NYC Building Inspections: Facade, Boiler, Elevator and Parapet Deadlines
NYC owners file facade (FISP), boiler, elevator and parapet inspections on fixed cycles. Who is covered, when each is due, the filing windows and penalties.
By Seayora Editorial Team · Published · Facts checked · 4 min read
Short answer: New York City building owners file several periodic inspections with the Department of Buildings. Buildings taller than six stories need a facade inspection every five years under the Facade Inspection and Safety Program, now in Cycle 10. Boilers are inspected each calendar year, elevators get an annual Category 1 test and a five-year Category 5 test, and since 2024 buildings with parapets facing a public right-of-way need an annual parapet observation.
Key takeaways
- FISP Cycle 10 filing windows depend on the last digit of the block number: 4, 5, 6 and 9 file by February 21, 2027; 0, 7 and 8 by February 21, 2028; 1, 2 and 3 by February 21, 2029.
- Boiler inspection reports are due within 14 days of the inspection; late filing costs $50 a month per boiler, up to $600.
- Elevator Category 1 reports are due within 21 days of the test, and defects must be corrected within 90 days.
- Parapets facing a street or other public right-of-way must be observed every year by December 31, and the report kept for six years.
Which buildings need a facade inspection?
Owners of buildings higher than six stories must have the exterior walls and appurtenances inspected every five years and file a technical facade report with the department, under the Facade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP), often called Local Law 11 (NYC DOB: Facade Compliance). The inspection is done by a qualified exterior wall inspector, and the report requirements are in 1 RCNY 103-04.
| Block number ends in | Sub-cycle | Filing window |
|---|---|---|
| 4, 5, 6 or 9 | 10A | February 21, 2025 – February 21, 2027 |
| 0, 7 or 8 | 10B | February 21, 2026 – February 21, 2028 |
| 1, 2 or 3 | 10C | February 21, 2027 – February 21, 2029 |
Each report classifies the facade as Safe, Safe With a Repair and Maintenance Program (SWARMP) or Unsafe. A SWARMP report sets a repair date between one and five years out, and the same conditions cannot be reported as SWARMP in consecutive cycles. An Unsafe condition requires immediate public protection, such as a sidewalk shed, a call to 311, and repairs within 90 days unless the department grants an extension. Owners whose last status was No Report Filed may file early in Cycle 10 to stop penalties accruing (DOB Cycle 10 notice).
When are boiler inspections due?
The boiler inspection cycle runs from January 1 to December 31 (NYC DOB: Boiler Compliance). Low-pressure boilers are inspected once a cycle by a DOB-licensed qualified installer or an authorized boiler insurance company; high-pressure boilers get an internal and an external inspection, roughly six months apart, by an authorized insurance company.
- Reports are due within 14 calendar days of the inspection.
- A report filed after that but by January 14 of the next year is late: $50 a month per boiler, up to $600 per boiler.
- A report not filed by then is expired, and the penalty is $1,000 per boiler.
- Exempt: registered low-pressure boilers in residential buildings with five or fewer families, and a single boiler inside one dwelling unit that heats only that unit.
What elevator tests are required?
| Test | When | Report due | Failure-to-file penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 (no-load safety test) | Every calendar year, January 1 to December 31 | Within 21 days of the test | $1,000 residential, $3,000 non-residential |
| Category 5 (full-load test) | Within 5 years of the most recent Category 5 test | Within 21 days of the test | $5,000 |
Defects found on a Category 1 test must be corrected within 90 days of the inspection, and the affirmation of correction filed within 14 days of the correction. Late fees for residential buildings are $50 a month per device for Category 1 reports, up to $600 a year, and $250 a month for Category 5, up to $3,000 a year; non-residential buildings pay more (NYC DOB: Elevator Compliance).
Who needs a parapet observation?
Starting January 1, 2024, every owner must have the parapets on their buildings observed under Administrative Code § 28-301.1.1 (NYC DOB: Parapets). The observation covers parapets fronting a public right-of-way, regardless of the building’s height, and must be done by December 31 each year. The report is not filed with the department; the owner keeps it for at least six years and produces it on request. If the parapet is unsafe, the person doing the observation must notify the department immediately by calling 311 and emailing the parapets unit (DOB: Parapets FAQs). The technical requirements are in 1 RCNY 103-15.
What else is on the cycle?
Gas piping inspections under Local Law 152 run on a four-year schedule by community district (NYC plumbing and gas rules), and buildings over 25,000 square feet have energy benchmarking and emissions filings (Local Law 97 fines). The NYC landlord compliance calendar puts the annual tenant notices in order.
Frequently asked questions
Which NYC buildings are subject to FISP?
Buildings higher than six stories. Their owners must have the facade inspected every five years and file a report during the building’s sub-cycle filing window.
Are small residential buildings exempt from boiler inspections?
Registered low-pressure boilers in residential buildings with five or fewer families are exempt from the annual inspection, as is a single boiler inside one dwelling unit that heats only that unit.
Do I file my parapet report with the Department of Buildings?
No. The owner keeps the annual parapet observation report for at least six years and gives it to the department on request. Unsafe conditions must be reported immediately.
Sources
- Façade Compliance, NYC Department of Buildings
- Service Notice: Façade Inspection and Safety Program Cycle 10 (February 24, 2025), NYC Department of Buildings
- Boiler Compliance, NYC Department of Buildings
- Elevator Compliance, NYC Department of Buildings
- Parapets, NYC Department of Buildings
- Frequently Asked Questions: Parapets, NYC Department of Buildings
How Seayora helps
Safety records: Track each building’s facade, boiler, elevator and parapet filings and the next due date.
This article is general information, not legal, architectural or engineering advice. Zoning, building, electrical and plumbing rules are amended by local law and agency rule and differ from one city, town and village to the next, so confirm the current requirements with the building department and a licensed professional before you start work.
How we write and check these guides: editorial standards.
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