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Façade Compliance

To keep buildings safe, owners of properties higher than six stories must have exterior walls and appurtenances inspected every five (5) years – and they must file a technical façade report with the Department. See NYC Construction Codes §28-302.1 and RCNY §103-04.

Property owners must repair dangerous conditions within 90 days of filing a technical report.  Once the work is finished, owners must file an amended report within two weeks.

All façade compliance filings must be submitted in DOB NOW: Safety. In DOB NOW: Safety you can:

  • Submit façade compliance filings and report unsafe façade activity
  • Make payments
  • View and search information related to your façade filings
  • Upload documents
  • View the status of a façade filing
  • Receive emails at milestones throughout the filing process

Login to DOB NOW: Safety.

Inspection & Report Deadlines

Façade report and maintenance/repair deadlines are divided into cycles. The Department has added sub-cycles to make it easier for owners to hire qualified professionals and contractors. The last digit of a building’s block number determines if the property falls into sub-cycle A, B, or C. See the Cycle 9 Sub-Cycle Diagram.

Façade Classifications

The required façade inspections are called critical examinations and may only be performed by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI). QEWIs are New York State licensed Professional Engineers (PE) or New York State Registered Architects (RA). After performing an inspection, the QEWI must file an electronic technical report through DOB NOW: Safety indicating the façade’s condition and classifying the building with one of three ways:

  • Safe: No problems and in good condition; or
  • Safe With a Repair and Maintenance Program (SWARMP): Safe, but requires repair/maintenance; or
  • Unsafe: Problems/defects threaten public safety.

With an Unsafe classification, the owner must immediately install protection, such as a sidewalk shed, construction fence, etc.

General Information

  • The technical report must be submitted by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) through, DOB NOW: Safety.
  • Owners are subject to Environmental Control Board violations and penalties if they don’t meet the deadline or fail to make timely repairs.
  • Owners with a building filed as Unsafe must request an extension if the repairs cannot be completed and an amended report cannot be filed within 104 days from the original filing date.
  • Find a DOB-approved QEWI

Additional Information