows.
Can a Site Connection Proposal involve stormwater requirements too?
Yes. The proposal can address storm flow and site drainage, while a qualifying project can also have a separate DEP stormwater-permit obligation through SWPTS.
Can SLK Buildings coordinate an application that is already in review?
Yes. SLK can review the existing filing record, organize open comments and missing items, coordinate with the project professionals, and help establish the next submission and follow-up steps within its service scope.
Related Resources
- NYC DEP Permits, Filings and Compliance ~ Return to the complete DEP resource center.
- Sewer Connection Permits ~ Review the subsequent DEP permit stage for legal sewer connection work.
- Stormwater Permits ~ Review separate DEP stormwater permitting where project thresholds apply.
- Drainage Proposals ~ Review DEP drainage and private sewer/drain coordination topics.
- DEP Records Requests ~ Review water/sewer maps, cards, plans, and related records research.
- NYC Agencies Index ~ Browse other agency resources that may affect the same project.
Official Government References
- NYC DEP ~ Sewer Certification and Connection Permits ~ Current official requirements for sewer certification, Site/House Connection Proposals, and connection permits.
- NYC DEP ~ PARIS Site/House Connection Proposal Application User Manual ~ Official current PARIS workflow guidance for Site and House Connection Proposal applications.
- NYC DEP ~ Site Connection Proposal Property Owner Authorization ~ Official owner/developer authorization form referenced by DEP for proposal submissions.
- NYC311 ~ Sewer Connection Permit ~ Official City guidance explaining the relationship between proposal certification and the licensed-plumber sewer permit.
- NYC DOB ~ House Connections ~ Official DOB guidance on house-connection permits and inspections within DOB jurisdiction.
- NYC DEP ~ Request Records ~ Official DEP guidance for sewer cards, drainage plans, maps, and other records by project scope.