Local Law 11 is why every tall building in New York has to inspect and repair its facade on a clock. Here is who it covers, the deadlines, what the statuses mean, the fines — and how to turn it into booked facade-repair work.
Local Law 11 is New York City's facade-safety law, officially the Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP). It requires the exterior walls of every building taller than six stories to be inspected on a recurring cycle by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI). The program began as Local Law 10 of 1980 after a fatal facade collapse and was expanded by Local Law 11 of 1998 — the name still used today. See the full FISP / Local Law 11 guide.
Any building greater than six stories, regardless of use — residential, commercial, mixed. The building owner is responsible for retaining a QEWI, filing the Technical Facade Report, and completing any required repairs before the cycle closes.
UNSAFE conditions require an immediate sidewalk shed, expedited repair, and ECB fines. Safe buildings simply re-inspect next cycle.
Each building files on its sub-cycle window; a missed filing triggers a $1,000/month failure-to-file penalty, and Unsafe or uncorrected conditions commonly draw $5,000–$25,000 in civil penalties on top of the repair. Current schedule: FISP Cycle 10 dates.
NYC Data Co maintains the scored, owner-enriched feed of every building filed SWARMP or UNSAFE under Local Law 11 — sold one contractor per borough so you own your territory's facade-repair lead flow.