Parking Structures - Buildings

Buildings


Construction SafetyTrainingInspectionsEnforcement

Inspection Units
Specialty Units

Inspection Units

Specialty Units


Parking Structures

In an effort to keep buildings safe, be in compliance with NYC Construction Codes §28-323, and RCNY §103-13, owners of parking structures must hire a New York State licensed and registered Professional Engineer (PE) who is also a Qualified Parking Structure Inspector (QPSI) to inspect the parking structure and file a condition assessment report with the Department at least once every six (6) years. Review the Parking Structure Staggered Filing Cycle for important dates and information. The hired PE must meet the eligibility requirements for Qualified Parking Structure Inspectors (QPSI) as required by 1RCNY 101-07. View the current list of active QPSIs.

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

All parking structure compliance filings must be submitted online via DOB NOW: Safety.

Initial Observations

Department of Buildings Rule (1 RCNY §103-16) requires owners of parking structures in certain Community Districts to have a one-time initial observation of the parking structure performed and filed by August 1, 2024. This initial observation requirement applies to parking structures in Community Districts 8 through 12 in Manhattan, and all Community Districts in Brooklyn (Sub-cycle B), Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx (sub cycle C) that are required by Article 323 of Title 28 of the NYC Administrative Code and RCNY §103-13 to have periodic inspections performed by December 31, 2025 or December 31, 2027.

Buildings in Sub-cycle B are exempt from 1 RCNY 103-16 where a full report complying with 1 RCNY 103-13 is filed before that date.

The initial observation must be performed by or under the direct supervision of a NYS licensed PE who is designated by the Department of Buildings as a QPSI. To submit an Initial observation report, log in to DOB NOW and select Parking Structures from the DOB NOW: Safety menu. From the dashboard, select the +Initial Observation button and complete the required information. A Parking Structure ID is required to submit the report. See the Parking Structure Resources for instructions on how to submit a Verification or Parking Structure ID Request.

Read the Service Notice for more information.

Inspection & Report Deadlines

The parking structure report and maintenance/repair deadlines are divided into cycles, which are further subdivided into three sub-cycles. The Community District in which the Parking Structure is located determines if the property falls into sub-cycle A, B, or C. See Cycle 1 Sub-Cycle Diagram.

For parking structures in:

Manhattan Community Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7: January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2023

Manhattan Community Districts 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and Brooklyn Community Districts: January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2025

Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island Community Districts: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2027

See the Parking Structure Inspections Map for subject parking structures and their respective filing cycle (a link to a downloadable list is located at the top of the map). NOTE: this is an initial list based on City records and it is ultimately the building owner’s responsibility to correctly identify if they meet the inspection requirements; if a building is on this list and the owner believes it does not meet the inspection requirements, then email ParkingStructures@buildings.nyc.gov.

Steps to Compliance

STEP 1: Identify if the parking structure meets inspection requirements.

A parking structure meeting inspection requirements is:

a building or a portion of a building used for parking or storing motor vehicles, including space inside or under a building

open parking garages and enclosed parking garages as defined in the NYC Building Code.

The submitted report must document the inspection results indicated above.

A parking structure does not include:

an autobody/automotive repair shop, an automotive showroom, or an automotive service station

a garage with occupancy of fewer than three cars

unenclosed and unattached lots

garages serving one- and two-family homes.

For subject buildings, an assessment report must be submitted by the Qualified Parking Structure Inspector (QPSI) to the Department. View the current list of active QPSIs.

STEP 2: Hire a QPSI to conduct the inspection.

The owner must hire a QPSI to conduct the inspection and determine the rating of the parking structure.

STEP 3: QPSI submits Condition Assessment Report and filing fees.

The QPSI must submit a report to the Department that meets, at a minimum, the criteria listed in 1 RCNY §103-13 within 60 days after completing the assessment. Applicable fees must be paid at time of submission.

More Information

Parking Structure Classifications & Reporting

Parking Structure Staggered Filing Cycle

Parking Structure Inspections Map

Parking Structures Fees & Penalties

Resolving Parking Structure Violations

QPSI Certification

List of Active QPSIs

DOB NOW: Safety – Parking Structure Guides & Trainings

Additional Resources

Read more information on RCNY §103-13

Read more on NYC Construction Codes §28-323

Parking Structure Presentations

Periodic Inspection of Parking Structures (PIPS) FAQ