Building Facade Inspection

Per Local Law 11/98, the City requires owners of buildings six (6) stories or higher to have their buildings' exterior walls and appurtenances, such as balconies, inspected every five (5) years by a New York State licensed architect or engineer.

Facade report and maintenance/repair deadlines are divided into cycles. Cycle 8 began February 21, 2015, and runs through February 21, 2020.

All facade compliance filings must be submitted online in DOB NOW: Safety.

Learn about building facade inspections.

File a job through DOB NOW.

You can get additional information by phone.

Call 311 for assistance.

Licensed architects and engineers must report hazardous defects on a building's exterior walls immediately by submitting a Notification of UNSAFE Facade, FISP-3, in DOB NOW: Safety.

The building owner should immediately begin to repair or stabilize the exterior walls.

The notification is not a violation or a ticket. An inspector will verify the hazardous conditions and determine if enough safeguards have been provided and if repairs are in progress. If no safeguards are in place, the inspector can issue a Department of Buildings violation.

24-09-2025

Building Facade Inspection

Notification of an Unsafe Condition