DOB presses owners to finish facade repairs and remove sidewalk sheds

Key facts

Agency

NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)

Author

DOB Commissioner Tigani (opinion piece)

Published

11/10/2026, New York Daily News

Permitted sheds

6,640 citywide

Reduction

1,600 fewer sheds than at the start of the year, a 19% drop in 10 months

Owner reporting

Quarterly reports to DOB on facade repair status and progress toward shed removal

New designs

Six new shed designs; two on limited-time display at DOB headquarters in Lower Manhattan

What it means

The highlights

1. Sheds fell by 1,600, a 19% drop, in 10 months; the city counts 6,640 permitted.
2. Owners now file quarterly reports on facade repair progress and shed removal.
3. Two of six new shed designs are on display at DOB headquarters in Lower Manhattan.

Why it matters Landlords

Owners with long-standing sheds face closer DOB monitoring and enforcement until facade repairs are done and sheds come down.

What to do: If your building has a shed, keep facade repairs moving and file DOB quarterly status reports on time.

Not known yet

• What penalties or enforcement steps DOB uses against owners who miss repair timelines or skip quarterly reports
• When the six new shed designs will be available or required for use on buildings
• How long the exhibition at DOB headquarters will run
• What exact deadlines and content the quarterly reports must meet

Background

In New York City, sidewalk sheds need a permit from the Department of Buildings. They are often put up when a building's facade is found to be unsafe or while construction is underway. Under the city's Facade Inspection and Safety Program, often called Local Law 11, buildings taller than six stories must have their facades inspected on a regular cycle. Unsafe conditions found in those inspections must be fixed, and owners usually must protect the public with a shed until the repairs are done.