Earlier this month, the Department of Buildings released the 2022 New York City Construction Safety Report, a comprehensive analysis of building construction safety trends over the past year. 2022 saw a rise in new construction permits issued over the previous year, as well as increases in construction worker incidents, injuries, and fatalities.

The annual report provides an overview of building development data, construction worker incidents, and enforcement actions, to increase transparency within the construction industry and highlight the importance of adhering to the safety regulations in the City's Construction Codes.

Read our Press Release

Read the 2022 Construction Safety Report

This Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day, where people from around the globe demonstrate support for protecting the environment and sustainability initiatives.

To celebrate Earth Day, DOB is spreading awareness of sustainable building maintenance and operation practices that can help create a greener City for all New Yorkers with a list of recommendations and a sustainability-themed mixtape. Read our sustainable building recommendations press release.

A number of important sustainability deadlines are also coming up for building owners later this year. Check out the latest edition of DOB's Sustainable Buildings News for more information.

Acting DOB Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik, P.E., was in the Bronx last week with Bronx County District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and the NYC Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber, to announce criminal charges related to a 2019 fatal construction site collapse that occurred in Norwood.

DOB investigators worked closely with our government partners on this case, which marked the first time contractors were indicted in the Bronx in a case charging manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide related to the death of a construction worker.

Acting Commissioner Vilenchik said the following about the indictment, "The Department of Buildings is committed to bringing accountability to the construction industry, and our work in support of this indictment sends a strong message that negligence on the worksite will not be tolerated."

Read the Press Release

Reminder that all construction workers and supervisors on New York City's larger and more complex building construction sites are required to have their NYC DOB Training Connect SST ID Cards. These identification cards provide the bearer with proof of their successful completion of required safety training classes, required by the Department to work on these construction sites. As of March 18th, 2023, only cards issued through the Department's Training Connect system are accepted on work sites.

These cards are NFC-enabled, allowing them to easily be scanned for authenticity by DOB inspectors and contractors out in the field using a mobile phone phone or tablet.

Allowing individuals with fraudulent SST cards on to your work site can lead to violations from DOB. To prevent this from happening, industry members can download DOB's "SST Training Validator" app on their mobile device to easily scan the SST card of anyone entering their site. The validator app is free and is available on Google Play and Apple App Store.

If you believe someone has presented a fraudulent SST ID card at your site, let us know about it by emailing tcintake@buildings.nyc.gov with the subject line "Suspected Fraudulent SST Card".

Mayor Eric Adams announced a new action plan, to be carried out by DOB and our partners at the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), to strengthen enforcement tools that will preserve the city's most vulnerable historic buildings.

The plan will aid in protecting buildings designated as historic landmarks and buildings located in designated historic districts that are at risk due to pre-existing unknown structural conditions, owner neglect, and contractor negligence.

Read About the New Action Plan in our Press Release

Find our More Information About Landmarked Buildings and Historic Districts in NYC

As of Monday, April 17th, 2023, all Periodic Inspection of Parking Structure (PIPS) Compliance Reports will be required to be filed in DOB NOW: Safety. These reports, filed by Qualified Parking Structure Inspector (QPSI), provide DOB with information about the structural condition of parking structures, which are prone to increased wear and tear from vehicle traffic and storage.

Learn more by signing up for our free webinar training session scheduled for Wednesday, April 19th at 10am.

Read our Service Notice for More Information

In recognition of the critical role the City's waterfront continues to play in the evolution of our built environment, DOB has begun the formation of a Waterfront Code Technical Committee and qualified volunteers are needed to help our team develop, adopt, and implement a Code specifically for waterfront construction.

This new Code will supplement the existing land-based construction regulations, and work in tandem with requirements at the state and federal levels.

The deadline to apply is May 31st. Don't delay, apply today!

Fast-track Post Approval Amendments (PAAs)

Effective March 27, 2023, a new option is available through eFiling to submit fast-tracked Post Approval Amendments (PAAs) for standard plan examination job filings in the Buildings Information System (BIS), specifically for changes related to objections on DOB NOW Schedule of Occupancy and Certificate of Occupancy requests.

Read the Service Notice to learn more

Also check out our new Supersede & Withdrawal Guide for a summary of how to change construction and design professionals on a DOB NOW application.

The Adams administration is dedicated to cutting through the noise and delivering information directly to you and all New Yorkers.

Sign up to "Hear From Eric" and get direct messages from City Hall, tailored to your interests and neighborhood, sent directly to your inbox - at nyc.gov/hearfromeric!

Buildings After Hours, held every Tuesday, from 4 pm - 7 pm at each of the agency's borough offices, is your opportunity to get answers to your project-specific questions directly from DOB experts. These costumer service events are free, open to the public and no registration is required.

Buildings After Hours is now better than ever, as representatives from our Small Business Team (SBT) are now also attending to help small businesses and other small organizations with their buildings-related issues. SBT staff are available at Buildings After Hours in the DOB borough offices on the following schedule:

• 1st Tuesday of the Month: Queens & Staten Island

• 2nd Tuesday of the Month: Manhattan

• 3rd Tuesday of the Month: Brooklyn

• 4th Tuesday of the Month: Bronx

Read our Service Notice

Visit our Website For Info About the Small Business Team

Inspectors from the Department of Buildings' Elevator Unit worked throughout the month of March inspecting all of the amusement park rides at Coney Island's Luna Park and Deno's Wonder Wheel. These inspections happen every year prior to the parks opening up for the season, and are all about public safety for New Yorkers.

Each ride is closely scrutinized and tested by our team, who even take the time to walk the length of each of the roller coasters. Working with the park operators, our team checks to see if each ride is up to snuff, before allowing it to be open for members of the public.

This year, reporters from The Brooklyn Paper and News 12 Brooklyn joined our inspectors to talk about this important work to help New Yorkers have a safe and enjoyable time at the park.

Read the Story in Brooklyn Paper

Watch the Story on News 12 Brooklyn