NYC Homeowners & Small Landlords Can Apply for Free, No-Penalty Building Inspections

The Department of Building’s No-Penalty Inspection Program returns from May 19 to June 30, when homeowners, small landlords and small business owners can schedule free inspections to make sure their properties are safe and up to code.

There are more than 1 million buildings across New York City, and the majority—approximately 75 percent—were built before 1960.

Starting next week, the city will offer free inspections to homeowners, small business owners and small landlords “who are concerned about the condition of their properties, potentially looking to make repairs, and need guidance on how to begin that work,” the Department of Buildings (DOB) announced Monday.

DOB has been running the No-Penalty Inspection Program each summer for the last 20 years. This season’s will kick off May 19 and run through June 30, during which time property owners can schedule an inspection without the immediate threat of fines. Instead, inspectors will “provide expert advice on parts of the building in need of repair as well as guidance on how to comply with applicable legal building requirements,” according to a press release.

“This not only improves building safety in our neighborhoods, but also helps owners save money by helping them address issues early before conditions worsen into a much more expensive problem,” Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo said in a statement.

Owners can request inspections of the following:

• Decks and patios
• Retaining walls
• Facades for buildings under six stories in height
• Business signs
• Unregistered boilers
• Unregistered private elevator devices

The program’s return comes as lawmakers negotiate the next budget, due July 1, in which councilmembers are vying for additional housing preservation resources for the city’s aging housing stock.

Last year, after a building collapse in the Bronx, the Council passed a bill requiring the DOB to create “a risk-based inspection program” that will identify hazardous buildings by analyzing past violations and compliance filings, among other data.

Property owners who want to schedule a No-Penalty Inspection can do so between May 19 and June 30 by calling 311, officials said.

To reach the editor, contact [email protected]

Want to republish this story? Find City Limits’ reprint policy here.