Above is an example sketch of Planters on the Sidewalk requiring Revocable Consent Q: What is a Revocable Consent? What is required to obtain one? A: When a Building Owner wishes to construct a portion of their building beyond the Front Lot Line or Street Line, they may be required to obtain a Revocable Consent approval to do so. The Building Code allows certain, limited projections beyond the Street Line, for both above-ground and below-ground projections. These are covered in 1968... Read Full Story
Q: In what Occupancies are Portable Fire Extinguishers required? A: The following information is to the best of my knowledge, and may have been updated or revised. In addition, there may be some special Occupancies where portable fire extinguishers are required that are not listed below (for instance, at Outdoor Sidewalk Cafes with Gas Heaters) However, the below list is a good starting point: As per SECTION 15-02 OF TITLE 3 OF THE RULES OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, "The owner or occupant of... Read Full Story
Above is a view into typical Brooklyn Brownstone rear yards, showing many decks and roof coverings constructed of combustible materials. Often, these structures have not been constructed legally. Q: What are the legal requirements for the construction of a Deck in the Rear Yard of a Brownstone-type building? A: When considering construction of a Deck, it is necessary to comply with the Department of Buildings requirements for Decks. Legalization of existing Decks can be problematic, because... Read Full Story
Picture of a Fire Escape on an existing Multiple Dwelling Q: Are FIRE ESCAPES permitted as a second Means of Egress on New or ALTERED Buildings? A: As per Building Code Section 27-368, the use of Fire Escapes as a second Means of Egress is very limited: -Fire Escapes are not permitted on New Buildings, with the exception of GROUP HOMES. -Fire Escapes may be used as exits on buildings that existed on 12/6/1968, when such buildings are Altered, but only with the approval of the DOB... Read Full Story
Q: What is an As-of-Right Development? A: An AS-OF-RIGHT development is a DEVELOPMENT which complies with all applicable zoning regulations and does not require any discretionary action (special permit or variance) by the City Planning Commission or Board of Standards and Appeals for approval. The significance is as follows: A Developer acquires a vacant, 2,000 sq ft ZONING LOT in a Residence District which has a Maximum FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR) of, say 4.0. To determine the maximum ZONING... Read Full Story
