People usually think of FISP/Local Law 11 as mandating vigilance against bricks or terra cotta falling to the sidewalk from aging older buildings.

Surprise!  Many buildings as “young” as five years are also subject to the requirements of FISP. The Department of Buildings does not send birthday cards, so it falls to the building owner to check the calendar and file a timely FISP Critical Examination Report with the Department of Buildings (DOB).

Specifically, pursuant to DOB Rule 103-04 governing façade inspections, if a building is greater than six stories in height and the 5-year anniversary of the building's first Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO #1) falls prior to or within the applicable Cycle 8 sub-cycle (based on the last digit of the building's Block number), a report is due in Cycle 8. If the 5 year anniversary falls after the applicable Cycle 8 sub-cycle, the building gets a “bye” and the initial report is not due until the applicable sub-cycle of Cycle 9 (2020 -2025). Initial FISP Critical Examination Reports are also required for previously “non-applicable” buildings, which have been enlarged vertically to exceed 6 stories in height.

The filing deadlines for recently constructed or vertically enlarged buildings are summarized in the table above.

The date of TCO #1 for a recently constructed new building as well as the Block number can be obtained from the DOB Buildings Information System (BIS) website.

If you would like us to confirm the filing status of your building, or send you a proposal for a Cycle 8 FISP Critical Examination Report, please contact us.