Local Law · Facade safety
FISP / Local Law 11: facade inspections
If your building is taller than six stories, the City requires a qualified engineer to inspect its exterior walls every five years and file a report. Miss the window and the fines start at $1,000 a month — and an “Unsafe” facade means immediate public-protection work.
What FISP requires
The Facade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP), created by Local Law 11 of 1998, requires the owner of every building taller than six stories to have the exterior walls and appurtenances inspected by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) — a licensed architect or engineer — once every five years, and to file a report with the Department of Buildings.
The three filing statuses
- Safe — no problem conditions; nothing further until the next cycle.
- SWARMP (Safe With A Repair and Maintenance Program) — conditions that are safe now but must be repaired by a stated date. Leaving a SWARMP condition unfixed by that date turns it into Unsafe.
- Unsafe — conditions that endanger the public. The owner must immediately protect the public (e.g., a sidewalk shed), repair, and re-file as Safe within set timeframes.
Which sub-cycle is my building in?
Cycle 10 runs February 21, 2025 to February 21, 2030, split into three staggered sub-cycles by the last digit of your tax block number:
| Sub-cycle | Tax block ends in | Filing window |
|---|---|---|
| 10A | 4, 5, 6, 9 | Feb 21, 2025 – Feb 21, 2027 |
| 10B | 0, 7, 8 | Feb 21, 2026 – Feb 21, 2028 |
| 10C | 1, 2, 3 | Feb 21, 2027 – Feb 21, 2029 |
Our compliance profile computes your exact sub-cycle from your address automatically.
How to comply
- Confirm you’re covered (more than six stories) and find your sub-cycle window.
- Retain a QEWI well before your window closes — good inspectors book up, and scaffolding lead times are long.
- Address conditions found, especially anything Unsafe, and protect the public immediately where required.
- File the report through DOB NOW within your window, and re-file Unsafe conditions as Safe once repaired.
Common mistakes
- Starting too late — a facade repair can take months and the filing window is fixed.
- Letting a prior-cycle SWARMP condition lapse into Unsafe.
- Forgetting that penalties accrue monthly for a late or missing filing, on top of repair costs.
Reviewed against current NYC agency guidance by the NYC Building Compliance editorial team. Found something out of date? Tell us. Informational only — not legal or engineering advice.
Frequently asked questions
Which buildings need a FISP / Local Law 11 inspection?
Buildings taller than six stories. The facade must be inspected by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector every five years and a report filed with DOB.
What are the FISP filing statuses?
Safe (no issues), SWARMP (safe now but repairs required by a set date), and Unsafe (dangerous conditions requiring immediate public protection and repair).
What is the penalty for a late FISP filing?
$1,000 per month for a late or missing report, plus separate penalties and mandatory repair/public-protection costs for Unsafe conditions.
How do I know my FISP sub-cycle?
It’s set by the last digit of your tax block number. Blocks ending 4/5/6/9 are in sub-cycle 10A, 0/7/8 in 10B, and 1/2/3 in 10C. Our compliance profile calculates it from your address.
Need help handling this?
Tell us about your building and we’ll connect you with a facade inspection (QEWI) engineer who works on NYC compliance — no cost to ask.
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