Service Updates

CCD1 Requests, ZRD1 Requests, and Requests for SecondReview of Plan Examination Objections to Launch in DOB NOW: Build
Beginning on October 30, 2023, the following requests related to jobs filed, or to be filed, in the Buildings Information System (BIS) and DOB NOW will be submitted in DOB NOW: Build

• Construction Codes Determination (CCD1)
• Zoning Resolution Determination (ZRD1)
  
• Second review of plan examination objections
  

Request for Corner/Angle Scaffold Inspection
To request a Corner and Angle Scaffold Inspection, please send the new Corner/Angle Scaffold Inspection Request Form as per BC §3314.16.4 to
CSCUAppointments@buildings.nyc.gov.

REVISED SCHEDULE: Effective October 2023 Buildings After Hours to Occur the First and Third Tuesday of the Month
Beginning Tuesday, October 3, 2023, Buildings After Hours will occur the first and third Tuesday of the month. If the Tuesday falls on a City government holiday, Buildings After Hours will be cancelled.

Buildings After Hours Cancelled and Limited Office Hours on September 12, 2023
On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, Buildings After Hours is cancelled and there will be limited in-person services from 11:30 am – 4:00 pm at all DOB borough offices.

No Waiver for Sidewalk Shed Work Without a Permit Civil Penalties
Beginning September 1, 2023, the Department of Buildings will no longer waive the Work Without a Permit civil penalty for installed permitted sidewalk sheds with an expired permit. See Title 1 of the Rules of the City of New York Section 102-04(d)(5).

Local Law 163 of 2021: Artwork on Temporary Protective Structures
Local Law 163 of 2021, effective September 1, 2023, requires approved artwork or alternative artwork, as selected by the property owner, to be displayed on temporary protective structures (sidewalk sheds, construction fences, and supported scaffolds that have been installed for 90 days).

Follow up #1: 2022 Construction Codes: Fee Changes in BIS and DOB NOW
The following fee changes in the 2022 Construction Codes are or will be effective in the Buildings Information System (BIS) and DOB NOW:

Local Law 77 of 2023: Post Approval Amendment Fee and License Renewal Applications
Updates have been made in DOB NOW and eFiling to implement provisions of Local Law 77 of 2023.

Follow Up #1: Local Law 158 of 2017 – Exceptions to the Restriction on Professionally Certified Filings
A new exception to the restriction on professional certification has been added by Local Law 77 of 2023. Filings on buildings with LL158/17 Pro Cert Restrictions in the Property Profile can be professionally certified if the work without a permit was issued to a residential part of the building and the proposed work will be performed on the commercial part of the building. (See Administrative Code § 28-104.2.1)

Follow Up #2: Owner Notification of Start of Work
NYC Building Code Section 3303.10.2 has been amended by Local Law 77 of 2023 to require owners to notify the Department of Buildings not less than 24 hours but not more than 72 hours before starting work requiring a Tenant Protection Plan (TPP).

Follow-up #1: Fee and Permit Restriction Waivers for Work to Address Damage Caused by Remnants of Hurricane Ida Expiring on August 31, 2023
Since September 14, 2021, the Department of Buildings has not required applicants to pay fees for filings and permits for work to address damage caused by remnants of Hurricane Ida pursuant to a Mayoral Emergency Executive Order. Permit restrictions have also been waived in connection with such applications.

Fee and permit restriction waivers will expire on August 31, 2023. Filings that were eligible for fee and permit restriction waivers will no longer be eligible for any subsequent filings submitted after August 31, 2023.

Violations for 2018-2022 Failure to File Category 1 Elevator Test Report
The Department of Buildings will issue violations in August 2023 for not filing a category 1 elevator test report in years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Follow-up #1: Local Law 97 of 2019 – Building Emissions Adjustments Applications Deadline Extended
The deadline for submitting applications for NYC Administrative Code §28-320.8 and §28-320.9 adjustments to annual building emissions limits for calendar years 2024-2029 has been extended. (See Local Law 77 of 2023.) Applications for adjustments must be submitted in DOB NOW: Safety.

Violations for 2018-2021 Failure to File Annual Boiler Inspection Reports
The Department of Buildings will issue violations by July 2023 for failure to file an annual boiler inspection report for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Retaining Wall Flag on Property Profile
A new an LL37/08 Retaining Wall flag has been added to the Buildings Information System (BIS) Property Profile. Properties that have this flag in the Property Profile have retaining walls or parts of retaining walls that are subject to the inspection and reporting requirements in Local Law 37 of 2008 and Section 103-09 of Title 1 of the Rules of the City of New York.

Civil Penalty Increase for Failing to File an Acceptable Certificate of Correction for an Immediately Hazardous Class 1 Summons (AEUHAZ)
The penalty for failure to file a certificate of correction for an Immediately Hazardous Class 1 summons will be increased from $3,000 to $5,000. The increased penalty will apply to summonses issued on or after May 15, 2022, for an immediately hazardous condition at a construction site that is not a one- to four-family home.

Limited Customer Service Office Hours June 8 and 9, 2023
All borough offices will be open to the public from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm only on Thursday, June 8 and Friday, June 9, 2023.

Local Law 109 of 2022: Rodent Abatement During Construction
Effective May 18, 2023, a licensed exterminator is required to treat the premises for rodent extermination, as required by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), for the following work:
• Construction work involving 50% or more of the floor area of a building
• Vertical or horizontal enlargement increasing the building floor area by more than 25%
• Demolition of more than 50% of the floor area of a building
• Full demolition of a building.

Local Law 196: Renewing Site Safety Training Cards
Workers and supervisors whose Site Safety Training (SST) cards expire in 2023 must complete site safety training refresher courses before they can renew their cards. Refresher training must be taken no more than one year before applying for card renewal.

New Fees for Site Safety Plan Review
Effective May 27, 2023, the Department of Buildings’ rules have been amended to include fees for site safety plan review. See Title 1 of the Rules of the City of New York Section 101-03.

New Location: Cranes & Derricks Unit
Effective June 9, 2023, the Cranes & Derricks Unit will be located at 280 Broadway in Manhattan on the 4th Floor.

New Online Payment Methods in DOB NOW
Effective May 21, 2023, DOB NOW payment options will be expanded to include PayPal and Venmo for all transactions.

License Insurance Updates in DOB NOW: BIS Options
Effective June 5, 2023, licensees/registrants are required to submit license insurance updates in DOB NOW: BIS Options. The last day to submit insurance certificates by email is June 1, 2023.

Payment of Outstanding Summonses Required for License Renewal
Effective June 5, 2023, licensees/registrants will not be able to begin a license renewal application in DOB NOW: BIS Options until all outstanding Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) summonses are paid.

Follow-up #2: Periodic Inspection of Parking Structures Reports to launch in DOB NOW: Safety
Beginning April 17, 2023, all Periodic Inspection of Parking Structure (PIPS) Compliance Reports are required to be filed in DOB NOW: Safety. Manual submissions will not be accepted after April 14, 2023.

Follow-up #2: Periodic Inspection of Parking Structures Reports to launch in DOB NOW: Safety
Beginning April 17, 2023, all Periodic Inspection of Parking Structure (PIPS) Compliance Reports are required to be filed in DOB NOW: Safety. Manual submissions will not be accepted after April 14, 2023.

Fast-track Post Approval Amendments for Standard Plan Examination BIS filings related to Occupancy Requests
Effective March 27, 2023, a new option is available in eFiling to submit fast-track Post Approval Amendments (PAAs) for standard plan examination job filings in the Buildings Information System (BIS) for changes related to objections on Schedule of Occupancy and Certificate of Occupancy requests.

Small Business Team at Buildings After Hours
DOB’s Small Business Team (SBT) is available during Buildings After Hours every Tuesday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm for small business owners to receive assistance.

New Supersede & Withdrawal functions in DOB NOW: Build
Beginning March 6, 2023, additional supersede and withdrawal functions are available for PW1/PW2 filings in DOB NOW: Build.

Follow-Up #4: Extension of Enforcement Moratorium and Temporary Assistance Program for Certain Business Signs
The moratorium on the issuance of certain accessory sign violations, and the temporary assistance program for certain accessory signs have been extended to February 9, 2025. (see Intro. 886 of 2023) Until that date, the Department of Buildings will not issue violations for business storefront signs that existed before February 9, 2019, are no more than 150 sq. ft. in area or 1,200 pounds, and do not create an imminent threat to public health or safety.

Follow up #1: Full Demolition to Launch in DOB NOW: Build
Beginning on March 6, 2023, all new Full Demolition (FD) jobs will be required to be filed in DOB NOW: Build.

Updated Submission Process for CD5: Suspended Scaffold Applications
Effective Tuesday, February 21, 2023, include only one paper set of documents with submission of CD5: Suspended Scaffold Applications. After plan review is complete, digital project drawings will be requested for stamping and will be returned by email.

Local Law 97 of 2019: Updated Building Emissions Limits
The Department of Buildings has established updated emissions limits for buildings required by Title 28 of the NYC Administrative Code, Articles 320 and 321 to have building emissions reports submitted. The new limits are based on the property types in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM), rather than the occupancy groups listed in the New York City Building Code. (See 1 RCNY § 103-14.)

Foundation Filings No Longer Require Energy Submissions
Effective January 26, 2023, Foundation (FO) filings in DOB NOW: Build no longer require an Energy Submission. Any prior Energy Submissions in any status have been removed from all FO filings.

Retaining Wall Report Filing Process
Owners of retaining walls that are 10 feet or higher and fronting a public right of way are required by NYC Administrative Code §28-305.4 to hire a NYS licensed professional engineer who is designated by the Department of Buildings as a Qualified Retaining Wall Inspector (QRWI) to inspect the structure at least once every five years and file a report with DOB according to the schedule set out in 1 RCNY §103-09. Cycle 2 ends on December 31, 2023.

Full Demolition to Launch in DOB NOW: Build
Beginning in early 2023, all new Full Demolition (FD) jobs will be required to be filed in DOB NOW: Build. Certain jobs filed in the Buildings Information System (BIS) prior to the DOB NOW launch will be required to be refiled in DOB NOW: Build to continue the job.

NEW Electrical Inspection Request Types
To improve scheduling of electrical inspections, starting January 6, 2023, DOB NOW: Inspections will list new inspection types for electrical jobs.