Unsafe Facade Repair in NYC
An Unsafe rating starts a 90-day clock the day your report is submitted. Our crew responds the same day to make the facade safe, puts up the protection your QEWI recommends, and drives the repairs through to an amended report before the penalties pile up.
What Makes a Facade Condition Unsafe Under FISP?
Under DOB’s facade rule, a condition is Unsafe when it’s hazardous to people or property: loose brick, a cracked parapet, a cornice pulling away or a railing that moves. A SWARMP item left open past its date also comes back as Unsafe at the next exam. A single Unsafe condition is enough to classify the whole building as Unsafe.
From there, the rule moves fast. Repairs have to start immediately, with a sidewalk shed, fence or netting to protect the public, and every Unsafe condition must be corrected within 90 days of the report’s submission. The building stays Unsafe on DOB’s record until your QEWI files an amended report showing the work is done.
Have These Ready for an Unsafe Facade Call
- The filed report, or your QEWI's notice to DOB
- The location of each Unsafe condition and the protection recommended for it
- Your QEWI's contact, so we can coordinate the same day
- Any shed, scaffold or netting permits already on the building
- Contacts for roof, sidewalk and apartment access
Our Unsafe Facade Response, From Make-Safe to Amended Report
- Same-day site visit
We look at each Unsafe location the day you call and confirm what protection it needs.
- Make-safe work
Loose brick, stone and trim are taken down or secured so nothing can fall.
- Public protection
We put up the sidewalk shed, fence or netting your QEWI recommends, with the permits it needs.
- Permanent repairs
The failed parts are rebuilt, re-anchored or replaced, with the scope sized to the 90-day deadline.
- Extension support
If the work can't finish in 90 days, we supply the contract scope and schedule your QEWI's extension request needs.
- Hand-off for the amended report
Photos, permit numbers and a completion date, so your QEWI can inspect and file.
Unsafe FISP Rating Mistakes That Cost Owners Money
Treating the Sidewalk Shed as the Fix
A shed protects the sidewalk, but the 90-day clock keeps running, and so do the penalties, until the repairs are done.
Asking for an Extension Because of Cost
DOB won't grant an extension for financial reasons. A tight budget needs a phased plan, not a request for more days.
Waiting on the Full Repair Scope
Make-safe work can start while the permanent repair is still being priced. Every idle week comes off your 90 days.
Forgetting the Amended Report
Finished work doesn't change your status by itself. The building stays Unsafe until DOB accepts the amended report.
The 90-Day Unsafe Facade Timeline After a FISP Filing
Here’s how an Unsafe rating plays out under DOB’s rule, from the first notice to the end of the rating.
- Day 0
Notice and Public Protection
Your QEWI notifies DOB and you right away and recommends the type and location of public protection. Make-safe work and protection come first.
- First weeks
Repair Scope and DOB Permits
The permanent repair is scoped, priced and permitted. Landmarks review starts here if the building is designated.
- Before day 90
Unsafe Repairs Completed
Every Unsafe condition has to be corrected within 90 days of the report's submission.
- If needed
90-Day Extension Request
When the work truly can't finish in 90 days, your QEWI can apply to DOB for up to 90 more days.
- Within two weeks of completion
QEWI Inspection and Amended Report
Your QEWI inspects the finished work and files the amended report. Protection stays up until DOB accepts it. See FISP close-out.
Unsafe Facade Repair Roles, Step by Step
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| Task | Owner | Inspector (QEWI) | Our Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection | Approves and pays for the shed, fence or netting | Recommends its type and location to DOB | Installs it, with the permits it needs |
| Repairs | Starts repairs immediately, as the rule requires | Defines the corrective work | Makes the facade safe, then completes the permanent repairs |
| Deadlines | Tracks the 90-day date and any extension | Files the extension request if one is needed | Supplies the scope, schedule and progress photos |
| Close-out | Pays the amended report filing fee | Inspects the work and files the amended report | Hands over photos, permits and the completion date |
Loose brick, stone or trim over the sidewalk right now? Call for a same-day make-safe response.
If anything is actively falling, call 911 first.
Unsafe Facade Repair Costs and DOB Penalties
We price Unsafe work after a same-day visit. The repair is only part of the bill: the longer it waits, the more these add up.
- Monthly penalty
$1,000 a month until DOB accepts an amended report showing the conditions are corrected.
- Shed charges from year two
An added $10 per linear foot of shed per month in the second year, rising each year to $40 by the fifth.
- Shed rental
Every month the shed stands is another rental bill.
- Size of the hazard
A loose cornice or failing parapet takes more work than a handful of loose brick.
- Access and approvals
Height, street conditions, permits and any Landmarks review shape the schedule.
Next Stage: File the Amended FISP Report
Repairs finished? The amended report is what changes your building’s status and lets the shed come down. See how close-out works.
Unsafe Facade Repair FAQs for NYC Owners
How fast can you respond to an Unsafe condition?
Usually the same day. We visit, secure loose material and plan protection while your QEWI's notice is still fresh. If something is actively falling, call 911 first.
Can I get more than 90 days to fix an Unsafe condition?
Yes, with an approved extension. Your QEWI applies for up to 90 more days with proof the site is protected, the repair contract and scope, a time estimate, the permit requirements, a notarized owner affidavit and a fee. Financial reasons aren't accepted. A further extension needs a new application and a reason such as weather, a labor strike or a hazard that takes longer to fix.
How long do Unsafe repairs usually take?
Most small and mid-sized jobs can be finished inside 90 days when scoping starts right away. Bigger work, like rebuilding a parapet or a cornice, may need an extension, so we flag that in the first week.
Is netting enough, or do I need a sidewalk shed?
It depends on the hazard. Your QEWI recommends the type and location of protection in the notice to DOB. Netting can cover some conditions, while a hazard over a sidewalk usually calls for a shed.
Does the sidewalk shed have to stay up during repairs?
Yes. Protection stays in place until DOB accepts the amended report, unless your QEWI asks for early removal with a signed and sealed statement and DOB agrees. More on sidewalk shed removal.
Do tenants have to move out when a building is rated Unsafe?
Usually not. The hazard is on the outside, and the protection keeps the public safe. Some windows, balconies or terraces near the work may be off-limits until it's done.
Clear Your Building's Unsafe FISP Status
Call for a same-day visit, or send your report and your QEWI’s notice. We’ll map the make-safe work, protection and permanent repairs against your 90-day date.