Knowledge Center
NYC Building Compliance, Explained
Every major compliance law that hits a New York City building — in plain English. Who it covers, the real deadlines, what it costs to miss, and what to actually do. Knowing the law is the easy half; each guide ends with how to get the work done.
HPD
Local Law 151 of 2024
Steam Radiator Inspections (Local Law 151)
NYC now requires owners of buildings with central steam heat to inspect steam radiators every two years in units with young children and in all common areas. The first Annual Notice cycle that includes radiators starts January 2027.
Read the guide →HPD Annual Notice · multiple laws
The January Annual Notice (Window Guards, Lead, Stove Knobs, Radiators)
Every January, owners of multiple dwellings must send tenants one combined notice covering window guards, lead paint, stove knob covers — and starting January 2027, steam radiators. The dates are rigid and repeat every year.
Read the guide →Local Law 1 of 2004 · Local Law 31 of 2020
Lead-Based Paint (Local Law 1 & Local Law 31)
Pre-1960 multiple dwellings are presumed to contain lead paint. Owners owe annual investigations, safe work practices, unit turnover remediation — and, under LL31, XRF testing of every unit (deadline passed August 2025: untested units are now a live liability).
Read the guide →HMC §27-2097 · annual
Annual HPD Property Registration
Every multiple dwelling (and many smaller rentals) must register with HPD every year by September 1. Skip it and you can’t certify violations, can’t collect in housing court, and eat civil penalties.
Read the guide →Local Law 69 of 2017
Annual Bedbug Report (Local Law 69)
Every multiple dwelling owner must file a bedbug infestation history with HPD each year during December, covering the previous November-to-October year — even if the answer is zero.
Read the guide →DOB
Local Law 152 of 2016 · 1 RCNY 103-10
Gas Piping Inspections (Local Law 152)
Every NYC building with gas piping must have it inspected by a licensed master plumber once every four years, on a schedule set by community district. Miss the window and the penalty is $10,000.
Read the guide →Local Law 11 of 1998 · 1 RCNY 103-04
Facade Inspections (FISP / Local Law 11)
Buildings taller than six stories must have their facades inspected every five years and file a TR6 report — SAFE, SWARMP, or UNSAFE. Late filings accrue penalties monthly, and "No Report Filed" buildings rack up six figures.
Read the guide →Local Law 126 of 2021 · Admin Code 28-301.1
Parapet Inspections (Local Law 126)
Since 2024, nearly every NYC building with a parapet fronting the public right-of-way needs an annual parapet observation — every building, not just tall ones. No filing, but the report must be kept on file six years.
Read the guide →Local Law 84 of 2009 · Admin Code 28-309
Energy & Water Benchmarking (Local Law 84)
Buildings over 25,000 sq ft must report a full year of energy and water use through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager by May 1 every year. Quarterly $500 penalties stack until you file — and your letter grade hangs in the lobby.
Read the guide →Local Law 97 of 2019 · Admin Code 28-320
Carbon Emissions Limits (Local Law 97)
Large buildings now have hard greenhouse-gas caps. Annual reports are due May 1, and emissions over your cap cost $268 per ton — with much tighter caps arriving in 2030.
Read the guide →Local Law 87 of 2009 · 1 RCNY 103-07
Energy Audits & Retro-Commissioning (Local Law 87)
Buildings over 50,000 sq ft must file an Energy Efficiency Report — an ASHRAE Level II audit plus retro-commissioning — once every ten years, in the year matching their tax block’s last digit.
Read the guide →LL62/1991 (boilers) · Admin Code 28-304 (elevators)
Annual Boiler & Elevator Inspections
Boilers need an annual inspection filed with DOB; elevators need an annual Category 1 test and a five-year Category 5 test. All three run on fixed clocks with late fees that stack.
Read the guide →Deadlines are half the battle. Parcel watches your buildings across every city agency, computes each law’s deadline for each building, and alerts you before penalties start. Look up your building free →
These guides summarize NYC law for owners and managers. They are not legal advice — confirm specifics with the agency source linked in each guide or with counsel.