New York Construction Report staff writer
A sweeping package of legislation aimed at addressing the city’s long-standing sidewalk shed problem was signed into law this week, giving the Department of Buildings new enforcement tools and design standards to reduce the number of lingering scaffolding structures at construction sites.
The new laws are part of the “Get Sheds Down” initiative launched in July 2023, which seeks to remove outdated and unnecessary sheds, streamline the permitting process, and encourage the use of more visually appealing and efficient pedestrian protection systems. The reforms include shorter permit durations, stronger penalties for delayed repairs, and updated design and lighting standards.
“When our administration came into office, we said the days of letting scaffolding sheds languish on our streets were over,” Mayor Eric Adams said during the bill signing. “We launched our ‘Get Sheds Down’ initiative, removed hundreds of long-standing sheds, and proposed ambitious legislation to make sure property owners actually finish safety work and take sheds down rather than just leave them up year after year.”
Changes include a reduction in the default sidewalk shed permit duration from one year to three months. Property owners must now provide regular updates on the status of repairs and will face new penalties for failing to complete façade work in a timely manner.
The city is also partnering with two design firms to create six new, cost-efficient sidewalk shed prototypes that are more visually appealing. In addition, an engineering consultant has been retained to conduct a full study of Local Law 11 and the city’s Façade Inspection and Safety Program, which governs inspections of buildings taller than six stories. The study will help inform reforms allowed under the legislation.
“When I worked in the mayor’s office nearly 20 years ago, everyone was focused on fixing the scourge of sidewalk sheds. At long last, two decades later, the Adams administration and our partners in the City Council have finally done it,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth. “This is a momentous day that will bring sunlight to our city once again, ensure façade work gets done in a timely manner, and keep New Yorkers safe.”
“This new legislation puts us on the cusp of a meaningful reduction in long-standing sheds across the city, improvements to the design of pedestrian protection equipment, decongestion of our sidewalks, and the first major reforms to Local Law 11 façade inspection regulations in decades,” said Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo.
Two bills shorten shed permit durations and strengthens oversight of renewals and directthe Department of Buildings to issue new sidewalk shed design guidelines and expands acceptable shed colors beyond the standard hunter green to include metallic gray, white, or a color matching the building’s façade. The bill also increases the minimum shed height to 12 feet to allow more natural light onto sidewalks and allows for smaller sheds on campus-style properties such as New York City Housing Authority buildings.
Intro. 394-A extends the cycle for required façade inspections from five years to between six and 12 years and gives the department authority to modernize the city’s façade inspection rules. Intro. 660-A doubles the minimum lighting required under sidewalk sheds from 45 lumens to 90 lumens and mandates the use of LED fixtures. Fixtures within 20 feet of residential windows must be adjustable or shielded to prevent light from entering homes.
Intro. 661-A enables the department to issue fines to building owners who fail to meet deadlines for filing repair plans, securing work permits, or completing façade repairs.
Industry leaders and construction advocates praised the new laws for balancing public safety with practical changes to improve efficiency and reduce visual clutter.
“We applaud the city for expanding the toolbox beyond traditional pipe-and-plank sheds,” said Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress. “By explicitly embracing lighter alternatives like safety netting and clarifying the code around their deployment, the legislation strikes a smart balance between public safety, neighborhood aesthetics, and construction efficiency.”
Sidewalk sheds are designed to protect pedestrians from unsafe building façades and construction activity. However, city officials and advocates say these temporary structures often become semi-permanent due to stalled repairs, lack of enforcement, and outdated regulations.
Since the launch of the Get Sheds Down initiative, DOB has helped remove 330 long-standing sheds across the city. All sidewalk sheds in the city that are over five years old are enrolled in DOB’s Long-Standing Shed program, subjecting the property owners to stronger enforcement scrutiny, greater outreach, and court actions when the owners refuse to make repairs. More than 100 separate properties have been brought into litigation by the city related to this initiative.
