West Village Homeowners Can Get Free, No Penalty Building Inspections

WEST VILLAGE, NY — It's summertime, and that only means one thing:

The return of the Building Department's penalty-free inspection program.

Until July 31, New York City homeowners, landlords and business owners can call 311 and ask for a free, no-penalty visual inspection of areas of their property.

It's called the No-Penalty Inspection Program, and the goal is to make sure that the city's buildings are safe without fear of penalty or fault.

It also means a free, expert option when it comes to potential repair projects and guidance on legal requirements.

Mayor Adams said the program is part of his commitment to cut red tape and to prioritize safety.

“With this program, we are proactively addressing issues and working collaboratively to provide support to building owners who want to do things the right way. And this expansion will allow us to keep more New Yorkers safe," Adams said.

“DOB’s No-Penalty Inspection Program is perfect for the building owner who wants to make home or business repairs, but don’t know how to get started," said buildings commissioner Jimmy Oddo. "Upon request, we will send an experienced DOB inspector to help you get a better understanding of the condition of your property, and the steps needed to keep them in good repair.”

And this year, the Buildings Department has added building facades under six-stories, boilers and private elevators.

If there are violations found, the DOB will give guidance to the owners, allowing them to correct the conditions before a violation is issued.

New Yorkers can call 311 for free, no-penalty inspections of the following:

• Decks and Patios
• Retaining Walls
• Facades for Buildings Under 6 Stories in Height
• Business Signs
• Unregistered Boilers
• Unregistered Private Elevator Devices

The DOB first launched their No-Penalty Inspection Program in 2005, starting with decks and retaining walls.

Since then, the department has performed thousands of the special summertime inspections.

The program runs until July 31.