Important Department of Buildings News on Temporary Certificates of Occupancy
December 14, 2020Herrick’s Land Use & Zoning Team has learned that new legislation titled Intro. 2033 was approved by the New York City Council on December 10, 2020 that will remove bureaucratic hurdles in the development and move-in process for building owners and occupants throughout the five boroughs.
Prior to this bill’s passage, a finished space in an incomplete new building or major alteration project could only be issued a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (“TCO”), which expired after 90 days. This would then require TCOs to be renewed every three months via paperwork and applications with the Department of Buildings (“DOB”) until the project was complete, costing building owners time and money.
Intro. 2033 would create a new type of temporary Certificate of Occupancy for buildings in NYC, cut down on red tape, and allow for a more efficient process for property owners, developers and the DOB, while ensuring tenants can occupy space safely and quickly. The bill would allow the DOB to issue interim certificates of occupancy (“ICO”) to authorize occupancy of specific floors of a building prior to completion of permitted construction work on the building after inspection. The new ICOs would not require any additional renewals, which will result in substantial time savings for the construction industry and much needed certainty for developers when securing financing for their projects. Additionally, ICOs would help provide assurance to commercial and residential tenants moving into a space relying on an ICO because it means there are no outstanding issues requiring DOB intervention. The ICOs will require comprehensive DOB field inspections before they can be issued.
This bill will not apply to residential buildings with fewer than eight stories or four dwelling units, non-residential buildings with fewer than five stories, mixed-use buildings with fewer than four dwelling units, or parking structures and will be effective 120 days after becoming law.
For more information on this issue or other land use & zoning matters, please contact:
Mitchell A. Korbey at +1 212 592 1483 or [email protected]
Vinh Van Vo at +1 212 592 1588 or [email protected]
© 2020 Herrick, Feinstein LLP. This alert is provided by Herrick, Feinstein LLP to keep its clients and other interested parties informed of current legal developments that may affect or otherwise be of interest to them. The information is not intended as legal advice or legal opinion and should not be construed as such.