Project Checklists for Owner:
Solar Energy

This section contains a list of questions/tasks to help Owners, who are responsible for hiring professionals to provide compliance with the Construction Codes and other regulations discussed in the Project Guidelines.

The design team for the project should be hired and assembled by the Owner prior to beginning any construction. If an Owner is unfamiliar with construction regulations, he/she should consult a Registered Design Professional or reference the NYC Construction Codes and other regulations referenced in this guide for more information.

Checklists include:

*Note: The Owner of the building/property is ultimately responsible for the project, and their signature/consent is required for submission of the project application by their design professional, and Department approval.*

Initial Project Checklist

DO

  • Pre-Project: Make sure you hire a Registered Design Professional, a Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Registered Architect (R.A.), to ensure your project is Code-compliant.
  • Project Plans: Only a P.E. or R.A. can submit construction documents, including drawings and other submissions, to the Department for approval.
  • Asbestos Investigation: Have asbestos investigation performed on site to check for Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) that will be removed or disturbed.
  • Project Work: Hire a licensed or registered professional to perform the work.  When hiring a professional, have a written contract that includes the Contractor’s company name, address and license number(s).
  • Commissioning: If your project requires commissioning, (all solar projects where the renewal energy generating capacity is 25 kW or greater) ensure you have a qualified commissioning agent perform the work.  If required, commissioning must be filed with the Department prior to sign-off.
  • Work Completion: Ensure inspections and sign-offs are performed to close the project permit.

DON’T

  • Work Without a Permit: Do not begin work without a DOB permit.  Property Owners and the people performing work without a permit may receive orders to stop on-site work, ECB violations with monetary and criminal penalties including court appearances, and civil penalties.

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Prior to Application Approval Checklist

  • Hire a Registered Design Professional (Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Registered Architect (R.A.)) or a Licensed Sign Hanger to consult and finalize scope of work.
  • Provide consent of the project permit application, and authorize the P.E. or R.A. – who is the ‘Applicant of Record’ – to submit project Construction Documents for Department approval.
  • Project permit application approval is required prior to beginning work.

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Pre-Permit & On-going Project Work Checklist

Pre-Permit

  • Licensed Contractor: Hire NYC Licensed/Registered Contractor to obtain work permit in order to begin work.
  • Special Inspections: If the scope of work requires, hire the required Special Inspection Agency (SIA) for performing Special/Progress Inspections.
  • Notify the Department: Prior to pulling the permit, use the online notification process to provide the name(s) of the SIA(s) contracted to do the Special and/or Progress Inspections.

On-going

  • Site Safety: Property Owners must maintain their properties in a safe condition during the course of work.

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Project Completion Close-out Checklist

  • Special Inspections: If the scope of work requires, the Special Inspection Agency hired must complete and submit results online to the Department.
  • Department Inspections: Make sure the Contractor has completed all Department of Buildings inspections and obtained a sign-off of the completed work.
  • Permit Sign-off: Obtain confirmation that the Contractor has requested and passed a final sign-off inspection required by the Department.

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Project Checklists for Owner Links

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