Buildings news update - December 29th, 2023

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December 29th, 2023

DOB NOW

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DOB "Gets
Stuff Done" in 2023

2023 was a busy year for the Department of Buildings,
with increased construction activity citywide and the launch of new
agency initiatives to improve safety, sustainability, and quality of
life across New York City.

We launched the
"Get Sheds Down" plan to finally tackle the issue of long-standing sidewalk sheds. We issued rules and guidance for the new carbon emission limits for larger buildings in the City with our

"Getting 97 Done" plan. We kicked off a

new code revision cycle for building and construction
regulations, with new volunteer code committees to update the 2022 NYC
Construction Codes. We implemented major agency reforms to improve the
internal processes at the agency, improved service level wait times
across the board, conducted extensive construction safety outreach
around the city, held in-person community events to help New Yorkers
with buildings-related issues, expanded online filing options in DOB
NOW, reached a new high for total field inspections by agency staff, and
much more.

We are proud of all of the work we got done in 2023,
and look forward to building on these successes with our partners in the
construction industry in 2024.

Read our Press Release

Inspection
Requirements in the New Year

Keeping buildings in a safe and code compliant
condition is an important legal requirement for property owners in
our City. Our comprehensive periodic inspection requirements help owners
confirm that their buildings are safe, and not posing a hazard to the
public. With the new year right around the corner, DOB is reminding
property owners of the upcoming deadlines and new periodic safety
inspection requirements for properties located in the five boroughs.

Facades - Facade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP) reports
for buildings over six stories tall in sub-cycle C are due to the
Department of Buildings by February 21, 2024.

Parapets - Beginning
on January 1, 2024, building owner in New York City must have their
building's parapets inspected by a competnant person, regardless of
building heights.

Parking Garages - The first deadline for the city's parking
structure inspection program for properties in sub-cycle A is Sunday,
December 31, 2023. Buildings with parking structures in sub-cycle B and
C must also submit a initial assessment report to DOB by August 1, 2024.

Gas Piping Systems - Gas piping systems in all buildings, except
for one- and two-family homes, and other Occupancy Group R-3 buildings,
must be inspected by a Licensed Master Plumber at least once every four
years. The inspection report deadline for buildings in sub-cycle D is on
December 31, 2023.

Elevators - Building elevators must be inspected and tested
twice annually by an approved elevator agency on behalf of the property
owner. These periodic inspections must be performed by December 31,
2023.

Boilers - Many low pressure boilers and all high pressure
boilers must undergo annual periodic inspections. These boiler
inspection reports are due on December 31, 2023.

Retaining Walls - Owners of properties with a retaining wall
that faces a public right-of-way and is ten feet tall or higher must
have their retaining wall inspected every five years. The inspection
report deadline for buildings in Brooklyn is December 31, 2023.

Building
Carbon Emission Limits Go Into Effect

Carbon emission limits for larger buildings, as
required by

Local Law 97 of 2019, officially go into effect on January 1,
2024. Ahead of this important milestone DOB published a final version of
our second rule package for Local Law 97, providing clear guidance for
enforcement, "Good Faith Efforts," affordable housing , beneficial
electrification and more.

The regulations in this agency rule were informed by
the collaborative work of the city's Local Law 97 Advisory Board and
Climate Working Groups. As part of the rulemaking process, a public
hearing was held, where New Yorkers were able to weigh in on the
regulations and suggest potential changes.

Read our Press Release

Find Out More Information about Local Law 97

Contact NYC
Accelerator for free 1-on-1 guidance

Oldest
Sidewalk Shed in NYC Removed

Mayor Eric Adams joined DOB's Facade Unit last week
to watch the removal of the City's longest-standing sidewalk shed, which
had been up in place for a staggering 21 years. Located in front of a
landmarked apartment building in the Sugar Hill section of Manhattan,
the shed was finally removed after the property owners made repairs to
the building facade. These repairs started in earnest after DOB brought
criminal charges against the property owners for their continued failure
to properly maintain the building facade.

Read our Press Release

Watch the Press
Conference

Watch the ABC 7
Eyewitness News Story About The Shed

Learn More About DOB's "Get Sheds Down" plan

Job Limits For Construction Superintendents

Beginning January 2, 2024, the number of permitted building construction sites
that a construction superintendent can be officially designated at the same time, will be
reduced from five jobs to three. Starting on that date, DOB will not
issue a permit for a project that requires a construction
superintendent, if the application names a superintendent that is
already designated on three or more active permits.

This new policy is in keeping with Local Law 149 of 2021, which is targeted at
reducing the total number permit designations for construction
superintendents in stages down to just one job per professional.
Construction superintendents who are designated on more than three
active jobs must choose which jobs to withdraw from to reduce their
total jobs to three.

Read the Service Notice Here

New Fossil Fuel Installations Phased Out for New Construction

Did you know that nearly 40% of New York City carbon
emissions come from the fossil fuels used on furnaces, boilers, and hot
water heaters?

In order to meet NYC's ambitious carbon emissions
reduction goals, the City Council passed

Local Law 154 of 2021, which phases out fossil fuels in newly constructed buildings for cooking, heating and service hot water, which impacts appliances such as cooking ranges and clothes dryers.

The first phase of the law goes into effect January 1, 2024, for new buildings or new buildings with existing element to remain that are 1- and 2-family homes, or buildings less than seven stories high. The law will apply to all other new building construction projects beginning on July 2, 2027.

Find out More information About Local Law 154

Check out our Local Law 154 FAQ Document

Service Updates

Follow-up #1: In-Person Appointments for Standard Plan Examination Job
Filings on Wednesdays Only

Local Law 149 of 2021: Construction Superintendents are Limited to Three
Jobs

Local Law 154 of 2021: On-site Fossil Fuel Combustion Limitations

2022
Construction Codes: Civil Penalty for Failure to Obey a Vacate Order

Buildings After Hours 2024 Schedule Released

Follow-up #1: Interim Process for CCD1 Requests, ZRD1 Requests, and
Requests for Second Review of Plan Examination Objections that cannot be
submitted in DOB NOW

Class 1 and Class 2 Filing Representative Registrations Will Be Issued
and Renewed Without Proof of Training Completion Until Training is
Available

Follow-up #2: 2022 Construction Codes: Fee Changes for LNO/LOV, OP 128
and Temporary Use Letters

All Department Service Updates

Hearings + Rules

1 RCNY 104-10 Amendment of Rules Related to Riggers and Rigging
(Riggers rule amendment)

Promulgated Effective Date 01/06/2024

1 RCNY 104-20 Amendment of Rules Related to Riggers and Rigging
(Supervisory Responsibilities of a Licensed Rigger rule amendment)

Promulgated Effective Date 01/06/2024

1 RCNY 3316-01 Amendment of Rules Related to Riggers and Rigging
(Rigging Operations and Rigging Equipment rule amendment)

Promulgated Effective Date 01/06/2024

1 RCNY 103-14 Amendment of Rules Relating to LL97 Article 320
Penalty Framework

Promulgated Effective Date 01/20/2024

1 RCNY 103-17 Relating to LL97 Article 321 Compliance and Penalty
Framework

Promulgated Effective Date 01/20/2024

1 RCNY 103-18 Relating to LL88 Lighting and Submetering

Promulgated Effective Date 01/20/2024

All
Department Rules

Buildings
Bulletins

2023-019: This Bulletin rescinds 1 Directive and 19 Memoranda which
were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current
Codes and Local Laws.

2023-020: This Bulletin rescinds 2 Directives, 2 OPPNs, and 15
Memoranda which were issued by the Department but are no longer
applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.

2023-021: This Bulletin rescinds 10 Directives, 4 Letters, and 47
Memoranda which were issued by the Department but are no longer
applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.

All Buildings Bulletins

Local Laws

Intro. No. 689-A - A Local Law to amend the administrative code of
the city of New York, in relation to elimination of permit and or filing
fees for green building projects undertaken on one to three family homes

All
DOB-Related Local Laws

Small
Businesses

Small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York
City can receive one-on-one guidance and helpful consultations for their
projects by reaching out to

DOB's Small Business Team (SBT).

Whether opening a new place of business or renovating
an existing one, SBT gives the City's small business owners and
entrepreneurs the dedicated support they need. The first step for your
small business is filling out a

SBT support request form on our website.

Stop Work
Orders

In an effort to better educate the industry on why
DOB issues Stop Work Orders at construction sites, we have published a
list of the top 10 reasons why these enforcement actions are taken.

Thanks in part to DOB's focus on educational outreach
about City regulations, we are happy to report that the number of Stop
Work Orders issued in 2023 is down by about a third compared to 2022.

Check out our Top 10 List

Read Our Stop Work Order Guidance

Upcoming
Events

Every week, DOB holds online and in-person events for
industry professionals and members of the public.

Have questions and need answers? Join us of for a
live online Q&A session, or one of our in-person industry meetings.

See Our Schedule for All Upcoming Events

Enforcement Bulletins

Earlier this month,

DOB took actions to suspend the inspection authority of a Professional
Engineer for their conduct at a building in the Morris Heights
section of the Bronx, prior to a partial building collapse.

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

Weather
Advisories

When severe weather strikes, it pays to be in the
know.

The Department of Buildings emails out weather
advisories when NYC is expected to face high wind events and other types
of severe weather.

Sign-Up For Weather Advisories

Jimmy Oddo, Commissioner

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