Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Bike lanes provide a designated lane for cyclists and serve as a highly visible means of alerting drivers that cyclist are sharing the road.

Stop signs are warranted on the low volume approaches of intersections to clearly establish right of way. Use of unwarranted stop signs often leads to disregard of both those signs and others in the vicinity which may be more critical.

White Plains has recently purchased a speed display sign which can be used as an educational tool to help reduce speeds in the neighborhoods. The sign can be rotated among streets where more frequent violations occur. It temporarily displays individual vehicle speeds (for three seconds) while permanently displaying the 25 mph citywide speed limit.

White Plains has a citywide legal speed limit of 25 miles per hour (unless otherwise posted) signed with black on white regulatory signing at each entry point into the city. Certain street sections such as Mamaroneck Avenue have higher speed limits. Black on yellow signs indicate advisory speeds for various conditions such as sharp curves. The 25 mile per hour limit is the minimum allowed citywide speed limit for all villages, towns, and cities in New York State in accordance with state law.

Site plans are prepared for proposed new developments or modifications to existing developments. The site plan document contains drawings and related support materials, such as legal data, topography and natural features, building elevations, existing and proposed structures and utilities, and other information, as required by Section 7.3 of the Zoning Ordinance. This document allows the Building Department and the approving agency to review the site plan in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Zoning Ordinance. Site plans must be prepared and signed by a professional architect, landscape architect, land surveyor, or engineer licensed to practice in the State of New York.

For everything you need to know about obtaining a dog license click here: https://www.cityofwhiteplains.com/380/Dog-Licenses 

Contact the DPW Code Enforcement Office at 914-422-1208.

Please review our permit application form. (insert link)

The studio is now locate at 100 Martine Avenue, the White Plains Public Library.  We can be found on the second floor. Our main entrance is in the corner of the Library gallery.  Do not enter through the door marked "studio" unless it is wide open.  You don’t want to walk in on a show during production

Our hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, not including City observed holidays.  Recordngs can be booked between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Basic in-studio production is free for all White Plains residents. The only cost is for recording media (DVDs, flash drives, hard drives) and for copies.

The next written examination for entry-level Fire Fighter for the City of White Plains is currently scheduled for May 1, 2021. Applications and filing fee of $50 (no cash) must be postmarked or filed by the last filing date.

Yes.  If you are interested in becoming a Fire Fighter for any other municipality, you must file a separate application following their application procedures when they schedule their exam.  We can only provide you with information about the White Plains exam.

Yes, for any other NYS municipality other than the City of New York.  Simply follow the filing procedures for both exams, and inform us about the other exam on the Cross Filer Form and attach it to your White Plains application.

Completed application and exam fee are only accepted either:
At the 3 locations listed on the announcement and ONLY until 5pm of the last filing date.
OR
If mailed and postmarked by the US Post Office no later than the last filing date (certified mail is recommended  especially if on or near the last filing date).  Any application received without the exam fee will not be accepted.  Any application received or postmarked after the last filing date will not be accepted.
OR
If serving actively in the military as per Sections 243-b (2) and (3) of NY State Military Law, a late application will be accepted with proof of military orders.   Those serving active military duty during the filing period, will under Section 243-c of NYS Military Law be permitted to file an application up to 10 business days prior to the date of the exam.

We do not accept applications by fax or e-mail.

Once announced, both the Announcement and Application can be picked up at these White Plains locations:

City Hall, Personnel Dept, 255 Main St, Rm. 301

Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm

Thomas H. Slater Center, 2 Fisher Court

Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm

El Centro Hispano, 346 So. Lexington Ave

Monday-Friday between 12pm-5pm

There is a $50 non-refundable application fee which can be paid by:

Check or Money Order payable to the City of White Plains with the candidate’s name either printed or written on it, and the exam #; 

Visa,  Mastercard or American Express. 

NO CASH is accepted.

You will receive a letter from the Personnel Department allowing you to resubmit the $50 exam fee plus a $20 bounced check fee as a pre-paid money order only.  You will have 10 business days from the date of the letter to resubmit all fees.  You will not be allowed to pay by check for any future exams with the City of White Plains.

Yes, but the applicant must be the card holder with the same billing address as the address provided on the application or it cannot be processed.  Enter your credit card information at the bottom of the front page of the application.  If another card holder will be paying your fee, the card holder must be present in our office when the application is submitted.

The information you provide will be carefully reviewed and will determine if you are eligible for admission to the examination.  A vague or incomplete application may result in your disqualification.  Untrue information could result in your removal from the eligible list even if you pass all parts of the exam.  Please review it carefully after filling it out to be sure everything is filled out accurately and completely, both front and back.   Please print neatly.    Remember to sign it the application.

Yes.  You must have been a legal resident of Westchester County for at least three (3) continuous months prior to the exam date and to the date of appointment.   Preferential hiring is made from those candidates who are legal residents of the City of White Plains under the terms of a federal consent decree.  This is subject to verification and investigation.  Proof of residency may be required.

Candidates must notify this office in writing of a change of address using the Change of Address Form available on our website. 

It is important that you keep us informed of your current address both prior to and after the exam so we can contact you. 

Yes, but it is NOT required to take the examination.   You will be required to show proof of citizenship in order to be appointed if you pass all parts of the exam and you are selected for appointment.

There are alternatives.  Please refer to the exam announcement.

AGE REQUIREMENT: Applicants must not be less than seventeen and a half (17-1/2) years old on the date of the written exam.  Eligibility for appointment as a Fire Fighter begins when an applicant reaches his or her eighteenth (18^th) birthday.  Applicants who lack one month or less of the minimum age requirements shall be deemed eligible if otherwise qualified.

You will receive a Notice of Admission to the examination, which will also provide information on the Free Training.   If you have not received a Notice of Admission, three (3) months prior to the exam, please contact our office as soon as possible.

NO.   The $50 is a non-refundable filing fee.  You should read the exam announcement carefully to be sure you qualify before filing your application.

Contact our office immediately for a replacement copy.  You will need to show a photo ID and be fingerprinted at the test site if you do not have your admission notice.  Do not wait until the morning of the exam to look for your Admission Notice.

The Test Guide for this examination, as well as others, is available online at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm

Additional general exam related information is also available How to Take a Written Test and Questions and Answers about Municipal Civil Service Exams

OR a copy can be obtained in our office Monday-Friday 9-5 at Personnel Dept, 255 Main St, Rm. 301, White Plains, NY 10601.

Please note the most important document you should carefully read and consider is the examination announcement itself. Candidates should pay close attention to the "Subjects of Examination" section of the announcement to be informed about the test type and content, and focus their examination preparation upon the information described in this portion of the announcement.

You will be notified in the Notice of Admission of the available dates. Training will be held over a series of sessions for which training material will be made available.

You will be notified by mail of your grade on the written exam.  In that letter candidates who passed the written exam will also receive information about the scheduled Practice Agility Test and scheduled Actual Agility Test.

NO.   The practice agility test is optional.

We will mail your scheduled date and time approximately 6 months after written exam date.

YES.   You must take and pass the actual agility test to be placed on the eligible list for Fire Fighter.

The location of the test is included in your Admission Notice letter which is mailed to you. 

A message will be left at (914) 422-1279 if the test is cancelled due to inclement weather.

The events are described in detail in the Fire Fighter Agility Handbook and the Illustrated Guide for CWP Fire Agility Test.

If you do not receive a letter please call our office at (914) 422-1257.

Contact our office immediately.  You will need a photo ID and will be fingerprinted at the test site.

If the address you wrote on your application changes, it is your responsibility to notify us by completing the Change of Address Form and returning it to our office.

Yes, however, you may do so only once, and due to the number of candidates taking the test and the limited number of test dates, rescheduling is done on a first-come first-served basis.  Therefore please only request a reschedule date if absolutely necessary. Rescheduling must be approved prior to your original schedule date. Information will be provided in your admission notice.

If you pass the physical agility exam, your name will be ranked on an eligible list according to your scores on the agility test.  Since the City of White Plains is subject to a federal consent decree, the eligible list must first be approved by the U.S. Justice Department prior to establishment which is projected for January following the agility exam.  Once the list is established, the names of the eligible candidates are sent to the Department of Public Safety for background check and interviews as vacant positions become available.  If you are the selected candidate, the job offer extended to you will be conditional on passing a background check and a medical exam.

The 2024-25 General Fund Budget is $212,876,670

If you would like to change your mailing address on your tax/water bill or any other information pertaining to your bill, please e-mail the Finance Department at waterbills@whiteplainsny.gov or finrec@whiteplainsny.gov

water account change form

tax account change form

The amount of a particular property's tax bill is determined by two things: the property's taxable assessment and the tax levies, i.e., property tax budget, of the taxing jurisdictions in which the property is located. The tax rate is determined by dividing the tax levy to be raised from all, or part, of an assessing unit, and the applicable total taxable assessed value. The assessment is determined by the assessor and should be based on the value of the property less any applicable property tax exemptions.

If there is water service on your property then there will be an A/D (available on demand) charge based on the size of the meter.

The commercial and residential sewer rates are calculated at 18% of the water billed.

General City Rate: $244.18 City School District: $728.37

County/Refuse/Bronx Valley Sewer $137.60 County/Refuse/Mamaroneck Valley Sewer $141.74

Tax bills are mailed out mid-December and late March and June. If you do not receive a bill during this time, please call the tax office (914) 422-1235, for more information.

Contact the Assessor's Office. Email: Assessor@whiteplainsny.gov Phone: (914) 422-1225

If including the payment stub, please mail your payment stub and your check made payable to the Commissioner of Finance to: City of White Plains P.O. Box 5086 White Plains, NY 10602-5086

If you are NOT including the payment stub, please mail your check made payable to the Commissioner of Finance to: City of White Plains Finance Department 255 Main St Rm 102 White Plains, NY 10601

If including the payment stub, please mail your payment stub and your check made payable to the Commissioner of Finance to: City of White Plains P.O. Box 5064 White Plains, NY 10602-5064. 

If you are NOT including the payment stub, please mail your check made payable to the Commissioner of Finance to: City of White Plains Finance Department 255 Main St Rm 102 White Plains, NY 10601

Yes, the course is free!

Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:15 pm

Saturday: 9 am - 12 pm

White Plains Recreation & Parks administration office. 85 Gedney Way, White Plains, NY 10605. 

914.422.1336

The next written examination for entry-level Police Officer for the City of White Plains is anticipated to be held in November 2019 (unless otherwise announced). Please look for exam announcements in local newspapers and on this website in the February of 2019.  Applications and filing fee of $50 (no cash) must be postmarked or filed by the last filing date.

Yes.  If you are interested in becoming a Police Officer for any other municipality, you must file a separate application following their application procedures when they schedule their exam.  We can only provide you with information about the White Plains exam.

Yes, for any other NYS municipality other than the City of New York.  Simply follow the filing procedures for both exams, and inform us about the other exam on the Cross Filer Form and attach it to your White Plains application.

Completed application and exam fee are only accepted either:
At the 3 locations listed on the announcement and ONLY until 5pm of the last filing date.
OR
If mailed and postmarked by the US Post Office no later than the last filing date (certified mail is recommended especially if on or near the last filing date). Any application received without the exam fee will not be accepted. Any application received or postmarked after the last filing date will not be accepted.
OR
If serving actively in the military as per Sections 243-b (2) and (3) of NY State Military Law, a late application will be accepted with proof of military orders.   Those serving active military duty during the filing period, will under Section 243-c of NYS Military Law be permitted to file an application up to 10 business days prior to the date of the exam.

We do not accept applications by fax or e-mail.

Once announced, both the Announcement and Application can be picked up at these White Plains locations:

City Hall, Personnel Dept, 255 Main St, Rm. 301

Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm

Thomas H. Slater Center, 2 Fisher Court

Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm

El Centro Hispano, 346 So. Lexington Ave

Monday-Friday between 12pm-5pm

There is a $50 non-refundable application fee which can be paid by:

Check or Money Order payable to the City of White Plains with the candidate’s name either printed or written on it, and the exam #; 

Visa,  Mastercard or American Express. 

NO CASH is accepted.

You will receive a letter from the Personnel Department allowing you to resubmit the $50 exam fee plus a $20 bounced check fee as a pre-paid money order only.  You will have 10 business days from the date of the letter to resubmit all fees.  You will not be allowed to pay by check for any future exams with the City of White Plains.

Yes, but the applicant must be the card holder with the same billing address as the address provided on the application or it cannot be processed.  Enter your credit card information at the bottom of the front page of the application.  If another card holder will be paying your fee, the card holder must be present in our office when the application is submitted.

The information you provide will be carefully reviewed and will determine if you are eligible for admission to the examination.  A vague or incomplete application may result in your disqualification.  Untrue information could result in your removal from the eligible list even if you pass all parts of the exam.  Please review it carefully after filling it out to be sure everything is filled out accurately and completely, both front and back.   Please print neatly.    Remember to sign the application.

Yes. You must have been a legal resident of one of the six (6) following Counties: Westchester, Putnam, Nassau, Rockland, Orange or Bronx for at least one (1) month prior to the exam date and to the date of appointment.  This is subject to verification and investigation. Proof of residency may be required.

Candidates must notify this office in writing of a change of address using the Change of Address Form available on our website. 

It is important that you keep us informed of your current address both prior to and after the exam so we can contact you. 

Yes, but it is NOT required to take the examination.   You will be required to show proof of citizenship in order to be appointed if you pass all parts of the exam and you are selected for appointment.

You will be admitted to the examination, but you will be required to show proof of a High School or Equivalency Diploma in order to be appointed if you pass all parts of the exam and you are selected for appointment.

AGE REQUIREMENT: The following are Pursuant to Section 58 of the NYS Civil Service Law:

Minimum Age:    To be certified as eligible for appointment applicants must be at least 20 years of age.

Maximum Age:   Candidates may not have reached 35 years of age as of the date of the written examination.

 Effect of Military Duty on Age Limits: As defined in Section 243 (1-b and 10-a) of NYS Military Law, up to six (6) years shall be subtracted from the chronological age of an eligible applicant’s maximum age for appointment based on the period of  active military duty. Candidates exercising this provision must submit form DD-214 with their application.

You will receive a Notice of Admission to the examination, which will also provide information on the Free Training.   If you have not received a Notice of Admission, four (4) months prior to the exam, please contact our office as soon as possible.

NO.   The $50 is a non-refundable filing fee.  You should read the exam announcement carefully to be sure you qualify before filing your application.

Contact our office immediately for a replacement copy.  You will need to show a photo ID and be fingerprinted at the test site if you do not have your admission notice.  Do not wait until the morning of the exam to look for your Admission Notice.

The Test Guide for this examination, as well as others, is available online at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm

Additional general exam related information is also available How to Take a Written Test and Questions and Answers about Municipal Civil Service Exams

OR a copy can be obtained in our office Monday-Friday 9-5 at Personnel Dept, 255 Main St, Rm. 301, White Plains, NY 10601.

Please note the most important document you should carefully read and consider is the examination announcement itself. Candidates should pay close attention to the "Subjects of Examination" section of the announcement to be informed about the test type and content, and focus their examination preparation upon the information described in this portion of the announcement.

You will be notified in the Notice of Admission of the available dates. Training will be held over a series of sessions for which training material will be made available.

You will be notified by mail of your grade on the written exam.  In that letter candidates who passed the written exam will also receive information about the scheduled Practice Agility Test.

NO.   The practice agility test is optional.

We will mail your scheduled date and time approximately 6 months after written exam date.

YES.   You must take and pass the actual agility test to be placed on the eligible list for Police Officer.

The location of the test is included in your Admission Notice letter which is mailed to you.  

A message will be left at (914) 422-1279 if the test is cancelled due to inclement weather.

The events are described in detail in the Police Office Physical Agility Standards.

If you do not receive a letter please call our office at (914) 422-1257.

Contact our office immediately.  You will need a photo ID and will be fingerprinted at the test site.

If the address you wrote on your application changes, it is your responsibility to notify us by completing the Change of Address Form and returning it to our office.

Yes, however, you may do so only once, and due to the number of candidates taking the test and the limited number of test dates, rescheduling is done on a first-come first-served basis.  Therefore please only request a reschedule date if absolutely necessary. Rescheduling must be approved prior to your original schedule date. Information will be provided in your admission notice.

If you pass the physical agility exam, your name will be placed on an eligible list.  Since the City of White Plains is subject to a federal consent decree, the eligible list must first be approved by the U.S. Justice Department prior to establishment which is projected for January following the agility exam.  Once the list is established, the names of the eligible candidates are sent to the Department of Public Safety for background check and interviews as vacant positions become available.  If you are the selected candidate, the job offer extended to you will be conditional on passing a background check and a medical & psychological exam.

Only those candidates who pass the background, physical agility, and medical/psychological exams; and have been offered and accept a position as a Police Officer in the City of White Plains will be sent to the Police Academy.

The Planning Board meets the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers, located at 255 Main Street (2nd floor), White Plains.

The Planning Board requires 12 copies of plans and any supporting documentation. 

There is no Planning Board application. All site plan and special use permit applications are filed with the Building Department. The plans will be referred to the Planning Board for review and approval after they have been reviewed for completeness by the Building Department. 

Applications and plans must be filed with the Building Department at least two weeks before the Planning Board meeting date. 

Public notice instructions can be found here.

Subdivision application forms can be found here.

A subdivision is the division of a lot, parcel, or tract of land into two or more lots for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of ownership transfer or building development with or without proposed new streets. The changing of the dimensions of two existing tax lots where no additional lots are created does not require subdivision approval. This is handled instead through what is called an "Administrative Lot Line Change," for which applications are made to the City Assessor's Office.

The White Plains Planning Board is empowered by state and local laws to review and approve, approve with modification, or reject subdivision applications.

Subdivision applications should conform to Section 1-7 of the White Plains "Requirements for Approval of Subdivision Plans," and the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and must include an environmental assessment form and Tree Preservation Plan.

The City's Department of Planning handles subdivision applications for the Planning Board. The Planning Board is a seven member citizen board authorized to review and approve subdivisions. All forms and information about what is required to prepare the application, as well as Planning Board meeting dates and other background can be obtained in our department.

The Planning board meets once a month on the third Tuesday. Applications need to be filed at least a week before the meeting date. Before the Planning board takes any action on a subdivision application, it is referred to other city boards, agencies, and departments for review and comment.

Depending on the particular subdivision, a number of city departments and boards may be asked for comments on the proposed subdivision. These include the Building, Public Safety, Traffic, Public Works, Planning, and Law Departments. In addition, the Environmental Officer, the Tree Preservation Committee, Conservation board, and Traffic Commission may also be involved.

All subdivisions require a public hearing. It is the applicant's responsibility to publish a notice of public hearing in the newspaper and to notify neighbors by certified mail. Specific instructions for public notification requirements can be obtained from the Department of Planning.

Once the subdivision plat is complete and meets all the requirements of the board and regulations, it is signed by the Commissioner of Public Works, the Receiver of Taxes, and the Chairperson of the Planning Board.

After all conditions of subdivision approval are met, all fees paid, and the subdivision is signed off by the County's Commissioner of Health, the applicant may file the approved plat with the Westchester County Clerk - Division of Land Records. Please view the full instructions here.

Site plans are prepared for proposed new developments or modifications to existing developments. The site plan document contains drawings and related support materials, such as legal data, topography and natural features, building elevations, existing and proposed structures and utilities, and other information, as required by Section 7.3 of the Zoning Ordinance. This document allows the Building Department and the approving agency to review the site plan in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Zoning Ordinance. Site plans must be prepared and signed by a professional architect, landscape architect, land surveyor, or engineer licensed to practice in the State of New York.

The Common Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, or Commissioner of Building exercise site plan approval authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2 of the Zoning Ordinance. When a site plan is part of another application such as a special permit use, the approving agency for the special permit usually also approves the site plan.

The site plan application must conform to all of the requirements of Section 7 of the Zoning Ordinance, and must include an Environmental Assessment Form and Tree Preservation Plan. In addition to the formal application requirements, a cover letter from the applicant to the approving agency outlining, in general terms, what is being proposed should be included as part of the formal submission.

Application information, number of copies, and forms can be obtained from the Department of Building, located at 70 Church Street. Filing fees are required. The Department of Building's staff, as well as staff of other city departments, will answer questions about the application and the review process.

The Department of Building will first determine whether the application is complete and conforms with zoning. If all requirements are met, the Department of Building will send the application to the approving agency which will be responsible for the review and approval of the site plan.

Site plans are referred by the approving agency to appropriate city departments and agencies for review and comments, depending on the location and/or the proposed use of the site or building. In addition, the Westchester County Planning board and/or abutting municipalities receive referral for review and comment where required.

Every applicant should become aware of which city agency will be receiving a referral of the application from the approving agency. The applicant should find out the meeting place, time and date of all reviewing boards and agencies and determine if attendance at these meetings is necessary.

The approving agency, after receiving and considering comments from referral agencies, and fulfilling all the other requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and environmental reviews, will adopt a resolution approving, approving with conditions, or denying the application.

The approving agency resolution may contain conditions which need to be complied with before building permits are issued. In addition, any required changes or additions to the construction plans must also be completed and accepted by the Department of Building.

After the site plan is approved by the approving agency, any subsequent major changes to the plans must be approved by the agency with site plan jurisdiction.

No. The City has a long-standing ordinance which prohibits parking on the street between the hours of 2:00 AM - 6:00 AM. Seasonally, this helps the city with snow plowing and street cleaning, but it is also important from a public safety perspective. Parking permits for the City's garages and lots are available through the Parking Department for those who need to purchase them. 

If the temperature is less than 68° F call your building super or property manager first. If you do not get a response call the Building Department.

If you see work being done at a house and do not see a permit displayed in the window call the Department of Building. Keep in mind, not all work requires a building permit.

If you observe cars parked illegally in the street call the Department of Public Safety. If you see a car parked in a driveway that overhangs into the sidewalk call the Department of Public Works. If you see commercial vehicles parked on private property in a residential zone call the Department of Building.

If you suspect a house is overcrowded contact the Building Department, please be specific about what you observed. Keep in mind that the State of New York defines a “family” as one or more persons living in a house or apartment that share the house elements, such as the kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room, etc. They also share in expenses and essentially live as a “family” even though they may not be blood related.

If you see overgrown grass, debris, trash, etc. on private property call the Building Department. If you see similar items on the sidewalk or in the street call the Department of Public Works.