Buildings News: July 2, 2026

DOB in Your Community

Are you a small property owner with questions about permits, violations, or starting a project? Talk directly with our team and get real answers, right in your neighborhood.

Our next DOB in Your Community event is making a stop at the College of Staten Island in the Willowbrook neighborhood of Staten Island on Thursday, July 11.

This event gives small property owners and small business owners the opportunity to meet with DOB representatives right in their own neighborhood. This is a free event. Registration is encouraged.

Staten Islanders who can't make it to one of these in-person events, are encouraged to also check out our regularly scheduled Buildings After Hours events or one of our many online Q&A sessions.

Additional DOB in Your Community events will be held in Sunnyside Queens and Upper East Side, Manhattan in the month of August.

Check out our Other Upcoming Events

Hot Town, Summer in The City

This week in New York City has been a scorcher.

In preparation for heat waves that will impact the five boroughs and to protect our city's workers, earlier this month Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed a historic Executive Order directing multiple city agencies to implement new policies protecting working New Yorkers from extreme heat.

Extreme heat poses a serious risks to construction workers. During periods of high temperatures, employers are strongly urged to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance for the safety of workers on their sites, including implementing proper hydration protocols, allowing frequent breaks in shaded or cool areas, and watching for signs of heat-related illness among coworkers.

Contractors should also also take special mitigation measures during concrete operations. High ambient temperature can impair the quality of freshly mixed or hardened concrete by accelerating the rate of moisture loss and rate of cement hydration. DOB's Construction Advisory has more information about mitigation measures that can be taken.

Read DOB's Heat Advisory

Check Out the Mayor's Press Release

Read the Mayor's Executive Order on Extreme Heat

Better Sidewalk Sheds Are Here

New Yorkers recently got their first up-close look at two of the six new sidewalk shed designs coming soon to New York City Streets. These sheds were erected outside of the DOB headquarters building at 280 Broadway in Manhattan, for a short term exhibition that runs through early July.

Back in February 2024, the city hired two leading engineering and design firms, Arup and PAU, to manage two separate teams for the development of new sidewalk shed prototypes that prioritize pedestrian experience. On view through early July at 280 Broadway are the Flex Shed and the Rigid Shed, both designed by the Arup team.

DOB is currently developing rules to make all six designs available for use citywide. The design specifications will be included in the rules, making them publicly accessible for everyone to use. These rules are expected to be finalized later this year.

Read our Press Release

See Renderings of All Six Shed Designs

No Penalty Inspection Program

There is still time to request a free inspection under DOB's annual No-Penalty Inspection Program.

Through Friday, July 10th, homeowners, small business owners, and small property can request a free visual inspections of specific parts of their property performed by a DOB expert. During this free inspection, our inspectors will provide guidance on needed repairs, safety requirements, and construction permits.

If violating conditions are identified with these parts of the building during the inspection, our inspectors will hold off on issuing enforcement actions, and instead offer guidance on how to fix the issue, direct owners to available resources, and provide them the time needed to correct the issue first. This program is great for a property owner who is looking to start a repair project at their building, but doesn't know where to start.

By calling 311, owners can request a DOB inspection of:

• Decks and patios

• Retaining walls

• Facades for buildings under six stories

• Boilers

• Gas piping systems

• Unregistered private elevator devices

• Sidewalk vaults

• Business signs

Read our Press Release

Speeding Up Development

In an effort speed up safe and compliant development across the city, DOB has been working diligently to implement reforms from the Mayor's pro-housing agenda.

The administration's Block by Block Housing Plan, the release of the city's Speed Taskforce Report, the new charter revision efforts of the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), the upcoming Summer 2027 implementation of the New York City Existing Building Code, and additional pro-housing initiatives are all helping to make New York City the best place to build in the country.

Deadline for Natural Gas Detectors

Starting on January 1, 2027, residential property owners will be required to install natural gas detectors at their apartment buildings, hotels, one- and two-family homes, and and all Class B dwellings (such as hotels).

This deadline went into effect as a result of Local Law 102 of 2025, which mandated the deadline if DOB is able to identify at least four distinct manufacturers of battery-powered alarms. The Department has identified at least four distinct manufacturers.

Read our Service Notice

Check out our FAQ Guide for Natural Gas Detectors

To Serve and Inspect

Last month, the Department of Buildings formally celebrated the graduation of 78 new inspectors from the agency's Inspector Academy training program. Family and friends of the new inspectors sat proudly in attendance alongside former DOB Commissioners, current DOB Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg, and top agency officials as the new inspectors walked across the stage to accept their certificates.

The graduating inspectors each received a total of 520 combined hours of classroom and field training during the 16-week Inspector Academy program, where they studied code enforcement, zoning regulations, building regulations, and the DOB policies necessary to effectively carry out their duties.

Read our Pres Release

Learn More About Careers at DOB

Security Grille Legislation Passes

Earlier this week, the New York City Council passed Intro 910-A, new legislation which, once signed into law, repeals Local Law 75 of 2009, and does away with a previous legal requirement that security grilles at most storefronts in B and M occupancies around the city provide at least 70 percent visibility from the sidewalk. The old law put a financial burden on small businesses, that were required to replace fully solid security grilles with transparent ones.

Earlier this year, DOB put a pause on enforcement of Local Law 75 requirements after this new legislation was introduced in the City Council. With the passage of Intro 910-A, there will no longer be any legal requirement regarding the transparency of storefront security grilles.

Find Out More Information About Intro 910-A

DOB NOW: Build Launch For Electrical Filings

New functionality has been added to DOB NOW to incorporate the 2025 New York City Electrical Code (NYCEC).

As of June 29, 2026, DOB NOW: Build electrical filings now includes new questions and requirements to align with NYCEC. In addition, requests for Electrical Development Inspections will now be submitted and managed through the new DOB NOW: Inspections Plus module.

The update also introduces new Special Installation Types, allowing applicants to identify projects such as eBike and electric vehicle charging stations, temporary lighting and amusement rides, and billboards or newsstands.

Read the Service Notice on DOB NOW: Inspections Plus

Read the Service Notice on DOB NOW: Build updates

Preparing for Hurricane Season

Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30 every year, and at DOB we know that the best way to prepare for major storms is education.

DOB staff recently completed our annual New York City Continuity of Operations (COOP) Full-Scale Exercise Training program, where DOB's Emergency Management Unit provided class room instruction and hands-on rehearsals of protocols for wide-scale natural disasters affecting urban buildings.

It's because of trainings like this that our staff get called to respond to disasters all over the country. From hurricanes, to floods, and earthquakes, when we're needed, we answer the call.

You can help make sure your property or construction site is prepared for incoming storms by signing up to receive DOB Weather Advisories directly to your inbox.

Read our full COOP Press Release

Sign up for DOB Weather Advisories

Service Updates

Submit a Permit Renewal with Changes in DOB NOW to Update the Business Listed on the Permit

Deadline to Install Natural Gas Alarms is January 1, 2027

Follow-up #1: 2025 NYCEC to Launch in DOB NOW: Build

Follow-up #1: Launch of NEW DOB NOW: Inspections Plus Module

Launch of 2025 New York City Electrical Code and New Inspections Plus Module in DOB NOW

Follow Up #1: Electrical Firm Accounts with Debit Balances Subject to Action

Local Law 10 of 2026 Updates Site Safety Training Program

All Department Service Updates

Work For DOB

The Department of Buildings has multiple new job postings, as we are actively looking for construction professionals and other dedicated New Yorkers to join our ranks.

Please check out our jobs page to see what openings we have at the agency.

Apply for Open Positions at DOB

Learn More About Careers at DOB

Hearings + Rules

All Department Rules

Buildings Bulletins

2026-011 : This document establishes an equivalent alternative to the supplemental inspector (Alternative 2) certification for the Subsurface Investigations, Borings and Tests Pits Special Inspection category found in 1 RCNY 101-06 Appendix A.

2026-010: This Bulletin clarifies how to calculate floor area ratio (FAR) for mixed-use buildings that are UAP developments (Universal Affordability Preference developments).

2026-009: This Bulletin clarifies when a UPS can be used as an emergency power source without special permission.

2026-008< /a>: This Bulletin rescinds two Memoranda which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws

2026-007 : This Bulletin rescinds 9 TPPNs, 14 Memoranda, which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.

All Buildings Bulletins

Local Laws

All DOB-Related Local Laws

Code Notes

DOB Code Notes covers an array of construction projects for both residential and commercial properties. Each Code Note explains the necessary filings, applicable codes and zoning, relevant bulletins, directives and memos for some of the most applied for construction projects in New York City.

Check Out Our Code Notes

Electrical Advisories

Construction Advisory are official messages from the Department of Buildings to homeowners, building maintenance staff, construction personnel and others addressing safety issues and best practices in NYC construction. This month DOB issued a slate of electrical.

Electrical Permits and Payments

Electrical Owner' Attestations

Electrical After Hours Variances (AHV)

Work Without a Permit - Requests for Overrides, Reductions, or Waivers of Civil Penalties for Electrical Filings

Electrical PAAs and EPR PAA Fees

Electrical Permit Renewals and Insurance

Check Out Our Construction Advisories

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