Code Development NYC Codes Sustainability Reference

2023 Buildings Bulletins

The Department of Buildings publishes Buildings Bulletins which represent the official policies of the Department to assist our customers and employees. These bulletins are currently sorted by date of issuance. New ways to browse and search this data will be coming in the near future.

Additional reference resources include Executive Orders, Directives & Memoranda, Policy & Procedure Notices (PPNs), DOB Rules, Technical Certification & Research materials, and Presentations.

Buildings Bulletins for: Current Year * 2023 * 2022 * 2021 * 2020 * 2019 * 2018 * 2017 * 2016 * 2015 * 2014 * 2013 * 2012 * 2011 * 2010 * 2009 * 2008

2023 Buildings Bulletins
Issuance Date	Type/ Bulletin #	Relevant Code Sections	Purpose
December 11, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-021	Directive 44 of 1970 Directive 34 of 1970 Directive 1 of 1973 Directive 1 of 1979 Directive 1 of 1984 Directive 12 of 1969 Directive 3 of 1971 Directive 20 of 1971 Directive 21 of 1969 Directive 6 of 1979 Letter 9/6/77 Letter 8/14/91 Letter 11/29/82 Letter 7/5/84 Memo 2/23/77 Memo 8/6/70 Memo 10/5/70 Memo 9/24/73 Memo 10/19/83 Memo 3/29/71 Memo 2/23/72 Memo 8/10/83 Memo 11/20/61 Memo 2/28/75 Memo 3/24/71 Memo 1/28/82 Memo 7/17/69 Memo 7/24/69 Memo 5/16/86 Memo 5/16/79 Memo 3/21/74 Memo 10/12/79 Memo 12/19/79 Memo 11/20/74 Memo 9/29/72 Memo 11/1/73 Memo 5/10/79 Memo 11/19/73 Memo 7/28/71 Memo 10/7/71 Memo 11/18/71 Memo 5/24/68 Memo 10/19/89 Memo 3/27/72 Memo 5/7/70 Memo 8/18/71 Memo 9/2/60 Memo 12/5/86 Memo 11/28/80 Memo 1/3/72 Memo 8/27/69 Memo 1/6/81 Memo 12/21/82 Memo 6/7/82 Memo 9/9/83 Memo 8/2/84 Memo 8/19/68 Memo 10/31/67 Memo 12/14/78 Memo 6/19/73 Memo 12/19/69	This Bulletin rescinds 10 Directives, 4 Letters, and 47 Memoranda which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
November 16, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-020	Directive 1 of 1971 Directive 7 of 1973 OPPN #2/88 OPPN #23/88 Memo 12/12/69 Memo 7/14/80 Memo 6/26/81 Memo 8/5/74 Memo 10/1/90 Memo 12/5/86 Memo 8/16/71 Memo 9/4/74 Memo 9/5/69 Memo 2/11/86 Memo 9/20/83 Memo 10/3/73 Memo 10/22/73 Memo 10/15/73 Memo 10/21/76	This Bulletin rescinds 2 Directives, 2 OPPNs, and 15 Memoranda which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
November 16, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-019	Directive 2 of 1979 Memo 7/17/70 Memo 11/7/73 Memo 6/2/77 Memo 3/5/79 Memo 6/15/79 Memo 9/24/73 Memo 11/18/76 Memo 2/11/76 Memo 8/25/72 Memo 12/6/73 Memo 2/27/78 Memo 12/15/77 Memo 12/8/77 Memo 5/12/78 Memo 6/21/78 Memo 7/26/79 Memo 8/26/77 Memo 7/31/72 Memo 10/10/84	This Bulletin rescinds 1 Directive and 19 Memoranda which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
October 30, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-018 Bulletin Highlights	ZR 143-13 ZR 15-112 MDL 276 MDL 277 1 RCNY 1101-01	This Bulletin clarifies the technical and administrative requirements when Joint Living-Work Quarters for Artists (JLWQA) are converted to general residential use.
October 26, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-017	BC 712.1.2 BC 903.2.8 BC 1019.3 Exception 3	This Bulletin clarifies the applicability of the New York City Building Code provisions for exit access stair enclosures (BC 1019.3, Exception 3) in one- and two-family dwellings.
October 19, 2023	Operational/Buildings Bulletin 2023-016	AC 28-103.9 28-423.1 FGC 404.21	This Bulletin establishes the acceptance criteria where gas work was performed by individuals not possessing the minimum required qualifications.
October 17, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-015	Memo 8/13/71 Memo 3/9/77 Memo 12/9/71 Memo 10/28/69 Memo 7/24/68 Memo 1/14/88 Memo 11/13/78 Memo 8/20/71 Memo 7/24/72 Memo 2/8/78 Memo 4/13/84 Memo 5/2/84 Memo 5/3/77 Memo 5/17/77 Memo 7/6/76 Memo 7/15/74 Memo 5/21/75 Memo 2/23/72 Memo 11/19/71 Memo 2/7/68 Memo 11/4/71 Memo 7/25/79 Memo 5/5/75 Memo 8/13/79 Memo 4/11/89 Memo 1/25/90	This Bulletin rescinds 26 Memoranda issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
October 17, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-014	Directive 4 of 1979 Directive 6 of 1972 Directive 2 of 1968 Directive 4 of 1979 Directive 41 of 1970 Directive 2 of 1977 LPPN #3/92 LPPN #4/92 OPPN #5/95 OPPN #6/93 OPPN #4/95 TPPN #1/88 TPPN #12/88 TPPN #2/93 TPPN #3/93 Letter 5/25/79 Letter 4/9/84 Letter 4/23/84	This Bulletin rescinds 6 Directives, 9 PPNs and 3 Letters which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
September 27, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-013	Directive 2 of 1970 Directive 25 of 1970 Directive 10 of 1974 Directive 1 of 1977 Directive 5 of 1977 Memo 3/19/63 Memo 10/24/68 Memo 2/11/71 Memo 4/26/72 Memo 5/31/73 Memo 6/1/73 Memo 4/4/75 Memo 2/21/78 Memo 1/3/79 Memo 4/26/79 TPPN 4/89 Letter 2/22/88 Letter 7/12/88 Letter 2/15/91	This Bulletin rescinds 5 Directives, 10 Memoranda,1 TPPN and 3 Letters which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
September 20, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-012	Directive 43 of 1970 Memo 9/19/75 Memo 7/28/72 Memo 12/4/87 Memo 8/7/87 Memo 5/17/78 Memo 3/23/70 Memo 4/5/71 Memo 5/6/713 BB 2009-025 BB 2019-006 BB 2008-001 BB 2015-002	This Bulletin rescinds 1 Directives, 8 Memoranda, and 4 Buildings Bulletins which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
September 20, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-011	Directive 5 of 1979 Directive 37 of 1967 Directive 9 of 1975 Memo 10/4/89 Memo 4/14/77 Memo 11/13/75 Memo 4/27/71 Memo 2/11/87 Memo 2/19/81 Memo 1/20/87 Memo 4/10/91 Memo 1/6/67 Memo 3/17/81 Memo 5/11/78 Memo 12/27/79 Memo 7/22/86 Memo 12/12/83 TPPN #3/87 Letter 8/4/88 Letter 3/28/88 Letter 2/18/88	This Bulletin rescinds 14 Memoranda, 3 Directives, 1 TPPN, and 3 Letters pertaining to the electrical which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
September 7, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-010	BC 403.6.1 BC 3007	This Bulletin clarifies the construction requirements for Fire Service Access Elevators.
September 7, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-009	BC 1030 BC 903 NFPA 13 13R	This Bulletin describes alternative compliance of emergency escape and rescue openings for group R-3 occupancies required in section 1030.1 of the 2022 NYC Building Code.
August 15, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-008	BC 1015.2 BC 1015.6 BC 1604.8 BC Chapter 17 MC 304.11 OSHA 1910	To clarify the use of guards and personal fall arrest systems to facilitate solar panel maintenance.
August 15, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-007	Directive 1 of 1972 Directive 1 of 1975 Directive 4 of 1971 Directive 3 of 1973 Directive 12 of 1970 Directive 13 of 1971 Directive 11 of 1973 Directive 40 of 1970 Directive 9 of 1972 Memo 10-31-74 Memo 9-23-76 Memo 1-8-73 Memo 2-3-75 Memo 1-7-80 Memo 8-29-69 Memo 5-5-78 Memo 1-19-72 Memo 1-7-76 Memo 11-15-73 Memo 12-15-70 Memo 10-8-71 Memo 10-28-71 Memo 5-28-74 Memo 8-3-70 Memo 10-4-73 Memo 1-17-75 Memo 9-23-74 Memo 8-26-70 Memo 4-8-70 Memo 9-18-70 Memo 10-26-71 Memo 12-5-68 Memo 3-30-76 Memo 6-12-85 Memo 2-1-78 Memo 6-26-78 Memo 1-28-74 Memo 11-27-74 Memo 3-16-70 Memo 4-9-70 Memo 9-25-70 Memo 6-18-69 Memo 9-1-70 Memo 8-26-71 Memo 9-10-73 Memo 6-26-74 Memo 4-12-76 Memo 11-3-77 Memo 12-3-73 Memo 11-1-78 Memo 10-14-71 Memo 9-16-76 Memo 6-22-77 Memo 8-25-70 Memo 3-13-69 Memo 12-31-81 Memo 6-17-69 Memo 6-27-69 Memo 11-20-79 Memo 11-5-76 Memo 12-7-76 Memo 5-3-71 Memo 12-2-76 Memo 12-29-76 Memo 1-19-82 Memo 3-22-76 Memo 10-4-79 Memo 5-6-68 Memo 4-20-71 Memo 3-22-77 Memo 8-23-82 Memo 12-31-79 Memo 1-2-80 Memo 12-20-85 Memo 12-22-83 Memo 3-10-83 Memo 10-6-72 Memo 11-17-72 Memo 10-25-84 Memo 7-13-73 Memo 3-4-69 Memo 7-7-81 Memo 5-18-73 Memo 9-24-74 Memo 11-9-72 Memo 4-2-76 Memo 12-3-76 Letter 11-3-77 Letter 8-31-90 Letter 2-9-77	This Bulletin rescinds 9 Directives, 78 Memoranda and 3 Letters, which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
July 25, 2023	OTCR/Buildings Bulletin 2023-006	BC 106.8.1 BC 106.8.2 BC 202 BC 1705.37 BC 3307.1 BC 3307.6.2 AC 28-105.4.1 AC 28-113	This document clarifies the procedure to obtain approval from the Department for the use of non-sidewalk level pedestrian protection such as containment netting as an alternative to sidewalk sheds. Conditions which are appropriate for the use of containment netting are also outlined.
July 10, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-005	2014 BC 916.3 2022 BC 917.3	This Bulletin clarifies BC Section 917.3.1 with regards to the stair ventilation method in that all enclosed exit stairs in Group R-2 occupancy must be provided with a reversible fan system that is capable of pressurizing or exhausting the area of the largest floor.
June 6, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-004	Memo 4/7/75* Memo 10/21/86 Memo 3/9/70* Memo 3/9/70* Memo 6/30/78 Memo 12/22/71* Memo 5/28/69 Memo 8/29/69 Memo 12/31/81* Memo 7/19/90 Memo 3/7/77 Memo 12/1/76* Memo 10/27/75 Memo 10/10/73 Memo 10/20/70 Memo 5/9/89 Memo 8/22/75 Memo 5/1/73 Memo 4/22/74 Memo 7/5/73 Memo 3/26/86 Memo 11/21/72* Memo 3/1/88 Memo 9/9/77* Memo 11/1/71 Memo 12/9/74 Memo 10/26/78 Memo 3/20/95 Memo 10/24/86* Memo 1/23/86 APPN 8/87 OPPN 20/89 Letter 7-21-81* Letter 4-6-88	This Bulletin rescinds 30 Memoranda, 1 APPN, 1 OPPN and 2 Letters which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
May 22, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-003	Directive 9 of 1965 Memo 10/06/53 Memo 4/1/83 Memo 6/30/55 Memo 5/31/84 Memo 11/22/55 Memo 11/13/68 Memo 5/3/65 Memo 4/30/80 Memo 10/5/72 Memo 9/24/75 Memo 10/3/86 Memo 9/2/86 Memo 10/15/74 Memo 3/3/86 Memo 12/2/74 Memo 8/1/69 Memo 5/7/86 Letter 5/9/91 Letter 10/24/91 Letter 9/5/90 Letter 4/10/85 Letter 9/13/88 Letter 8/4/88 Letter 11/7/86 (Sec. 23-65) Letter 11/10/86 Letter 9/11/86 Letter 9/24/86 Letter 11/7/86 (Sec. 99-03) Letter 9/20/89 Letter 11/1/91 Letter 4/1/92	This Bulletin rescinds 17 Memoranda, 1 Directive, and 14 Letters which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.
March 17, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-002	EC 760.52 760.131 760.179(D) BC 909.12.2 MC 513.2	This Bulletin clarifies the protection requirements for enclosing wiring used in smoke control systems. This Building Bulletin will supersede BB 2017-011.
March 17, 2023	Technical/Buildings Bulletin 2023-001	Directive 6 of 1974 Memo 2/15/78 Memo 11/29/77 Memo 10/9/91 Memo 7/10/70 Memo 1/21/83 Memo 2/4/75 Memo 6/26/72 Memo 9/26/79 Memo 2/1/93 Memo 7/3/90 Memo 12/12/80 Memo 4/28/81 Memo 4/8/81 Memo 9/20/76 Memo 3/10/95 Memo 1/30/79 Memo 9/19/75 Memo 12/2/86 Letter 12/17/86 Letter 9/22/89 Letter 4/15/91	This Bulletin rescinds 18 Memoranda, 1 Directive, and 3 Letters which were issued by the Department but are no longer applicable under current Codes and Local Laws.