NYC Local Law 126

What is Local Law 126?

Local Law 126 of NYC requires owners of parking structures to hire a licensed and registered professional engineer to inspect the structure once every six years and file a report with the Department of Buildings (DOB). The inspection must include any building(s) or portions of a building that are used for parking or storing motor vehicles, as well as open and enclosed parking garages.

Exceptions of structures that are not required to comply with Local Law 126 inspection requirements include:

        1. Autobody and automotive repair shops, showrooms, and service stations
        2. Garages with occupancy of less than three cars
        3. Unenclosed, unattached outdoor parking lots
        4. Private garages serving one- and two-family homes

Local Law 126 Deadlines

The deadline for Local Law 126 compliance depends on the community district that the parking structure is located in. For the current cycle (Cycle 1), the deadlines are as follows:

      • Manhattan Community Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7: January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2023
      • Manhattan Community Districts 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and Brooklyn Community Districts: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025
      • Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island Community Districts: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027

More information can be found on the DOB’s Parking Structure Inspections Map.

IMPORTANT: As of spring 2024, the DOB requires owners of parking structures in Community Districts 8 through 12 in Manhattan, as well as all Community Districts in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx to conduct a one-time initial observation of the parking structure(s) and submit an initial observation report. The deadline for this submission is August 1, 2024.

Local Law 126 Requirements

The main requirements of Local Law 126 include:

      1. Identify if the parking structure meets inspection requirements.
      2. Hire a Qualified Parking Structure Inspector (QPSI) to conduct the inspection.
      3. Submit a Condition Assessment Report and pay the filing fees.

Local Law 126 Fines

Failure to comply with Local Law 126 can result in penalties as described below:

  • Late filing: $1,000 per month
  • Failure to file: $5,000 per year
  • Failure to correct unsafe conditions: $1,000 per month until the unsafe conditions(s) are corrected and an acceptable Amended Report has been filed, or an extension for the repairs is granted
  • Failure to correct Safe with Repairs and/or Engineering Monitoring (SREM) conditions: $2,000

Frequently Asked Questions

    • Initial filing: $305
    • Amended/subsequent filing: $85
    • Application for extension: $65
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