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Project Checklists for Owner: Façade

This section contains a list of questions/tasks to help Owners, who are responsible for hiring professionals to provide compliance with the applicable Construction Codes and other regulations discussed in the Project Guidelines. These assignments should be made prior to beginning any construction activity. If you are unfamiliar with these regulations, you should reference the corresponding detailed section(s) of NYC Construction Code and other regulations referenced in this guide for more information.

Checklists include:

Initial Project Checklist

DO

  • Pre-Project: Hire a Registered Design Professional (Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Registered Architect (R.A.)) to assure your project is Code-compliant.
  • Periodic Inspection: For buildings over six stories, every five years a Façade Inspection is required. Make sure you hire a NYS licensed P.E. or R.A. to ensure your building is Code-compliant for façade inspection. If required, unsafe conditions must be repaired and project plans may be required for permit.
  • Project Plans: Only a Registered Design Professional can submit construction documents, including drawings and other submissions, to the Department for approval.
  • Asbestos Investigation: Have asbestos investigation performed on site to check for Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) that will be removed or disturbed.
  • Project Work: Hire a licensed professional to perform the work. When hiring a professional, have a written contract that includes the Contractor’s company name, address and license number(s).
  • Safety: Verify the needs and requirements of BEST Squad, sidewalk shed, fence; i.e. building over a certain height or number of stories.
  • Post Permit: Ensure permit is posted in a conspicuous place at the work site for the duration of the work.
  • Energy Code: A façade project may be required to comply with the current NYC Energy Code. When the façade project scope includes installation of new windows, replacement of existing windows, or other exterior wall elements such as bricks etc., an energy analysis, which could be a Tabular Analysis, is required to show compliance with NYCECC.  Historic buildings that are eligible or listed on the State/National Registers of Historic Places are exempt from the NYCECC; however, buildings only designated in NYC LPC and Districts are not exempt from the NYCECC.
  • DOB: NOW Requirement: Owner must provide their email address to obtain for correspondence, inspections and final sign-off of the project.
  • Commissioning: If your project requires commissioning, ensure you have a qualified commissioning agent perform the work and if required, file the commissioning report with the Department prior to sign-off.
  • Work Completion: Ensure inspections and sign-offs are performed to close the project permit.

DON’T

  • Work Without a Permit: Do not begin work without a DOB permit. Property owners and the people performing work without a permit may face violations with penalties, court appearances, civil and/or criminal penalties.

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Prior to Application Approval Checklist

  • Hire a Registered Design Professional (RDP), P.E. or R.A., to consult and finalize scope of work.
  • Provide consent of the project permit application, and authorize the P.E. or R.A. – who is the ‘Applicant of Record’ – to submit project Construction Documents for Department approval.
  • Project approval is required prior to beginning work.

*Note: The owner is the individual or entity that owns the building/property, or the owner-authorized property management entity that represents the building for which an application is being filed. The Owner of the building/property is ultimately responsible for the project, and their signature/consent is required for submission of the project application by their design professional, and Department approval. The owner may attend plan examination appointments only if accompanied by the applicant or the Filing Representative.*

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Pre-Permit & On-going Project Work Checklist

Pre-Permit

  • Licensed Contractor: Hire NYC Licensed/Registered Contractor to obtain work permit(s) in order to begin work.
  • Special Inspections: If the scope of work requires, hire the required Special Inspection Agency (SIA) for performing Special Inspections.
  • Notify the Department: Prior to pulling the permit, use the online notification process to provide the name(s) of the SIA(s) contracted to do the Special and/or Progress Inspections.

On-going

  • Site Safety: Property Owners must maintain their properties in a safe condition during the course of work.

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Project Completion Close-out Checklist

  • Special Inspections: If the scope of work requires, the Special Inspection Agency hired must complete and submit results online to the Department.
  • Department Inspections: Make sure the Contractor has completed all Department of Buildings inspections and has obtained sign-off of the completed work.
  • Permit Sign-off: Confirm that the Contractor has requested and passed a final sign-off inspection required by the Department. 

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Project Checklists for Owner Links

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