Required: Daily Construction Safety Meetings
As a reminder: as of May 16, 2018, pre-shift safety meetings, and site-specific safety orientations became mandatory on site safety jobs in New York City.
Local Law 204 of 2017: Requires pre-shift safety meetings to be conducted at site safety jobs in New York City. These safety meetings, or toolbox talks, are required to be held by a competent person designated by the permit holder at the beginning of each worker's shift, and includes a review of the work that will be performed during the shift, and specific safety concerns or risks associated with the work.
Local Law 206 of 2017: Requires site-specific safety orientations and periodic refreshers for workers on site safety jobs in New York City. These safety orientations and refreshers are to be given by a qualified person designated by the permit holder, and includes a review of safety procedures specific to the individual job site.
If these critical construction safety meetings are not being held on your site safety job site, let the Department know about it by calling 311.
Newly released Local Law 196 of 2017 Annual Report
Build Your Career at Buildings!
DOB is staffing up, with openings for construction professionals in various units across the agency.
Each day, the engineers, architects, inspectors, and support staff at DOB play a critical role in overseeing the 1 million plus buildings and more than 45,0000 active construction sites that make up the most dynamic built environment in the nation. Join our team, and help keep you fellow New Yorkers safe. Please teake a look at our open career opportunities.
Upcoming Launch For DOB NOW: Licensing
Starting Tuesday, November 13, 2018, all new applications, reissuances, and renewals will need to be submitted in DOB NOW: Licensing for the following:
- Gas Work Qualifications (Full & Limited)
- Journeyman Registrations (Plumber & Fire Suppression)
- Welder Licenses
Have questions about the new changes? RSVP for one of our upcoming training sessions.
Additional license types will be added to DOB NOW in 2019.
Scheduling Appointments at DOB
DOB Appointments launched this month and this system is used to schedule appointments for standard plan review BIS job filings, requests that were previously made by calling 311. To request specialized plan examination appointments including audits, determinations, emergencies, and project advocate appointments, continue to submit a PER11 Manual Appointment and Drop Off Request form or contact the appropriate borough office. DOB NOW: Build standard plan review appointments also continue to be scheduled in DOB NOW.
DOB Appointments Industry Manual
Certificates of No Harassment (CONH) Pilot Program
In October, the City launched a new pilot program that requires the owners of buildings that meet certain criteria to certify that no tenant harassment has taken place before being granted construction permits to significantly alter their properties.
The city has published a list of more than 1,000 buildings, with approximately 26,000 units, that meet this criteria and will now be subject to the CONH program.
Student Art on Display in Brooklyn
In October, DOB unveiled a month-long exhibition in our Brooklyn Borough Office showcasing artwork created by students from P.S. 307 Daniel Hale Williams Magnet School for STEM Studies, which serves children from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade.
Part of DOB’s Jr. Architects and Engineers program, students at the school were invited to submit drawings of their favorite buildings throughout Brooklyn.
Major Disciplinary Cases
$186,950 in penalties issued to property owner Azahar Haque for converting a single-family home at 162-01 85th Avenue, Queens, into a four-family dwelling, illegal work performed without a permit, and failure to comply with previous DOB orders.
$25,000 in penalties issued to General Contractor JELM Contractor Corp. for a failure to safeguard their construction site at 444 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn after excavation work caused the partial collapse of a nearby retaining wall.
$10,000 in penalties issued to Construction Superintendent De Gao for failure to perform required duties at a job site at 647 48th Street, Brooklyn, including failing to keep a log entry book, work that was performed contrary to the approved plans, and failure to install protections on the side of excavation walls.
$25,000 in penalties issued to Safety Registrant Tishman Construction Corp. for a failure to safeguard their construction site at 400 West 23rd Street, after a worker dropped a hammer from the 50th floor of the building, which hit a van on the street below.
DOB publishes monthly bulletins detailing the agency's efforts to sanction and deter bad actors in the construction industry. You can find this information posted on the Enforcement Action Bulletin page of our website.
Additional Disciplinary Actions & Voluntary Surrenders
Industry Code of Conduct for Construction Professionals
Sign up for Weather Advisories
Service Updates
New Web Addresses for Development HUB, License Renewals and Electrical Firm Account Payments
Credit Card Convenience Fee Change
UPDATE: Limited Alteration Application (LAA) Filings to Launch in DOB NOW: Build
Additional Elevator Application Filings now available in DOB NOW: Build
New Gas Work Qualification Requirement
Elevator Compliance Filings to Launch in DOB NOW: Safety
Follow Up to Service Notice on Elevator Compliance Filings
Follow Up #2 to Service Notice on Elevator Compliance Filings
2014 Construction Code Updates
Update Page #62 reflects changes made by Local Law 1 of 2018 (effective 9/27/2018), in relation to requiring a certification of no harassment prior to approval of construction documents or issuance of permits for demolition or renovation of certain buildings.
Update pages are printable inserts to keep your hard copy Construction Codes up to date.
All update pages for the 2014 NYC Construction Codes.
Hearings + Rules
Increased Penalties for Unpermitted Work
1 RCNY 102-04 The Department of Buildings (DOB) is proposing to amend 1 RCNY § 102-04 regarding the assessment of civil penalties for work without a permit.
Public hearing: 11/26/18 @ 10am - 22 Reade Street, Spector Hall
Amendment of Buildings Penalty
1 RCNY 102-01 (effective 11/10/18) The purpose of this rule is to amend 1 RCNY §102-01 by adding approximately twenty-one new infractions and updating several others.
Hoisting Machine Operators
1 RCNY 104-09 (effective date of sections 1, 3 through 6 is 5/4/18; effective date of section 2 is 10/4/18) The purpose of this rule is to amend 1 RCNY §104-09 to establish licensing criteria for hoisting machine operators, including relating to physical fitness, experience, and national certification.
Amendment of Rules Relating to Rigging Equipment
1 RCNY 3316-01 (effective 11/9/18) This purpose of this rule is to establish regulations for rigging equipment and rigging operations. Rigging consists of the system of ropes, slings, hooks, and other hardware used to secure loads while they are being lifted or lowered by a crane or other hoisting machine.
Requirements Regarding Elevator Capacity and Loading
1 RCNY 3610-05 (effective 9/28/18) The purpose of this rule is to update requirements for the posting of information about elevator carrying capacity, and the detection and regulation of overloaded elevators.
Buildings Bulletins
2018-012: (Revised on 10/25/18)Mandates final inspection of certain work types by a registered design professional on projects not requiring new or modified certificates of occupancy.
2018-008 Frequently Asked Questions
Website Updates
Limited Alteration Applications
LAA Emergency Work Notification
DOB NOW: Build Limited Alteration Application (LAA) Resources
DOB NOW: Build LAA Presentation
DOB NOW: Build LAA Step-by-Step Filing Examples
DOB NOW: Build Electrical Filings Resources
DOB NOW: Safety Elevators Periodic Inspections Step-By-Step Guides
Construction Safety Enforcement Appointment Request Form
Construction Related Accident Reports
Licensing
Department Approved Course Providers
Department-Approved Course Requirements: 1-Hour Health and Safety Programs in Construction
Obtain a: Safety Registration Number
Safety Registration Number Renewal
Licensing Insurance Guidelines
License Renewal: Master & Special Electrician
Obtain a: Master & Special Electrician License
Obtain a: Private Elevator Inspector Agency License
License Renewal: Elevator Inspector
Obtain a: Private Elevator Inspection Agency Director or Co-Director License
License Renewal: Elevator Director
Obtain a: NYC Class 1 Filing Representative Registration
Obtain a: NYC Class 2 Code and Zoning Representative Registration
Obtain a: High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer License
Approved Agencies to Qualify Pipe Welders
Did You Know?
The City of New York released their annual 2018 Open Data Report, showing how the City collects data, how data powers city operations, and how publishing that data publicly creates value in communities across the five boroughs.
Rick D. Chandler, P.E., Commissioner
