NY State and NYC Parking Garage Ordinance Inspections

NYC Parking Garage Inspection Program: Local Law 126

As of January 1, 2022, the New York City Department of Buildings Parking Structure Inspection requirements has gone into effect.

Owners of parking structures must hire a New York State licensed and registered professional engineer (PE) to inspect the parking structure and file a condition assessment report with the Department at least once every six (6) years. The hired PE must meet the eligibility requirements for Qualified Parking Structure Inspectors (QPSI) as required by 1RCNY 101-07.

Property owners must repair unsafe or “SWARMP” (Safe with a Repair & Maintenance Program) conditions within 90 days of filing a condition assessment report. Once the work is finished, owners must file an amended report within two weeks.

STEPS TO COMPLIANCE:

1. Identify if the parking structure meets the requirements for inspection
   • A building or a portion of a building used for parking or storing motor vehicles, including space inside or under a building.
   • Open parking garages and enclosed parking garages as specified in the NYC Building Code.
2. Conduct Inspection
   • The owner must hire a Qualified Parking Structure Inspector (QPSI) to conduct the inspection and determine the rating of the parking structure.
3. File Report
   • Within 60 days of completing the evaluation, the QPSI must provide to the Department a report that meets, at a minimum, the criteria outlined in 1 RCNY 103-13. Fees must be paid at the time of submission. (NYC DOB)

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE PROGRAM?

• A building or a portion of a building used for parking or storing motor vehicles
• Open parking garages and enclosed parking garages as defined in the DOB

WHO IS EXEMPTED?

• Autobody/automotive repair shop, an automotive showroom, or an automotive service station 
• A garage with fewer than three (3) cars
• Unenclosed and unattached lots
• Garages serving one- and two-family homes.

WHEN ARE REPORTS DUE?

NEW YORK STATE PARKING GARAGE INSPECTION PROGRAM: TITLE 19

Title 19 – Part 1203, Department of State

In New York state, operating permits and condition assessments are now required for parking garages every three years. Inspections must be done by a licensed PE in the state of NY with 3 years of experience.

TIMELINE TO PERFORM ASSESSMENTS

New Parking Garages: Reports are due prior to the certificate of occupancy

Existing Parking Garage Structures: 

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE PROGRAM?

Owners of private, municipal, and state-owned parking facilities in New York State are required to comply with this new law, which covers any building or structure in which any structural level is used for parking or storage of motor vehicles

WHO IS EXEMPTED?

• Buildings in which the only level used for parking, storage, or motor vehicles is on grade
• One to two-family homes with an attached garage
• A townhouse unit with attached parking exclusively for that unit

PARKING GARAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT 

• List of deteriorated conditions, causes of deterioration, and any unsafe conditions observed
• Recommendation for repairs and a timeframe for when the repairs must be performed 
• Recommendation of preventative maintenance 
• Recommendation for next assessment: subsequent cycle or sooner based on the assessment
• Submit to Department of State Enforcement from local jurisdictions

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Sullivan Engineering, a Rimkus Company, provides high-quality building envelope restoration and compliance solutions.

Sullivan Engineering, a Rimkus Company, partners with facility managers and account executives to provide technical expertise and project management for building envelope restoration, compliance, and maintenance.

Our solutions reduce the overall building life cycle maintenance costs by creating long-lasting, high-quality work for years to come.

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