COVID-19 Response - Application Processing

As part of the citywide response to the Coronavirus, Department of Buildings (DOB) customers are being encouraged to immediately limit the amount of walk-in traffic to DOB offices. Effective Wednesday, March 18, customers are strongly encouraged to make use of the following methods:

• Continue to use eFiling for Hub Development, Full, Self-Service jobs and AHV permits

• Continue to use DOB NOW: Build for all applicable work types.

• The Administrative Enforcement Unit, Licensing and Enforcement units are currently maintaining their normal functionality. Additional Service Notices will be posted this week with updates on these transactions.

• Customer Service Night is cancelled on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 and until further notice.

Transactions conducted at a DOB borough office that are not listed, will continue to take place in-person, including Records Room requests and other functions that require a service ticket.

The following changes are mandatory.

Transactions with payments

For the above transactions that cannot be processed in eFiling or DOB NOW, mail the application to the appropriate borough office and include on the envelope Attn: Application Processing. The application can also be hand-delivered to the borough office and put in the designated drop-off box. Attach to the application a check or money order for the amount owed payable to the NYC Department of Buildings.

PW1 approvals or objections will be sent to applicants by email. Plan sets will not be returned by email and will need to be picked up from the borough office by pulling a service ticket.

L2: Requests for Overrides, Reductions or Waivers of Civil Penalties for civil penalty paid (CPP) or no relationship to the violation (NRV) can be included with the permit application. L2s for other reasons will continue to require an in-person visit to a borough office.

Transactions without payments

• Certificates of Occupancy
• Letters of Completion
• Data Entry Corrections (DEAR)
• Withdrawal Requests

For the above transactions that cannot be processed in eFiling or DOB NOW, mail the application to the appropriate borough office and include on the envelope Attn: Application Processing. The application can also be hand-delivered to the borough office and put in the designated drop-off box.

Post Approval Amendments and Supersede Requests

PAA applications and supersede requests that are filed in-person can be dropped off at the borough in the designated drop-off box. There will be no in-person processing. When the PAA status in the Building Information System (BIS) is PAA Fee due, return to the borough office to make the payment.

Locations for mail and drop off transactions

DOB Outreach to Industry

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Buildings Department is reminding our industry partners to take special care of their workers and construction sites.

The City’s Department of Health & Mental Hygiene has provided guidance on limiting the spread of COVID-19 which can be found here.

We ask that you be vigilant in monitoring your construction sites. Construction sites closed for a prolonged period of time can themselves pose a hazard to the public. In the event you chose to close a construction site due to illness, cleaning, or merely as a precaution, we ask the following:

Inform
E-mail the Department at COVID-19@buildings.nyc.gov and include in the Subject Line the location of your construction site and the period of time for which you expect it to be closed. Upon reopening the site, use the same e-mail address to update us.

Make Safe
Should you choose to close your site, for the public’s protection you must:

• Have the site secured to prevent access from any unauthorized personnel. This includes maintenance of construction fencing and posting of permits.

• Maintain and secure all scaffolding, debris netting, sidewalk sheds, and temporary walkways.

• Maintain all adjoining property protection.

• Maintain all guardrails, edge protection systems such as netting and cocoon systems, and floor and shaft opening protection.

• Store and maintain cranes in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and approved CN drawings.

• Ensure the proper shoring of excavated sites or backfill.

• Ensure construction equipment is safely stored and maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.

• Ensure construction materials are safely stored. Any light-weight materials susceptible to becoming wind-borne must be removed from the site, tied-down, or ballasted.

• Maintain any fire suppression and detection systems.

• Maintain all essential utilities.

• Remove any volatile gases and liquids.

• Remove any standing water and construction debris.

• Ensure public sidewalks are clear and clean.

Finally, construction sites requiring a Department-licensed safety professional cannot operate without one. If your safety professional is out sick, they must be replaced or permitted work cannot be performed.

Thank you for all you do to ensure the safety of workers and the public. The Department will be following up with additional communications as appropriate.

Melanie E. La Rocca Commissioner

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