$10,000 fine for missing your parapet report. Free template inside.
NYC Local Law 126 requires every building with a visible parapet to keep an annual inspection report on file by December 31 — and DOB never published a template. So we built one. Covers every item the law requires. Print it. Fill it. File it. Free, no strings.
Email me the template now
Drop your email below. We send the printable template instantly — and one quarterly reminder before next year’s December 31 deadline. Nothing else.
What Local Law 126 actually requires
NYC Local Law 126 of 2021 (effective January 1, 2024) requires the owner of every NYC building with a parapet visible from the public right-of-way to commission an annual parapet inspection and keep the resulting observation report on file by December 31 of each year. The law applies regardless of building height — a 3-story brownstone with a street-facing parapet has the same obligation as a 30-story tower.
Who is exempt: detached 1- or 2-family homes, and buildings equipped with barriers that prevent public access to the exterior wall.
Where the report goes: on file at the building. It is not filed with DOB unless the inspection identifies a hazardous condition — in which case you must immediately notify DOB by calling 311 and emailing parapets@buildings.nyc.gov, and remediate within 90 days.
Retention: reports must be maintained for at least six years.
Penalty for failing to produce a report on DOB request: minimum $1,250, maximum $10,000.
What our template includes
Every item the law requires, formatted as a fill-in-the-blank report a property manager, super, or inspector can complete and file the same day:
- Building identification — address, associated addresses, BIN, BBL
- Owner contact info — name, mailing address, phone, entity principal with title
- Inspector info — name, contact, professional affiliation, qualifications
- Inspection date(s) — single visit or multi-day with each date listed
- Location plan — fillable section to sketch or describe every parapet on the building
- Parapet construction details — materials (brick, terra cotta, stone, concrete, metal), height, thickness, cornice type
- Condition assessment checklist — plumb alignment (within 1/8 of cross-sectional thickness), deterioration (cracks, displaced or missing units, deteriorated mortar, spalling, rot), appurtenance stability (telecom equipment, railings, signs, gooseneck ladders, fire escape attachments), cornice attachment
- Photo log — dated photo references documenting condition at time of inspection
- Prior repair documentation — fillable section to record past work
- Repair recommendations — by location, with urgency level
- Final classification — Safe, Requires Maintenance, or Unsafe (per LL126 statement requirement)
- Inspector signature and date
Who can perform the inspection?
Local Law 126 takes a notably flexible approach to inspector qualifications. Acceptable inspectors include: bricklayers, building superintendents, handymen, masons, architects, engineers, inspectors from New York State-authorized insurance companies, and New York State-authorized building inspectors. The standard is “an individual capable of identifying hazards” — not strictly licensed engineers like the FISP/QEWI requirement.
That said, if your building is already due for FISP under Local Law 11, your QEWI can perform both inspections in one site visit and save you a separate engagement.
Frequently asked questions
Is the parapet inspection the same as a FISP inspection?
No. FISP (Local Law 11) is a 5-year cycle for buildings over six stories, performed by a licensed QEWI. The parapet inspection (Local Law 126) is annual and applies to buildings of any height with a visible parapet. Both are required for buildings that meet both criteria.
Do I file the report with DOB?
No — unless you find a hazardous condition. The report stays on file at the building and must be produced if DOB asks. Hazardous findings require immediate notification by calling 311 and emailing parapets@buildings.nyc.gov.
What counts as a hazardous condition?
A condition that presents an imminent or current danger to public safety — typically loose or detached parapet sections, severely deteriorated mortar, structural cracks, or appurtenances at risk of falling. Once notified, you have 90 days to remediate.
Can our building superintendent do the inspection?
Yes, if they are capable of identifying hazards. LL126 allows supers, handymen, bricklayers, masons, architects, engineers, and authorized inspectors. We recommend a qualified professional for first-time inspections and any building with prior parapet repair history.
What if our parapet is not visible from the street?
If no member of the public can freely approach and access the building’s facade, the building is exempt. If the parapet faces an interior courtyard with restricted access, it does not need annual inspection. Most NYC buildings with street frontage do not qualify for this exemption.
How long do we keep old reports?
Minimum six years. We recommend digital storage (PDF scans of completed templates) plus a paper file in the building’s compliance binder.
Can we batch this with our FISP inspection?
Yes — and you should. A QEWI doing a FISP inspection can complete the parapet portion as part of the same site visit. Just confirm they will provide a separate LL126-format report (this template) in addition to the FISP filing.
Are you available to do our parapet inspections?
Yes. We perform Local Law 126 parapet inspections as a standalone annual service or bundled with a FISP cycle inspection. Contact us for a quote →
Ready to download the template?
Scroll back up to the form, drop in your email, and the template is yours.
📥 Email me the templateIf your building is over 6 stories, you also need FISP
Local Law 126 covers annual parapet observation. Local Law 11 / FISP covers the full facade every 5 years for buildings over six stories — a separate filing with a licensed QEWI. We do both.