The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) says it will deny new building and alteration construction permits, as required by Local Law 160 of 2017, “if $25,000 or more in covered arrears is owed to New York City with respect to the property for which the permit is being sought, or the owners of the property together owe $25,000 or more in covered arrears to the city.”
“Covered arrears” may include unpaid fines, civil penalties or judgements entered by a court or OATH and “unpaid and past-due fines or other charges assessed by DOB,” that are not currently in the appeals processed by DOB.
Owners will have to answer the following two questions in the Owner’s Attestation on Plan/Work (PW1) applications in DOB NOW:
- Are $25,000 or more in covered arrears, that are not currently in the appeals process, owed to the city with respect to the property for which the permit is being sought?
- Do the owners of the property owe, in aggregate, $25,000 or more in covered arrears to the city?
DOB says owners who answer ‘Yes‘ to one or both of the questions will not be allowed to request a permit in DOB NOW: Build for a New Building or Alteration-CO filing unless they certify that one of the exceptions listed in Local Law 160 of 2017 applies.
