Here is all you need to know about the permit restriction of Local Law 114 of 2019.

What are the permit restrictions of Local Law 114 of 2019?

Beginning August 5, 2020, the DOB will deny initial work permits for multiple dwellings where the DOB has previously issued a summons for submitting a false statement on a Plan/Work Application (PW1) regarding the occupancy status of the building, or performing Work Without a Permit while the building was occupied.

This one-year permit restriction will apply if the summons was issued on or after December 5, 2019, which is the effective date of Local Law 114 of 2019. The restriction on a flagged building will remain in effect for one year from the issuance of the summons.

How can I see if my building is flagged for permit restriction?

Buildings where this permit restriction applies will be flagged in the Property Profile in the Buildings Information System (BIS) as LL114/19 Permit Restriction. You can also find the end date for the restriction, marked as an “until date” in the flag.

Is there any way to remove the permit restriction from a building?

No one wants to hit a brick wall when seeking permits for construction or renovation work. Luckily, permit restrictions can be removed from a building before the one-year effective date comes to an end or if the summons is dismissed by OATH. If you need help having this summons dismissed, reach out to one of our dedicated representatives or our on-staff attorney advisory board, to help you with getting this done.

How can I obtain a permit for a flagged building?

If your building has been flagged for a permit restriction, you can still apply for a permit. Submit a

Local Law 114 of 2019 Request for Exception to Permit Denial form indicating that one or more of the following exceptions applies. Be sure to include the required documentation and to have the form signed by both the permit applicant and the building owner.

• The summons that resulted in the permit restriction was not based on a false statement about the occupancy status of the building in an application for construction document approval.
• The building was not occupied when the work without a permit that resulted in the restriction was performed.
• The requested permit is for work to be performed in a dwelling unit that is owned as a condominium or held by a shareholder of a cooperative corporation under a proprietary lease.
• The issuance of the requested permit is necessary in order to correct an outstanding violation of the Construction Code, the Housing Maintenance Code or any other applicable law or rule.
• The issuance of the permit is necessary in order to perform work to protect public health and safety. (Documentation, including dated color photographs must be submitted.)
• The permit is for work to be performed on a portion of the property that is occupied by a tenant who is not an owner of the property or responsible for any existing violations in the property.
• The property was the subject of an in-rem foreclosure judgment in favor of the City and was transferred by the City to a third party pursuant to section 11-412.1 of the Administrative Code. (Documentation must be submitted.)
• The property is the subject of a court order appointing an administrator pursuant to article 7-a of the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law in a case brought by the HPD. (HPD documentation must be submitted.)
• The property is the subject of a loan provided by or through HPD or the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for the purpose of rehabilitation that has closed within the preceding five years. (HPD or HDC documentation must be submitted.)
• The permit is required in connection with the implementation of an HPD or HDC program. (HPD or HDC documentation must be submitted.)

If your building’s been flagged for a permit restriction, and you’re not sure how to proceed, give us a call at 718.655.6110, email info@jackjaffa.com or contact us through our website at jackjaffa.com to find out more about what your next steps should be.

The post All You Need to Know About Local Law 114 of 2019 appeared first on Jack Jaffa & Associates.

Last year, the city’s fire department overhauled its erstwhile Fire Safety Guide and replaced it with the 30-page Fire and Emergency Preparedness Guide. As part of Local Laws 114 and 115, building owners are now required to distribute this guide to their tenants every three years.

Now the FDNY is proposing two additional requirements for NYC building owners. No worries, though, as always, Jack Jaffa & Associates has got you covered. We’ll walk you through these anticipated laws and outline all you need to know in order to be compliant.

1. Emergency Checklist

The FDNY, along with the Department of Emergency Management and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, has recently created an Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Planning Checklist. The purpose of this checklist is to help residents develop their own evacuation plans in case of a fire. The list also highlights exact steps that should be taken during an emergency, including specific information for residents with disabilities, special needs, or limited mobility.

If the proposed regulation passes, the Emergency Checklist will need to be distributed in the same manner as the Fire and Emergency Preparedness Guide.

To comply with this law: You’ll need to distribute the checklist every three years. Keep a careful record of when you’ve distributed the Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Planning Checklist and the Fire and Emergency Preparedness Guide so you know when you’re due for another distribution of each document.

2. Close Door Signs

In accordance with Local Law 115, owners of multiple dwellings must post notices instructing tenants who are fleeing a fire to close all doors behind them in order to keep the fire and smoke as contained as possible. The proposed regulation will establish the exact design and content of such a sign and require building owners to post the sign in lobbies and on the side of stairwell doors that is visible to the public.

The proposed notice would read as follows:

In a Fire, Close All Doors Behind You!

Keep Fire and Smoke Out of Building Hallways and Stairs.

 Keep Apartment and Stairwell Doors Closed at All Other Times.

Protect Your Neighbors and Your Home!

The message would be accompanied by an image of an open door, with flames behind it.

To comply with this law: You’ll need to obtain multiple copies of the proposed sign and post them in your lobbies and on all stairwell doors, being careful to hang them on the side of the door that is visible to the public.

There’s no need to get stressed about the latest NYC building owner requirements. With Jack Jaffa & Associates, compliance is easy! Give us a call at 718-855-6110 or shoot us an email at info@jackjaffa.com to see how we can help.

The post All You Need to Know About the New FDNY Laws appeared first on Jack Jaffa & Associates.

1. Post a current Fire Emergency Preparedness Guide, as well as a Building Information Notice in a prominent place in the building.
In accordance with NYC fire guidelines, these documents must also be distributed to all tenants in the building every three years. The documents can be transmitted via email, but the building owner must hand-deliver the documents to any tenant whose email bounces back, or who requests a paper copy. In addition, beginning in October 2019 or January 2020, owners will also need to distribute the FEP Bulletin, a new annual publication which supplements the FEP Guide and will be published on August 15^th of every year.

The Fire Department has also developed The Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Planning Checklist which they have proposed to be required to be distributed by all building owners in an identical manner as the Guide. The Checklist will inform residents about the availability of evacuation-assistance devices and other means of evacuation. It will also outline practical measures that individuals with disabilities or limited mobility can take to prepare to safely evacuate a building in case of emergency, such as identifying neighbors who can provide assistance. While this addition has not yet been legalized, it’s important to know that it has been proposed and will likely be passed into law.

2. Create an evacuation plan

Every building should have a clear and well-known evacuation plan in place in case of a fire. To facilitate a smooth exit from your building, all exits must be marked clearly and free of obstruction.

The Fire Department of NYC recommends including the following instructions in your evacuation plan:

• Stay calm. Do not panic.
• Notify the fire department as soon as possible.
• Flames, heat and smoke rise, so a fire below your apartment generally poses a greater threat than a fire on a higher floor.
• If caught in heavy smoke conditions, get down on the floor and crawl. Take short breaths and breathe through your nose.
• Close the door to the room containing the fire and leave the apartment.
• Make sure everyone in the apartment leaves together with you.
• Close, but do not lock, the apartment door.
• Alert neighbors by knocking on their doors as you leave.
• Use the nearest stairwell to exit.
• DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR.

3. Post a notice in a conspicuous location in your building which instructs all tenants to close all doors behind them when escaping a fire.
All tenants should know that when escaping a fire, it is crucial that one close all doors behind them to keep the fire and smoke as contained as possible.

The Fire Department has proposed a new regulation to establish the exact design and content of such a sign and to require the sign to be posted in lobbies and on the side of stairwell doors that is visible to the public.

The proposed notice would read as follows:

In a Fire, Close All Doors Behind You!

Keep Fire and Smoke Out of Building Hallways and Stairs.

Keep Apartment and Stairwell Doors Closed at All Other Times.

Protect Your Neighbors and Your Home!

The message would be accompanied by an image of an open door, with flames behind it.

4. Invest in emergency lighting.
Emergency lighting, which provides illumination even when the electric power of a building is compromised or cut by the Fire Department during a fire, can be a crucial factor in enabling tenants to escape a burning building. When the lights go out and the entire building goes dark, people are more prone to panic and will have a more difficult time getting out. Emergency lighting will help them find their way towards the closest exit as quickly as possible.

5. Check your sprinkler system.
According to Local Law 26 of 2004, as of July 1^st, 2019, all buildings in NYC of 100 feet or more must be fitted with a full sprinkler system. By now, your sprinkler system should be fully installed and your Sprinkler Compliance Report should have been submitted to the DOB.

Sprinklers need regular inspections to ensure they are always in perfect working order. It’s best to visually inspect your sprinklers for external signs of deterioration once a month and to have them professionally inspected once a year.

Keep a record of your sprinkler installation and maintenance checks on hand for routine inspections by the Fire Department.

6. Install and maintain smoke detectors.
The responsibility of installing carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and smoke detectors (SD) is shared by NYC landlords and their tenants.

According to NYC law, owners of multiple dwelling units are required to:

• Provide and install at least one approved CO alarm and SD in each dwelling unit.
• Provide written information about how to test and maintain these smoke detectors.
• Replace any CO alarm or SD upon the expiration of its useful life or when it has been stolen, removed, is missing, or rendered inoperable before a new tenant moves in.
• Ensure that the installed CO alarm is equipped with an end-of-life alarm.

Although you are not required by law to install CO alarms and SDs in every room of your units, you may choose to do so anyways. Early detection of a fire can help mitigate the damage it can cause.

Don’t let your compliance go up in smoke! If you’re worried about complying with NYC’s fire safety laws, we can help. Give us a call at 718-855-6110 or shoot us an email at info@jackjaffa.com. Your full compliance is our only goal.

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