Changes to Local Law 11

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Changes to Local Law 11
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• An amendment to the rules governing exterior wall
  inspections and repairs was put in place by the
  New York Department of Buildings (DOB) in
  December 2019, after the tragic death of U.S.
  architect, Erica Tishman. Struck and killed by
  debris fallen from a brick tower in midtown
  Manhattan, the new rules came into effect back in
  February of 2020.
• Local Law 11 inspections, or the Façade
  Inspection and Safety Program (FISP), has been
  amended extensively in recent times, to try and
  decrease the growing number of dangerous façade
  conditions, such as fractured terracotta and
  corroded masonry. Not only do such conditions
  have a negative effect upon the overall structure
  of a building, but they can as happened in
  December of 2019 become loose and fall to the
  ground, harming people, animals or other property.

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• Over the past six years, a whopping 4,790
  Environmental Control Board violations involving
  facades, were issued, and since 2014, more than
  22,000 façade violations were reported by the
  DOB.
• With the imposition of stiffer penalties for
  those business/building owners found to be in
  violation of Local Law 11, along with a higher
  standard of inspections and reporting, New York
  City hopes more building owners will correct the
  dangerous conditions their properties pose, and
  at a much quicker rate.
• Listed below are some of the most important
  amendments to Local Law 11

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• Any façade found to be unsafe during an
  inspection, must be repaired within 60 days
• Should timely repairs not occur, a fine of up to
  1,000 per month will be coupled with charges of
  10 per foot of sidewalk shed, erected in front
  of the building
• Fees for a sidewalk shed will rise to 40 per
  linear foot after 5 years
• Engineers or architects with at least 7 years of
  experience working with buildings 6 stories or
  taller, must conduct every inspection and
  complete each inspection report

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• A close-up façade inspection must be carried out
  by an inspector for every 60 feet of a part of a
  buildings exterior facing a public area, like a
  street, avenue or sidewalk
• Instead of performing close-up inspections from
  street level, scaffolding must be suspended from
  the roof or an inspector must be hoisted using a
  motorized lift
• Every inspection report must now involve cavity
  inspections within facades, and inspectors are
  required to submit more photographs

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• Landlords who fail to meet the deadline for
  filing a 5-year inspection report, will be
  subject to a fine of 5,000 an increase of
  3,000
• The façade status of a building must be posted
  and maintained in the building lobby, by the
  building owner(s)
• As well as the new rules, the DOB has also
  increased its façade inspecting team, and now has
  double the number of inspectors and additional
  staff members. The use of aerial drones and
  thermal imaging cameras to assist inspectors, is
  also being considered. To have your buildings
  façade inspected, or to commence with a required
  repair program, reach out to a qualified and
  reputable construction firm in your locality.

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