New Sidewalk Sheds Designs Unveiled

In November, DOB Commissioner Jimmy Oddo convened an industry meeting in Manhattan to unveil the next phase of the agency's Get Sheds Down initiative, showcasing new better designs for pedestrian protection equipment, and announcing recommended reforms to the city's Local Law 11 facade inspection requirements for tall buildings.

During the event, we gave attendees a first look at six new shed designs, which were created for the city by design consultants Arup and Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU). These innovative designs will be made available for public use through agency rulemaking and will be available to use as early as next year.

The reviews on the new designs are already in, and garnering near universal acclaim as major improvements over the standard plywood-and-pipe designs commonly used today.

"The improved versions are so drastic, you may not be able to tell they're temporary structures." — New York Post

"The prospect of lighter, cleaner and better-looking sheds feels like a rare kind of urban miracle." — Time Out New York

"New designs remake the utilitarian construction shed into something near beautiful." — Fast Company

"The biggest reimagining of the city's ubiquitous sidewalk sheds in decades." — The New York Times

See the new Designs and Learn More in our Press Release

Local Law 11 Reforms

Major changes are on the horizon to improve the city's facade inspection regulations, aimed at doing away with unnecessary sidewalk sheds, reduce costs for property owners, all while keeping New Yorkers safe from hazardous building conditions.

Engineering consultants Thornton Tomasetti recently finished a comprehensive 18-month engineering study on the city's Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP), which was commissioned by DOB as part of the city's Get Sheds Down initiative.

Replete with a slate of major recommendations on how to improve the existing FISP/Local Law 11 regulations, the study is the first ever comprehensive scientific review of these building regulations, which have remained largely unchanged for 45 years.

The entire study will be published on the DOB website later this month.

Read the Recommendations From Thornton Tomasetti

Learn more in our Press Release

New Tools to Get Sheds Down

Beginning in January 2026, new "Get Sheds Down" enforcement measures will go into effect aimed at compelling property owners to complete façade repairs and construction projects in a timely manner, so that sidewalk sheds don't crowd out our public spaces for years on end.

Property owners are warned that the Department is committed to using these new enforcement measures at buildings that are not complying with city Code requirements.

These new enforcement tools include:

• New monthly "Public Right of Way" Penalties for sidewalk sheds that are up for longer than 180 days.

• New milestone penalties for owners of FISP buildings who miss specifically enumerated repair deadlines.

• Expansion of DOB's Long Standing Shed (LSS) program, with more staff to go after sheds that have been in place for three years or more.

• New rules for shed permits, with a shortened 90-day expiration that will require proof of repair progress as a condition of renewal.

Legalization Pathway For Illegal Conversions

We've teamed up with our partners at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development on a new proposed pilot program that would allow certain illegally occupied basement and cellar apartments in NYC to become safe and legal homes.

Right now, thousands of New Yorkers live in unsafe, unregulated basement units, forced into these circumstances due to a severe lack of better housing options citywide. This pilot would protect existing tenants living in these illegal conversions, while giving homeowners a path to fully legalize and upgrade these spaces into Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).

DOB will be holding a public rule hearing for the proposed agency rule to create this new legalization pathway on December 11th at 11AM.

Read the Full Press Release

Read the Proposed Rule and Find out How to Attend the Public Hearing

Deadline Reminder: Local Law 97 Reports

Property owners have less than a month left to submit their calendar year 2024 Local Law 97 emissions reports. December 31st is the final deadline for covered building owners to submit these compliance reports, as well as the Local Law 88 Lighting System Upgrades & Sub-metering reports.

Out of approximately 23,000 covered properties across the five boroughs, a commendable 94% have already submitted their reports or are otherwise engaged and working with DOB toward compliance in this first reporting year. Our goal has been to provide assistance to building owners to help them get on track with a manageable LL97 compliance pathway before the deadline.

When a property owner enters onto a compliance pathway and invests money back into their building, it sets them up to reduce carbon emissions, promote energy efficiency, lower energy costs, and improve occupant comfort.

Property owners in need of assistance can contact NYC Accelerator for free, personalized, technical guidance on energy efficiency upgrades and carbon reduction strategies.

Find out More About Local Law 97

Reach out to NYC Accelerator

End of the Year Inspection Reports

With the new year right around the corner, building owners should be aware that their properties may be subject to proactive inspection reporting requirements.

DOB enforces several local city laws that requires various elements of a building to be inspected by a contracted industry professional on a periodic basis, with the resulting inspection reports submitted to DOB for our review. An owner's failure to submit these required reports will lead to enforcement actions issued by DOB.

Certain buildings around the city have until December 31st to submit periodic inspection reports for their elevators, boilers, parking structures, retaining walls, and gas piping systems.

Find Out More Information About Retaining Wall Inspections

Find out More About the Parking Structures Inspections

Find out More About Elevator Inspections

Find out More About Boiler Inspections

Find out More About Gas Piping Inspections

It's All Gravy on the Thanksgiving Parade Route

Ahead of last week's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan, DOB inspectors hit the streets with our agency partners to check for safety concerns along the parade route. In addition to inspecting areas where obstructions might overstuff the sidewalk near the parade balloons, our team talked turkey with construction professionals about securing their nearby equipment ahead of the holiday festivities.

It's an annual tradition at DOB to conduct these pre-parade inspections and we sure are grateful to our team members who go out to help make sure that festivities go off without a hitch!

Service Updates

Electrical Firm Accounts with Balances Subject to Action

Amended Plans where Substantial Re-Examination is Required

Changes to Illuminated Signs Previously Filed in BIS must be Filed in DOB NOW

Deadline to Post Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label (E-Grade) Moved to December 31, 2025

Ancillary Dwelling Units to be Filed in DOB NOW

All Department Service Updates

Electrical Code

Important Reminder!

The New York City 2025 Electrical Code (Local Law 128 of 2024) takes full effect on December 21, 2025.

Find out more about the 2025 Electrical Code on our website.

Hearings + Rules

1 RCNY 34-04 Repeal of Rules Relating to the Electrical Code (Definitions) Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 34-06 Amendment of Rules relating to Electrical Code (Electrical Code Revision and Interpretation Committee)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 34-07 Amendment of Rules relating to Electrical Code (Electrical Code Advisory Committee)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 35-01 Amendment of Rules relating to Electrical Code (Designation of Private Agencies to Perform Electrical Inspections in the City of New York)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 35-02 Repeal of Rules Relating to the Electrical Code (Payment of Fees for Certificates of Electrical Inspection)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 36-01 Repeal of Rules Relating to the Electrical Code (Evaluation of Educational Experience of Applicants for Electrical Contractor Licenses)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 36-02 Repeal of Rules Relating to the Electrical Code (Impact of Periods of Unemployment upon Applications for Electrician's License)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 101-03 Amendment of Rules relating to Parking Structure Compliance Reports and Façade Inspection Reports (Fees Payable to the Department of Buildings)
Public Hearing: 12/08/2025 @ 11:00AM

1 RCNY 101-12 Amendment of Rules relating to Electrical Code (The Office of Technical Certification and Research and the Use of Material in Construction Activities)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 101-14 Amendment of Rules relating to Electrical Code (Categories of Work that May or May not Require a Permit)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 102-01 Amendment of Rules relating to Electrical Code (Violation Classification and Certification of Correction.)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 103-04 Amendment of Rules relating to Parking Structure Compliance Reports and Façade Inspection Reports (Periodic Inspection of Exterior Walls and Appurtenances of Buildings)
Public Hearing: 12/08/2025 @ 11:00AM

1 RCNY 103-13 Amendment of Rules relating to Parking Structure Compliance Reports and Façade Inspection Reports (Periodic Inspection of Parking Structures)
Public Hearing: 12/08/25 @ 11:00AM

1 RCNY 104-01 Amendment of Rules relating to Electrical Code (License Qualifications)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 104-26 Amendment of Rules relating to Electrical Code (Deactivation of License)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

1 RCNY 105-07 Establishment of Temporary Residence Program for Eligible Basement or Cellar Residences
Public Hearing: 12/11/2025 @ 11:00AM

1 RCNY 4000-01 Amendment of Rules relating to Electrical Code (Electrical Work Review)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/21/2025

All Department Rules

Buildings Bulletins

2025-013: To clarify screening and enclosure provisions in zoning, as applied to outdoor energy infrastructure equipment and accessory mechanical equipment.

All Buildings Bulletins

Local Laws

All DOB-Related Local Laws

Code Notes

DOB Code Notes covers an array of construction projects for both residential and commercial properties. Each Code Note explains the necessary filings, applicable codes and zoning, relevant bulletins, directives and memos for some of the most applied for construction projects in New York City.

Check Out Our Code Notes

Construction Advisories

Check Out Our Construction Advisories

Enforcement Bulletins

DOB publishes monthly bulletins detailing the agency's efforts to sanction and deter bad actors in the construction industry. You can find this information posted on the Enforcement Action Bulletin page of our website.

Additional Disciplinary Actions & Voluntary Surrenders

Upcoming Events

Throughout the year DOB holds in person and virtual events for industry professionals and members of the public.

From "Buildings After Hours", our live Q&A sessions, and virtual industry meetings, there are multiple opportunities every month to meet with DOB.

Check out our List of Upcoming Events

DOB is Hiring

The Department of Buildings is actively looking for construction professionals and other dedicated New Yorkers to join our ranks.

Check out our jobs page to see what openings we have at the agency.

Apply for Open Positions at DOB

Learn More About Careers at DOB

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