DOB is putting out a call to architecture and engineering firms - We need your help to reimagine sidewalk pedestrian protection in New York City.

Published in the City Record, our official Request for Proposal (RFP) is looking for ideas from the industry on new designs for sidewalk sheds and alternative pedestrian protection measures. Part of the City's "Get Sheds Down" plan, the new designs that arise from this RFP will help improve New York City's pedestrian experience in the public realm.

We are looking for up to six new designs that are less intrusive, nicer to look at, and still provide adequate overhead protection for New Yorkers. These designs will be incorporated directly into our Codes, and will eventually replace the ubiquitous hunter green plywood and pipe sheds that cover over 370 miles of New York City sidewalks.

The deadline to submit a proposal to the Department is 10/05/2023.

To Access the RFP, Visit The PASSPort Public Portal

Earlier this week, Mayor Eric Adams announced the launch of the City's 'Getting 97 Done' plan, a comprehensive set of initiatives to implement and enforce Local Law 97 of 2019, the City's nation-leading buildings emissions law. "Getting 97 Done" puts emphasis on providing support to building owners by identifying and targeting city, state, federal, and utility-based financing and funding for building retrofit projects.

As part of the announcement, DOB also made public the second package of proposed agency rules to to guide implementation of the law. A public hearing for the proposed rule will be held on October 24, 2023.

Read the Press Release

Check out DOB's Proposed Rule Package

Read the "Getting 97 Done" plan

Climate Week in New York City starts on Monday, September 18th. To celebrate, DOB is participating in online and in-person events for the public all week!

• On Tuesday, September 19th DOB will be hosting "NYC Accelerator Day @ DOB" in our Manhattan Borough Office, located at 280 Broadway, Manhattan. Register for the event here.
• Also on Tuesday, September 19th DOB will take part in a panel discussion hosted by AIANY to talk about the City's Energy Codes and sustainability mandates. Register for the event here.
• On Wednesday, September 20th, DOB Deputy Commissioner for Sustainability Laura Popa will be a panelist at "Designing the Irresistible, Sustainable City - a Collaborative Approach." Register for the event here.
• Also on Wednesday, September 20th, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. will host a Queens Climate Expo at Queens Borough Hall. RSVP for the event here.
• On Thursday, September 21st, Urban Green will be hosting a virtual presentation by DOB's Sustainability bureau to unpack the proposed Local Law 97 rules package. Register for the event here.
• Also on Thursday, September 21st, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Councilmember Lincoln Restler will co-sponsor the Brooklyn Sustainable Building Resource Fair at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Register for the event here.
• On Friday, September 22nd, Chief Sustainability Officer Gina Bocra, R.A., will join "Regenerative Metropolis: High Performance Carbon Sequestration", a Policy Roundtable discussing embodied cardon. Register for the event here.

Hundreds of construction and design professionals joined us in Lower Manhattan last month at the 2023 build safe | live safe Conference.

At the event, attendees heard directly from DOB subject matter experts on the biggest recent development in NYC's building environment, with this year's topics including Local Law 97 regulations, new sidewalk shed enforcement, garage inspection requirements and much more.

Presentations from the Conference are now online

DOB has implemented several new regulatory changes related to sidewalk sheds in the City as part of our "Get Sheds Down" plan, to compel building owners to do the work to remove sheds faster, and to improve the pedestrian experience in our City.

Beginning September 1, 2023, the Department of Buildings will no longer waive the Work Without a Permit civil penalty for installed permitted sidewalk sheds with an expired permit. Sidewalk shed permits must be properly renewed prior to their expiration date. Read our service notice.

Also sidewalk sheds, construction fences, and supported scaffolds installed on or after September 1, 2023, must display DCLA approved artwork when they have been installed for at least 90 days, unless the owner opts out of the requirement on the PW1. Read our service notice and our newly adopted agency rule.

Be on the lookout for more updates to sidewalk shed regulations as DOB continues to implement the "Get Sheds Down" plan.

In New York City, various buildings systems, equipment and structural elements are required by law to be inspected by licensed professionals hired by the property owner to ensure that properties are safe and code compliant, and inspection deadlines are quickly approaching for parking garage and gas piping inspections.

Parking Structure Inspection:

Reminder to property owners in Manhattan Community Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, that Periodic Inspection of Parking Structure (PIPS) Compliance Reports for properties in these districts are due to the Department of Buildings by December 31, 2023.

Property owners in New York City are legally required to hire a licensed Professional Engineer to inspect their parking structures, and file a condition report with DOB at least once every six years.

Get more PIPS information

Check out our New Interactive PIPS Map

Gas Piping System Inspections:

Gas piping systems in all buildings, except for one- and two-family homes, and other buildings classified in Occupancy Group R-3, must be inspected at least once every four years by a Licensed Master Plumber (LMP), or a qualified individual working for an LMP, as per Local law 152 of 2016.

Building owners in Community Districts 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 in all boroughs have until December 31, 2023, to have their gas piping system inspected.

Visit Our Website For More Information About Periodic Gas Piping System Inspections

Frequently Asked Questions About Local law 152 of 2016