FISP – Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP) for NYC Building Owners

The Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP) is a New York City law that requires owners of buildings greater than six stories to have their exterior walls and appurtenances inspected every five years and to file a technical façade report with the Department of Buildings for the applicable FISP Cycle.
What is FISP?
The Façade 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.
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.
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.
Related terms
Some glossary entries use an asterisk * at the end of the term (for example, violation* or permit*). This mark is only a technical tool on this website. It does not change the meaning of the word.
- Department
- BIS*
- eFiling*
- Electronic Filing Account Information
- Freedom of Information Law
- Brick pointing
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