Cause Determined For 2023 Building Collapse

Following an extensive investigation conducted in collaboration with multiple agencies, DOB has published a comprehensive report detailing the major structural collapse that occurred at 1915 Billingsley Terrace, in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx on December 11, 2023.

The report concludes that the collapse was primarily caused by the unsafe removal of a load-bearing masonry pier at the building's northeast corner, during a permitted facade repair job. This reckless action, undertaken by contractors, resulted from a critical failure by the site's engineer of record to identify the load-bearing nature of the pier. As a result of our investigation, the Department took enforcement actions against the engineer and the contractor for their failure to safeguard the public from construction activity at this building.

This incident could have been prevented if the engineer and contractor had taken due care to properly shore up the corner of the building prior to removing bricks for the load-bearing pier. In an effort to prevent similar collapses like this from happening in the future, DOB is creating a new proactive enforcement unit focused on inspecting buildings that have been allowed to fall into disrepair by negligent owners and also tracking bad actors within the construction industry. The creation of this new unit is thanks in part to new legislation from the City Council and a $4.7 million investment from Mayor Eric Adams.

Check out the Press Release

Read the Investigation Report

Watch DOB Commissioner Oddo's Interview on WCBS

Watch New Surveillance Video of the 2023 Collapse

Join Our New Innovation Review Board

At DOB, we're always asking: How can we do better? And now, we're inviting YOU to help us answer that question!

We've launched a new Innovation Review Board, and we need volunteers to join us in shaping the future of NYC's construction and development industries. As a member, participants will evaluate the latest innovations in construction and development to help us select the top ideas, which we will support for city-wide implementation and industry adoption.

Is there a better method for tracking progress on a construction site?

How can gas piping be installed more safely and efficiently?

What tools can be used to make work sites safer?

This is your chance to help us answer these questions and make a real impact on NYC's built environment! The deadline to apply to join the Innovation Review Board is December 14.

Learn More and Apply Today

New Electrical Code for NYC

The New York City Council recently voted to approve a comprehensive update for the NYC Electrical Code, the first such revision of this code since 2011. This is major news for construction projects around the city.

When the new electrical code officially becomes city law later this month, an effective compliance date for all new projects will be set for December 2025. DOB will be publishing a Buildings Bulletin in the coming weeks to provide guidance to builders looking to utilize the new Codes for projects before the effective compliance date.

Changes in the updated codes include:

• Enhanced safety standards: Aligning with national best practices.

• Increased resilience: New rules for rebuilding/reconditioning electrical equipment and systems in the aftermath of flood events.

• Boosting EV infrastructure: More support for charging stations in garages.

• Facilitating fossil fuel phase-out: Regulations will point the way for newer buildings that use electricity for heating, hot water, and cooking.

• Better backups: Electric battery systems can meet the needs for emergency and standby systems as a cleaner, safer alternative to fossil fuels.

• Longer license terms: 3 years, reducing the hassle of frequent renewals.

• Better design requirements for energy storage systems: Building a more reliable, resilient city grid.

Creating these new electrical codes for the city was a major undertaking. Many thanks to the volunteer experts of the city's Electrical Code Revision Committee, DOB staff who worked on the new codes, and our partners in the City Council, including Committee Chair Pierina Sanchez who sponsored the bill.

Sidewalk Sheds in the Papers

DOB has taken major steps to remove long-standing construction sheds from city sidewalks, while reimagining what pedestrian protection looks like in our city.

Over 300 long-standing sheds have already been removed from city sidewalks in the past year, including some of the oldest sheds around the five boroughs. Progress is also being made to on our ongoing Local Law 11 study, and the work to redesign sidewalk sheds, with announcements on both of these major initiatives set for 2025.

In addition, DOB has been working closely with the New York City Council on proposed legislation, including strong new enforcement tools to compel negligent property owners to start long-delayed facade repairs, so that thier old sheds can finally be removed.

Recent editorials and op-eds have been written by the New York Daily News Editorial Board, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, 34th Street Partnership, Council Member Erik Bottcher, District Attorney Alvin Bragg, City Council Member Keith Powers, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in different outlets, all in agreement that this legislation in the City Council is critical if we want to make serious progress removing many of the hundreds of long-standing sheds in our city.

Act Fast on Local Law 97

Are you on track to meet Local Law 97 emissions limits for your building? We are less than four weeks away until the end of 2024, which is the first compliance year for NYC's groundbreaking climate law. Buildings over 25,000 square feet must act now to make necessary retrofits and avoid penalties.

We are also nearing the deadline (January 1, 2025) to apply for certain adjustments to emissions limits if you are a non-profit hospital or a high-emitting building with special circumstances. You can find out more about the adjustment process on our website.

Owners who need help getting on a compliance pathway should reach out to NYC Accelerator, the city's free resource center for those looking to comply with Local Law 97 and improve the energy efficiency of their building. NYC Accelerator will provide guidance on the requirements of the law, help you create a decarbonization plan and improve the energy efficiency of your building, connect you with sustainability contractors, and help you apply to available grants, low-interest loans, and tax abatement programs.

Learn More About Local Law 97

Find Out More About Applying for Emissions Limit Adjustments

Contact NYC Accelerator

Parapet Observations Deadline

By the end of year, property owners with building parapets fronting the public right-of-way are required to complete an observation report of those parapets. To help get the word out about the upcoming deadline and dispel misinformation about the requirements, DOB has been conducting information sessions with elected officials, community boards, and homeowners, and talking with members of the media.

This annual observation is a simple but important new requirement, which entails a visual inspection of the parapets that can be performed by anyone who is qualified to identify parapet damage, including construction professionals, handymen, building superintendents, and even the property owners themselves. The annual observation reports, recording the results of this simple inspection, don't need to be filed with DOB, however they must be kept by the property owners for the next six years.

Detached 1- and 2-family homes, and buildings with a barrier or fence preventing access to the exterior wall are exempt from these new requirements.

Every year, DOB responds to dozens of parapet collapses across the city. Our investigations into these incidents routinely find that they could have been avoided with proper preventative maintenance. This new requirement is intended to help property owners better understand if their building is in need of repairs, so they can fix the issue before it becomes a bigger, and more expensive, problem.

Find Out More About Parapets

Read our Industry Notice

Check Out Our Parapet FAQ Page

Watch WPIX 11 News Story About the New Requirement

Resumes Welcome

It's a big city out there with lots of buildings (1.1 million in fact!), which is why DOB is looking for New Yorkers to join our team and further our missions of enhancing public safety, quality of life, and sustainability in every neighborhood across the five boroughs.

DOB inspectors, plan examiners, legal professionals, and administrative staff all play a critical role in promoting safety and quality of life here in the greatest city in the world. As a member of DOB, you can help make New York City an even better place for everyone that lives, works, visits and builds here.

Check Out Our website to Learn More About Careers at DOB

See Our Open Job Postings

Service Updates

NEW Requirements for Associated Electrical Filings for Solar and Electric Energy Storage Equipment Work Types in DOB NOW: Build

Follow-up #2: Post Approval Amendments – CCD1 Requests, ZRD1 Requests, and Requests for Second Review of Plan Examination Objections

Follow-up #2: Updated Hoisting Machine Operator Experience Verification Form

Training and Certification Extension for Limited HMO License

Failure to File the 2023 Parking Structure Inspection Report Violations to be Issued

Worker Wallet Card Launched in Training Connect

Follow-up #1: Electrical Advisory Board Eliminated

REQUIREMENT: Unlicensed Operation of Articulating Boom Cranes, Mini Cranes, and Rotating Telehandlers Must be Reported

NCCCO Certification Revision to New York City Hoisting Machine Operator License

Lift Director License Type to Launched in DOB NOW: Licensing

All Department Service Updates

Hearings + Rules

1 RCNY 101-03 Amendment of Rules Relating to Homeowner Resolution Program (Fees Payable to the Department of Buildings)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/18/24

1 RCNY 102-01 Amendment of Penalty Schedule for Violations involving Parking Structures (Violation Classification and Certification of Correction)
Public Hearing: 12/16/2024 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 102-05 Penalty for failure to certify correction of immediately hazardous violations (Penalty for Failure to Certify Correction of Immediately Hazardous Violation)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/18/24

1 RCNY 102-06 Amendment of Rules Relating to Homeowner Resolution Program (Homeowner Resolution Program)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/18/24

1 RCNY 103-10 Amendment of Penalty for Failure to File Certification of Gas Piping Inspection (Periodic Inspection of Gas Piping System)
Promulgated Effective Date 12/18/24

1 RCNY 103-13 Amendment of Rules relating to Inspection of Parking Garages (Periodic Inspection of Parking Structures)
Public Hearing: 12/19/2024 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 908-01 Amendment of Rules relating to Installation and Location of Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Carbon Monoxide Detectors)
Public Hearing: 12/12/2024 @ 11:00 a.m.

1 RCNY 3616-08 Amendment of Rules relating to Installation and Location of Carbon Monoxide Detectors (National Fire Protection Association ("NFPA") 720 Amendment relating to the Installation and Location of Carbon Monoxide Detectors) Public Hearing: 12/12/2024 @ 11:00 a.m.

All Department Rules

Buildings Bulletins

All Buildings Bulletins

Local Laws

All DOB-Related Local Laws

Upcoming Events

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

See Our Schedule for All Upcoming Events

DOB NOW

DOB NOW: Build is continuously being updated to address regulatory changes and in response to industry feedback.

For a comprehensive list of recent changes, check out DOB NOW: Build Release Notes, which has been updated for November 2024. This guide gets into the nitty-gritty of interface and process changes related to DOB NOW: Build, helping industry professionals better navigate the public portal.

DOB NOW: Build Release Notes

FAQs and Resources for DOB NOW: Build

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

DOB will issue a Stop Work Order at a work site if it is necessary to protect public safety.

Avoid any unnecessary project delays, by taking the necessary steps to keep your work sites in a safe condition.

See our Stop Work Order Map

Top Ten Reasons For Stop Work Orders

Learn More About Stop Work Orders

Enforcement Bulletins

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

Winter is right around the corner, which means winter weather isn't far behind.

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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