What's happening
This bill requires sidewalk shed permit renewals in NYC to be approved only for active construction sites, with stricter documentation and inspections.
Why it matters
Targets long-standing, inactive sidewalk sheds. By only allowing permit renewals for sheds actively used in construction at least ten days per month, the bill aims to reduce the number of sidewalk sheds that linger for years, which can block sidewalks, impact businesses, and create neighborhood eyesores.
Increases oversight and accountability. The required inspections and supporting documentation make it harder to "game the system" by keeping up unnecessary sidewalk sheds; this could lead to faster project completions and more responsive city enforcement.
Introduces penalties for false reporting. Contractors or licensees who submit misleading documentation face civil penalties, discouraging fraudulent claims and reinforcing the integrity of the permitting process.
Mandates clear rules and definitions. By directing the commissioner to create implementing regulations and defining what counts as an “ongoing construction project,” the bill seeks to eliminate ambiguities and ensure consistent enforcement across the city.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
NYC building owners seeking sidewalk shed permit renewals
Renewals would require a finding that construction workers used the shed at least ten days per month during the year immediately preceding the request.
Construction contractors and licensees
They would have to submit documentation of workers’ shed-use dates and times and could face civil penalties of up to $1,000 for submitting or causing the submission of false or misleading statements.
NYC Department of Buildings
The commissioner would have to inspect each construction site seeking a shed permit renewal, determine whether the project qualifies as ongoing and issue rules needed to implement the requirements.
Headline styles
Limit Sidewalk Shed Renewals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to housing
- Referred to housing
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
869
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to sidewalk shed permit renewal
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 106.8.3 of the New York city building code, as amended by section 2 of part C of local law number 126 of the city of New York for the year 2021, is amended to read as follows:
106.8.3 Special provisions for renewal of permit for a sidewalk shed. An application for the renewal of a temporary construction installation permit for a sidewalk shed used in connection with the alteration of a building shall be accompanied by a report, acceptable to the department, prepared by a registered design professional who has examined that part of the premises on which the work requiring the use of a sidewalk shed is being performed. Such report shall document the condition of the applicable part of the premises and the scope of work that has been performed thereon since the issuance of the permit and shall provide an estimate of the additional time needed to complete the work.
No sidewalk shed permit shall be renewed unless the commissioner determines that such sidewalk shed is being used as part of an ongoing construction project. In making such determination, the commissioner shall conduct an inspection of the construction site for which such permit renewal is sought. A contractor or licensee shall submit to the commissioner documentation in support of permit renewal indicating the dates and times persons employed in the construction project have utilized the sidewalk shed that is the subject of a permit renewal request. A contractor or licensee who submits or causes to be submitted documentation that contains false or misleading statements shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03005-01-5
The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
An "ongoing construction project" shall mean any construction project during which persons employed in construction work are utilizing such sidewalk shed at least ten days per month over the course of the year immediately preceding a request to renew a sidewalk shed permit.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.