NYC DOB to Waive Certain Penalties Following IT Outage
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) recently announced an important update for building owners and managers. Due to an IT outage caused by CrowdStrike and Microsoft, the DOB’s online system, DOB NOW: Safety, was unavailable on July 19, 2024, and only partially available on July 20 and 21, 2024. As a result, the DOB will waive certain civil penalties for late inspection report submissions and corrections on those days.
This waiver applies to the submission of inspection reports for elevators, boilers, façades, and parking structures, ensuring that penalties will not be enforced as long as reports are filed by July 31, 2024. Here’s what this means for affected building owners and what steps they should take.
For owners with elevator or boiler inspections due on July 19, 20, or 21, 2024, the DOB will issue refunds if they paid a civil penalty due to missed submissions on those dates. To qualify for this refund, building owners must submit their inspection reports via DOB NOW: Safety by July 31, 2024. The March 11, 2024 Service Notice provides additional instructions on requesting a refund of any applicable penalties.
The waiver also extends to penalties for façade and parking structure inspections. If a building owner failed to submit a report or correct unsafe conditions within the specified period due to the outage, they may qualify for a full or partial civil penalty waiver. The DOB has set up a special Waiver Request Reason within DOB NOW: Safety for these cases, allowing owners to select the new waiver option that aligns with this IT outage. Detailed instructions will be posted in upcoming service notices, providing clear steps on how to file these requests in DOB NOW: Safety.
This update brings some relief to property managers and building owners, giving them extra time to meet DOB requirements without penalties. By issuing this waiver, the DOB shows its commitment to supporting building owners during unexpected technical challenges.
Stay tuned for more updates and information on this and other NYC DOB initiatives.
For more information on these waivers, visit the official NYC DOB’s official website and refer to their Service Notice section. There, you’ll find detailed guidelines to ensure timely compliance and to navigate any additional steps required for waiver requests.
If you have questions or need help with the waiver process, feel free to contact the DOB or follow the latest updates directly through their service announcements.
