The NYC Apartment Renovation Timeline
(A Phase-by-Phase Guide for Manhattan and Brooklyn Homes)
What’s inside:
✓ Realistic Timeframes: See how long each phase typically takes, from initial planning through construction, and why many full apartment renovations span 9 to 18 months.
✓ Board and DOB Approvals: Understand how building review and city approvals fit into the schedule, and what should be confirmed before submitting.
✓ Long-Lead Planning: Know which items may need to be selected or ordered early so they do not delay construction.
✓ What Moves the Completion Date: Learn the most common factors that affect a renovation schedule, including building restrictions, existing conditions, scope changes, and delayed decisions.
Also included: a planning checklist and a sample 12-month renovation schedule showing how design, approvals, procurement, and construction can overlap.
Planning a renovation in Manhattan or Brooklyn? A full apartment renovation commonly takes nine to eighteen months, and construction is only one part of it. This guide walks through each phase, shows how they overlap, and explains what most often moves the completion date.