Changes to Local Law 11

1. Changes to Local Law 11

2. 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.

3. 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:

4. 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

5. A close-up façade inspection must be carried out by an inspector for every 60 feet of a part of a building’s 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

6. 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 building’s façade inspected, or to commence with a required repair program, reach out to a qualified and reputable construction firm in your locality.

7. RZ Construction Group Inc is a fully inclusive construction company and general contractor in Astoria NY. From initial design to final clean up, our results speak for themselves. We are fully licensed, insured, and bonded to provide both commercial and residential construction services to customers in Astoria and the surrounding area. Proud to serve New York State for 25 years. No job is too small nor too big. If you are looking for a masonry contractor or local law 11 contractors in NYC or want to know more about our wide range of professional but affordable construction and nyc building violations removal services, reach out to us at (718) 938-9887.