All You Need to Know About Local Law 141

On August 24th, 2018, the DOB officially amended Local Law 141 of the administrative code of NYC, effective immediately.

Are you wondering what you need to know about these recent changes? We’ve got you covered! As always, Jack Jaffa & Associates is committed to keeping you in the loop about the latest developments and changes to NYC’s compliance code.

Read on to learn all you need to know about Local Law 141.

What does the law entail?

There were several amendments made to Local Law 141, most of which are only applicable to the DOB. The most important change all property owners need to know about is the following: Anyone planning a construction or demolition project must now provide written notice to the adjoining owners of their property.

These are all the applications of the law:

Application for construction approval

• When a property owner submits an application for approval of construction to the DOB, the department will promptly examine the application for compliance with the law requiring written notification to adjoining property owners as well as all other relevant laws.
• Each application for construction approval will be granted an application number for future reference.
• The examination of the documents will be performed by a qualified and registered professional who has extensive experience in building construction and design.
• When an application for construction is received, the DOB will provide written notification to any adjoining property owners.

Applications for permits

• All permit applications must be submitted on forms supplied by the DOB.
• Permit applications must include all required information and comply with all pertinent rules and laws.
• The applicant must list any parts of the construction project that have received approval for deferred submittal.
• All permit applications must include an inspection program for the construction project.
• Permit applications must be submitted no more than 12 months after approval was granted for the required construction documents.
• When a permit application is submitted, the DOB will provide adjoining property owners with written notification.

Insurance coverage for adjacent properties

• Anyone who has obtained a permit for construction or demolition projects must obtain and maintain adequate insurance as specified by the DOB, which will insure owners of adjacent properties against loss, property damage, injury or death that is caused or triggered by the construction or demolition work. The insurance must remain in effect for the entire duration of the project.
• When applying for a permit for construction or demolition work, one must submit proof of insurance to the DOB.
• The DOB will provide proof of this insurance along with the permit to the adjoining property owners 30 days before the construction or demolition work is scheduled to begin.
• The only exception to this rule is emergency work that has been declared such by the DOB. If an emergency situation is verified, the permit and proof of insurance can be provided to the adjoining property owners within a reasonable amount of time.

What does all this mean for you?
As a building owner, you likely have your fair share of construction and demolition projects among your properties. While most of the above law applies to the DOB, be careful to remember the following:

• Be sure to provide adjoining property owners with written notification about any planned construction or demolition work.
• When submitting permit applications, only do so on the forms supplied by the DOB.
• Be sure to include all required information and a planned inspection program on your permit application.
• Submit your permit application no later than 12 months after receiving approval for your construction documents.
• When planning a construction or demolition project, be sure to obtain adequate insurance for the adjoining property and to submit proof of your insurance along with your permit application.

Do the recent amendments to Local Law 141 still have you feeling confused? No worries; Jack Jaffa & Associates is here to guide you through the complexities of NYC’s compliance code.