This week, Mayor Eric Adams and DOB Commissioner Eric Ulrich announced the creation of the "Adams Commission" - a 90-day commission convening stakeholders from labor, industry, the nonprofit sector, and city government to produce a comprehensive blueprint recommending structural improvements at the Department of Buildings.

The City has invited over 60 organizations to participate in this groundbreaking effort, each sending representatives to serve on topic-specific subcommittees, which will focus on eliminating unnecessarily complicated practices and onerous regulatory hurdles.

Read our press release

This week, the Department officially launched two new customer service units -- the Small Business Support Team (SBST) and the Major Projects Development Unit (MPDU).

These new units are helping troubleshoot project issues to get small businesses up and running, and to streamline the development process for the largest building construction projects. By providing guidance to efficiently move these projects through the development pipeline  we are promoting economic activity and development in our City.

Find out more about SBST

Find out more about MPDU

Read our press release

DOB has created a new bureau completely dedicated to sustainability and the agency's climate-related initiatives. Our new Sustainability Bureau is being led by City government veteran Laura Popa, who was recently appointed Deputy Commissioner for Sustainability.

Read our press release on Deputy Commissioner Popa and the new Sustainability Bureau

Our Enforcement Bureau has new leadership as well. Joseph J. Esposito, one of the City’s preeminent public safety experts, has been appointed as our new Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement.

Read our press release on Deputy Commissioner Esposito

As of August 14, 2022, new regulations went into effect allowing certified Site Safety Managers (SSM) and Site Safety Coordinators (SSC), to also simultaneously hold a Construction Superintendent registration.

A certified SSM/SSC who registers to become a Construction Superintendent before the 2022 NYC Construction Codes go into effect on November 7, 2022, will qualify without having to demonstrate additional qualifying experience.

Local Law 149 of 2021 currently mandates that no individual may be  designated as the primary Construction Superintendent for more than five jobs at the same time.

Read our Service Notice

Read Local Law 149 of 2021

Earlier this summer, hundreds of construction and design professionals joined us in Lower Manhattan for the 2022 build safe | live safe Conference. Attendees heard directly from DOB subject matter experts on the upcoming major changes in the 2022 NYC Construction Codes, which go into effect November 7, 2022.

Check out the presentations that were given at the industry conference

Every Tuesday evening, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, DOB's five borough offices are open late, providing one-on-one consultations for homeowners, small business owners, tenants and building managers.

This free weekly customer service event runs throughout the year, and is a great opportunity for New Yorkers to meet directly with DOB experts in-person to get answers to their questions about city construction regulations, receive guidance on resolving DOB-issued violations, or get started on the right foot with advice for their next renovation project.

So bring your questions, and stop on by at your local borough office for Buildings After Hours. No appointment necessary.

Find a borough office near you

Learn more about Buildings After Hours

Join Council Member Lincoln Restler and the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice's NYC Accelerator Program, for a free, practical, and informative workshop on Local Law 97. NYC Accelerator account managers will be onsite to answer your building-specific questions after a presentation and short Q&A.

The NYC Accelerator program offers free technical assistance and services to help building owners meet new building efficiency requirements and learn about available financing and incentives.

The workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, September 21, 2022, in Brooklyn.

Register today!