NYC mayor and DOB release comprehensive façade inspection and safety study conducted by Thornton Tomasetti

Manhattan, NY New York City mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) commissioner Jimmy Oddo released the full recommendations from a comprehensive engineering study conducted by global engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti on the city’s Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP).

This study represents the first-ever effort to apply evidence-based building science to recommend improvements to New York City’s façade inspection requirements, improvements that could reduce the need for sidewalk sheds without compromising public safety. These recommendations, along with new enforcement initiatives going into effect in early 2026,  deliver key components of the City’s transformative Get Sheds Down initiative, which has made significant progress in reducing unsightly scaffolding across the five boroughs.

About the Local Law 11 Study
In May 2024, the City of New York partnered with Thornton Tomasetti to conduct the first-ever comprehensive scientific review of the city’s FISP requirements, also known as Local Law 11. The 18-month study analyzed tens of thousands of inspection reports, reviewed international best practices, and gathered extensive stakeholder feedback to modernize regulations, some of which have remained largely unchanged for 45 years.

The findings confirmed that FISP has significantly improved public safety but also identified key areas for reform, including the overuse of sidewalk sheds at buildings posing minimal risk and inconsistencies in how façade conditions are classified.

Key recommendations from the study, which will be posted in its entirety on the DOB’s website in the coming days, include:

• Adjusting inspection frequencies for all buildings to six years;

• Clarifying definitions of unsafe conditions;

• Requiring sidewalk sheds for only truly hazardous conditions;

• Introducing tailored requirements for lower-risk buildings, including less frequent hands-on inspections;

• Reducing the number of hands-on inspections required per façade;

• Creating a stricter inspection option for buildings with a history of chronic deterioration;

• Exploring ways to expand the use of drone technology for façade inspections; and

• Improving clarity and guidance through the creation of a help desk system and user guide.

DOB is now developing updated FISP rules and a comprehensive industry guide to ensure consistent standards, enhance safety, reduce compliance-related costs, and reduce unnecessary sidewalk sheds.

“These recommendations draw on extensive stakeholder feedback, materials research, and a comprehensive study of best practices in New York City and other major markets, as well as decades of our own experience in facade repair and restoration,” said Gary Mancini, P.E., managing principal, Thornton Tomasetti. “The goal of this initiative is to create needed flexibility while still maintaining public safety and helping to address one of the most visible challenges in our streetscape: the excessive use of sidewalk sheds. By modernizing the program, we can allocate resources where they’re truly needed and improve the experience at street level.”

The recommendations mark another milestone in mayor Adams’ Get Sheds Down initiative to ensure sidewalk sheds — intended as temporary pedestrian protections — no longer linger for years due to delayed repairs. Launched in July 2023, the initiative overhauled rules governing construction sheds and scaffolding to accelerate their removal while redesigning and reimagining those that are necessary.

For the full report visit: https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/safety/facade-local-law.page