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Project Checklists for Owner:
Loft Law IMD

This section contains a list of questions/tasks to help Owners, who are responsible for hiring professionals to provide compliance with the NYC Construction Codes and other regulations discussed in the Project Guidelines.

The project design team should be hired and assembled by the Owner prior to beginning any construction. As an Owner, if you are unfamiliar with construction regulations, consult a Registered Design Professional or reference the NYC Construction Code and other regulations referenced in this guide for more information.

Checklists include:

Initial Project Checklist

DO

  • Pre-Project: Hire a NYS Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Registered Architect (R.A.) to ensure your project is Code-compliant.
  • Consult with NYC Loft Board: Coordinate with Loft Board for the legalization process, including Narrative Statement Process.
  • Loft Board Certification: Obtain Loft Board Certification prior to Alteration Type One approval.
  • Project Plans: Only a Registered Design Professional can submit construction documents, including drawings and other submissions, to the Department for approval.
  • Project Work: Hire a Licensed/Registered General Contractor to perform the work. When hiring a professional, have a written contract that includes the Contractor's company name, address and license number(s).
  • Post Permit: Ensure permit is posted in a conspicuous place at the work site for the duration of the work.
  • Work Completion: Ensure inspections and sign-off are performed to close the project permit, and if required, commissioning filed with DOB prior to sign-off.
  • Remove Violations: Remove all DOB and ECB violations.
  • Rent Regulations: Comply with all applicable rent regulations.
  • Commissioning: If your project requires commissioning (all projects where the total permitted equipment is greater than or equal to a total heating input capacity of 600,000 BTU/h and/or a total cooling capacity of 480,000 BTU/h), ensure that you have a qualified commissioning agent to perform the work.
  • Eligibility as a Historic Building: Historic buildings that are eligible or listed on the State/National Registers of Historic Places (SHPO) may be exempt from the NYCECC; however, buildings only in NYC LPC and Districts are not exempt from the NYCECC.
  • DOB NOW Requirement: Owners must provide their email address to the Department to obtain correspondence, inspections and final sign-off of the project. For additional information, please see DOBNOW.

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 NYS Registered Design Professional (RDP), P.E. or R.A., to consult and finalize scope of work.
  • Provide and consent to project submission requirements, and authorize the Registered Design Professional, who is the Applicant of Record, to submit project plans (construction documents) for approval by the Department.
  • Project approval is required prior to beginning work.
  • If Commissioning is required, hire a commissioning agent.

    *Note: 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 of Record 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/Progress Inspections.
  • Notify the Department: Prior to permit issuance, provide the name(s) of the SIA(s) contracted to do the Special Inspections, using an online submission.

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 contracted 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 the Contractor has requested and passed a final sign-off inspection required by the Department.
  • Commissioning: If commissioning is required, it must be completed prior to sign-off.

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Project Checklists for Owner Links

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