Facade Inspection & Safety Program. Your Building Has 6 Stories or Less? FISP Usually Does Not Apply
The Facade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP) is a New York City law that requires owners of buildings higher than six stories to have their exterior walls and appurtenances inspected every five years and to file a technical facade report with the Department of Buildings for the applicable FISP Cycle.
What is FISP?
The Facade Inspection & Safety Program is a city law that requires regular inspections of a building’s exterior walls—including balconies, fire escapes, railings, parapets, and any features attached to the façade—to prevent unsafe conditions and falling hazards for people on the street below.
During a FISP inspection, the engineer (QEWI*) looks for unsafe facade conditions such as loose bricks, cracked stone, and concrete spalling (pieces of concrete breaking or falling off the building surface).
Which buildings must comply with FISP?
FISP applies to most buildings in New York City that are greater than six stories above the curb level. One‑ and two‑family homes, and smaller walk‑up buildings that do not exceed six stories, are typically not subject to FISP requirements.
How NYC counts stories for FISP
For FISP, the question is not just what the building is casually called. A building can look like “6 stories” and still be covered if part of the lower level counts as a basement*. In general, a basement counts as a story when more than half of its height is above grade or curb level, while a cellar* usually does not count because more than half of it is below grade. That means a building with six stories above a basement may still fall under FISP, while six stories above a cellar usually does not. Check the building’s actual condition and records before assuming FISP does not apply.
Who Inspects Your Facade?
Only a QEWI* (Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector) is legally authorized to conduct the inspection and sign the technical report filed with DOB. This matters because an unqualified inspection can result in a rejected filing, fines, or an invalid FISP cycle report.
What Are the Owner’s Responsibilities?
If you own a building in New York City that’s taller than six stories, there are important safety rules you need to know about. You can read more details in our blog entry
Want to Look Up Public Records?
You can view or request FISP inspection records by submitting a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request through NYC OpenRecords and choosing “Department of Buildings” as the agency.
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See how facade issues look in real NYC examples
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This page is for general education only and is based on public New York City sources when available. Some technical and legal terms are simplified into plain English to help homeowners and ESL readers. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace guidance from a licensed professional. NYC construction and safety rules change often, and your project may have extra DOB*, OSHA*, or local requirements. Before you start work, always check current rules with a licensed design professional or directly with the NYC Department of Buildings.
If you see any capital letter abbreviations on this page or in an official letter you received from the city and you do not understand them, you can try to look them up on our NYC Violation Codes HUB page with the search tool.
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