permitadvisor

Another useful City resource for Owners and Architects are the Tax Photographs available from the NYC Municipal Archives. Between 1939 and 1941, and again in the mid-1980s, the city photographed every house and building in the five boroughs. These photos are now available for purchase from NYC. To obtain a copy, you can go to the Archives in person (31 Chambers Street, NY, NY-check their web site for hours and details before going), or you can order a copy online. Here's a link to the web... Read Full Story

Check out the HPD I-Card for the building, now available for free download on the HPD Website. This is a great way to get useful historical information for Multiple Dwellings in the City. This comes in especially handy for old buildings with little or no DOB Actions/Filings, which I commonly find to be the case for brownstones in Brooklyn. You might need this information if you need to prove the existing legal use/occupancy of a building. Or, if you need to know the Multiple Dwelling... Read Full Story

Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings are required in the New NYC Construction Code as per Section BC 1025 in R (Residential) and Group I-1 (Institutional) Occupancies. Sleeping Rooms below the fourth story above grade shall have at least one emergency escape and rescue opening. Where below-grade stories contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency escape and rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room and shall open directly in to a public street, public alley, yard or court. The... Read Full Story

Below is a list comparing the 1968 Building Code Occupancy Group Classifications to those of the new NYC Construction Codes The 1968 Code classified Occupancies in decending order from higher to lower hazard in terms of Life Safety. The 2008 Code classifies Occupancies according to logical reference, where the Occupancy Group Letter matches the Description (ex: R=Residential) 1968 Code --> 2008 Code A-High Hazard --> H-High Hazard (H-1 thru H-5) B-Storage --> S-Storage (S-1 & S-2) C... Read Full Story

Q: What is a Scissor Stair? When are Scissor Stairs permitted? Will Scissor Stairs still be permitted under the New NYC Construction Code? A: A Scissor Stair is a set of 2 interlocking stairways providing two separate paths of egress located within one stairwell enclosure. The Stairs wind around each other, and are separated from each other within the enclosure, by fire rated construction having the same rating as the Stair Enclosure (usually 2-hour construction). Scissor Stairs are permitted... Read Full Story

Q: What are the Minimum Trap/Waste Outlet Sizes for Plumbing Fixtures, the the NYC Building Code? A: Refer to Table 16-6 for the Minimum Trap Sizes, as restated below: Fixtures & Trap Sizes: Bathtub (with or without overhead Shower 1 1/2" Bidets 1 1/2" Combination Sink and Wash (Laundry Tray) 2" Dental Unit or Cuspidor 1 1/2" Drinking Fountain 1 1/2" Dishwasher, Commercial 2" Dishwasher, Domestic 1 1/2" Floor Drain 3" Funnel Drain 1 1/2" Kitchen Sink, Domestic 2" Laboratory Cup Sink 1 1/2... Read Full Story

Q: When exactly is a Work Permit required from the NYC Department of Buildings for construction work? A: The Code allows 'Minor Alterations' and 'Ordinary Repairs' to buildings without the need to obtain a Work Permit provided that it meets their definition of same. Minor Alterations and Ordinary Repairs do not include the following and therefore require the issuance of a Work Permit: Cutting away of any portion of a wall, floor, or roof construction. Removal, cutting, or modification of any... Read Full Story

Q: What is the criteria necessary to file for a Landmarks Expedited Review Permit? A: Landmarks Approval for construction projects can add significant lead time to issuance of a Work Permit. Landmarks offers an Expedited Review process for Alterations meeting the below criteria. We encourage all applicants that can comply with the criteria to submit their application using this method: 1. Must be INTERIOR WORK ONLY; 2. Must be performed ONLY ABOVE THE SECOND STORY; 3. Must NOT be performed on... Read Full Story

Q: I am filing my alteration with the NYC Department of Buildings for Permit Issuance. Are there any types of alterations that are exempt from the filing of an ACP-5 Asbestos Report? If so, what is the list of exempted items: A: As per a previous post , Buildings filed with the DOB after April 1, 1987 do not require an Asbestos Investigation (ACP-5). In addition, the following items are exempt: Accessory Parking Awnings Building-Sealing Candy or News Stands Change of Use, Legalization, or... 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