Local Law 126

A parapet is any portion of a wall extending above a roof. These portions of a building can deteriorate over time and create a public hazard. To prevent a danger to the public, New York City has initiated a new rule to require inspections of parapets within the city.

Beginning on January 1st, 2024, building owners must have an annual observation and report of the parapets on all buildings within New York City as per Section 28-301.1.1 of the NYC Administrative Code. The individual performing the observation must determine if the Parapet is Safe or Unsafe. 

New York City takes building safety seriously because, on multiple occasions, pedestrians have been killed by falling debris from buildings. This new rule aims to protect the public by requiring observations of parapets by qualified individuals and repair of unsafe conditions.

NYC Parapet Report Requirements
A report must be prepared for the parapet observation stating the condition of the parapet. The building owner must keep this report for at least six (6) years. These reports must be available to the Department of Buildings upon request.

The NYC Annual Parapet Report should include the following items:

Building Address
Owner's name, Mailing Address, Phone Number.
Name of the individual performing the observation, Business Name, Mailing Address, Phone Number, Affiliation to the owner. 
Date of the observation
A Location Plan of the Parapet Observed within the report

The condition of the parapet should be identified as Safe or Unsafe. If Unsafe, a plan to remedy must be provided. 
The Parapet Report must list any repairs performed since the previous report.