NYC Department of Buildings(DOB): Construction Reopening Guidelines

Veronica Ciechowska

Posted by Veronica Ciechowska

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During Phase 1 of NYC’s reopening, NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) Inspectors began a citywide inspection sweep of every permitted site to verify compliance with State and City Phase 1 restart requirements.

In the course of Phase 1, DOB Inspectors focus was to make sure the construction industry was in compliance with COVID requirements. To keep the construction industry in continued compliance, the city has created a “Do’s and Don’ts” document to keep work site(s) safe.

DOB Construction Compliance Do's and Don'ts: 

An area that continues to see a lower compliance rate applies to reduced capacity signage for hoists/elevators. Any sites with hoists and elevators must include signage that shows the reduced capacity of 50%. This signage must be posted in each cab and on each landing where you enter/exit the car.

Penalties and Repercussions 

A reminder that as of July 8th, 2020 sites found out of compliance will be subjected to violations that carry financial penalties, with the potential for a Stop Work Order. Continued noncompliance may result in additional summonses with accompanying civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each offense.

To avoid penalties & repercussions make sure your site includes a Safety Plan and a Safety Affirmation; both of which must be completely filled out and posted for all to see. If neither or are filled out, it will result in the issuance of a Stop Work Order. 

For additional information on the Phase 1 re-opening, please visit nyc.gov/buildings. Reach out to our Burnham team to help navigate the permitting and licensing within New York City.

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Are the 50% hoist/elevator capacity signage requirements from this post still in effect?
No, this was a Phase 1 NYC reopening requirement specific to 2020 pandemic capacity restrictions, and it's no longer a standing requirement. Current hoist and elevator capacity is governed by standard equipment specifications and code requirements, not a COVID-era reduced-capacity mandate.
Do construction sites in NYC still need to post a Safety Plan and Safety Affirmation form like this post describes?
No, those were specific documents tied to New York's 2020 NY Forward reopening framework and are no longer active requirements. Current NYC construction sites are governed by standard DOB safety and site safety plan requirements rather than this pandemic-specific paperwork.
Is there still a risk of a $10,000-per-offense penalty for the violations described in this post?
That specific penalty structure was tied to 2020 pandemic compliance enforcement and isn't an active threat tied to these particular requirements anymore — current DOB violation penalties follow the department's standard, ongoing penalty schedule rather than this temporary COVID enforcement framework.
Did NYC DOB's pandemic-era citywide inspection sweep program continue?
No, that was a time-limited initiative specific to verifying Phase 1 reopening compliance in mid-2020, not an ongoing inspection program that continued in that form afterward.
Where can I find NYC's current construction site safety requirements instead of these 2020 COVID rules?
NYC DOB's standard, non-pandemic site safety program, covering Site Safety Plans, Site Safety Managers/Coordinators for applicable projects, and standard safety inspection requirements, remains the relevant current framework; check nyc.gov/buildings directly for the current rules rather than this 2020-specific guidance.
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