As with many New York City regulations, the Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP) was born out of a clear public safety need: protecting pedestrians from falling façade hazards. Over the decades, however, the program has also led to an unintended and highly visible side effect—thousands of sidewalk sheds that linger for years, impacting streetscapes, businesses, and property owners alike.
In response, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has unveiled a series of initiatives and proposed reforms aimed at modernizing FISP. These efforts are intended to enhance public safety while reducing unnecessary sidewalk sheds, lowering costs for owners, and improving the pedestrian experience—without compromising the core mission of protecting New Yorkers.
The “Get Sheds Down” Initiative
Central to these efforts is DOB’s Get Sheds Down initiative, a comprehensive rethinking of how and when sidewalk sheds are used. Sidewalk sheds—often generically referred to as scaffolding—are a familiar but frequently criticized feature of New York City streets. When left in place for extended periods, they can detract from public space, reduce daylight, and contribute to quality-of-life concerns.
The Get Sheds Down initiative seeks to shorten the lifespan of sidewalk sheds, reduce their overall footprint, and encourage safer, less intrusive alternatives where appropriate. The goal is not to eliminate pedestrian protection, but to deploy it more intelligently—matching the level of protection to the actual level of risk.
Phase One: Policy and Legislative Changes
The first phase of the initiative, launched in 2023, focused on policy reforms and pilot programs in collaboration with public building agencies. These efforts explored alternatives to traditional sidewalk sheds and introduced incentives for owners to complete façade repairs more quickly.
As a result, several pieces of legislation have advanced, including:
- Intro. 393-A, which proposes reducing the duration of sidewalk shed permits from one year to three months, while requiring property owners to provide regular updates to DOB on the status of repairs necessary for shed removal. The bill also introduces penalties for prolonged inaction when sheds occupy the public right-of-way.
- Intro. 391-A, which directs DOB to recommend and codify new sidewalk shed designs and formally expand the use of containment netting and other alternatives as acceptable forms of pedestrian protection.
These measures are intended to discourage long-term, open-ended shed installations and promote timely façade repairs.
Phase Two: Reimagining Pedestrian Protection
The next phase of Get Sheds Down turned its attention to design. In late 2023, DOB issued a public request for proposals seeking innovative ideas to replace the ubiquitous pipe-and-plywood shed with modern, visually appealing, and less intrusive alternatives.
This effort culminated in November, when DOB Commissioner Jimmy Oddo convened an industry presentation in Manhattan unveiling six new pedestrian protection concepts developed by Arup and Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU). The designs include lighter, brighter shed structures, advanced netting systems, and alternative protection strategies that improve visibility and aesthetics while maintaining safety.
DOB has indicated that these designs will be made available for public use through future rulemaking, with implementation anticipated as early as next year.
Engineering Study Driving FISP Reform
In parallel with Get Sheds Down, DOB commissioned engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti to conduct a comprehensive, data-driven evaluation of the Façade Inspection & Safety Program. This study—one of the most extensive reviews of the program since its inception—examined incident data, inspection outcomes, and best practices from major U.S. cities, while also incorporating feedback from inspectors, regulators, and property owners.
The study’s recommendations form the basis of several proposed updates to FISP intended to better align inspection requirements with actual risk.
Key recommendations include:
- Hazard-based classifications that focus on the severity and immediacy of façade risks, rather than rigid repair timelines, ensuring that sidewalk sheds are required only where conditions truly warrant them.
- Extending the inspection cycle from five years to six years, reducing administrative burden and giving owners additional time to plan and finance repairs.
- Introducing an “Abbreviated Filing” pathway for newer or well-maintained buildings, allowing visual-only inspections at more frequent intervals, supplemented by periodic hands-on examinations.
- Piloting emerging technologies, including drone-assisted inspections, to safely reduce the need for full physical access in appropriate conditions.
- Targeted oversight for buildings with chronic façade deterioration, while easing requirements for mid-rise and lower-risk buildings.
- Enhanced support for Qualified Exterior Wall Inspectors (QEWIs), including improved DOB guidance, a best-practices framework, and more responsive technical support.
It is important to note that many of these recommendations are still in the proposal or rulemaking stage and are not yet part of the formal FISP requirements.
Key Takeaways
- New York City is actively working to reduce the number and duration of sidewalk sheds while maintaining public safety.
- Legislative and policy changes are shifting the focus from time-based compliance to risk-based decision-making.
- Future FISP updates are expected to provide more flexibility for well-maintained buildings and more targeted enforcement for higher-risk conditions.
- New pedestrian protection designs and alternative systems are on the horizon, offering improved aesthetics and potentially lower long-term costs.
- Until changes are formally adopted, current FISP requirements remain in effect, and owners should continue to plan façade inspections and repairs accordingly.
For owners and managers, these reforms signal a meaningful shift toward a more practical, data-driven façade safety program—one that better balances safety, cost, and the realities of maintaining buildings in New York City.
Sr. Building Envelope Consultant
Duffy Engineering
