NYC's leading parapet inspection firm.
Annual Local Law 126 parapet observations by licensed engineers. Reports in three to five business days, kept ready for any DOB request, across all five boroughs.
- Report turnaround
- 3–5 business days
- Inspection records retained
- 6 years
- Fines for non-compliance
- $1,000 and up
- Licensed across NYC
- 5 boroughs
The requirement
Every parapet facing a NYC sidewalk needs an annual inspection.
Under Local Law 126 and 1 RCNY §103-15, any building with a parapet fronting a public right-of-way needs a close-up observation every year by someone competent to inspect parapets. There is no minimum height, so low- and mid-rise buildings are covered too. Only detached one- and two-family homes, and buildings fenced off from the wall, are exempt.
The report is not filed with the DOB. You keep it for six years and produce it on request. If the observation finds an unsafe condition, the DOB is notified immediately and the repair is due within 90 days.
What the inspection covers
- 01
- Parapet wallsStructural integrity and attachment to the building
- 02
- Coping stonesCondition and secure attachment assessment
- 03
- Masonry elementsMortar joints, brick condition, and structural soundness
- 04
- Safety hazardsLoose or deteriorating components identified and documented
Compliance timeline
- By December 31, every year
- Observation done and the report in your own file. Nothing is submitted to the DOB.
- Unsafe findings
- DOB notified immediately, public protection installed, repaired within 90 days
- Penalties
- Failing to produce the report when the DOB asks is a $1,250 violation, up to $10,000
How it works
Four steps, and you are filed.
Tell us about the building
Address, height, and parapet length. We come back with a fixed quote before anything is scheduled.
A licensed engineer inspects it
A licensed engineer or architect examines the parapet close up and photographs every condition.
You get the report
Every item 1 RCNY §103-15 requires, with dated, annotated photos of the full parapet, in three to five business days.
We keep it DOB-ready
Your report and photos stay on file for the six years the rule requires, ready the moment the DOB asks. Unsafe conditions go to the DOB immediately.
Built to 1 RCNY §103-15
What you receive
A report that holds up the day the DOB asks for it.
- Property address and building identification
- Licensed professional engineer or architect credentials
- Detailed parapet construction and condition assessment
- High-resolution photographs with annotations and timestamps
- Whether any unsafe condition was found, and the action taken
- Unsafe conditions
- Immediate DOB notification and coordination of protective measures.
- Record retention
- Six years of inspection history kept on file and available for DOB requests.
- Annual tracking
- We schedule the next cycle so the filing date never sneaks up on you.
What it costs
Straightforward pricing, published up front.
Most parapet inspections fall in these ranges. Portfolios of multiple buildings qualify for a 10 to 20 percent volume discount.
- Licensed PE or RA on site
- Annotated, dated photographs
- Every report item 1 RCNY §103-15 requires
- Immediate DOB notice if a condition is unsafe
Small buildings
1 to 3 stories
$300–$600
Mid-size buildings
4 to 6 stories
$500–$1,200
Larger buildings
7+ stories
$1,000–$2,500+
Final price depends on building height, parapet length, and access. The quote is fixed before we schedule.
Why VetraCheck
Compliance is the deliverable, not the inspection.
- Licensed engineers, in house
- Licensed engineers and architects with extensive facade inspection experience, not subcontracted labor.
- Unsafe findings handled, not just reported
- If we find an unsafe condition we notify the DOB immediately, as the rule requires, and help you line up protection and the repair inside the 90 days.
- Urgent inspections available
- Time-sensitive situations get scheduled fast, including after an unsafe condition is identified.
- Every borough, one firm
- Licensed to operate throughout New York City, so a mixed portfolio does not need five different vendors.
Local Law 126 guides
Plain-English answers to the questions owners ask most, checked against the rule itself.
- Local Law 126 Parapet Inspections: The Complete NYC Guide for 2026Local Law 126 parapet inspection guide for NYC owners: which buildings need one, who can observe, report contents, 6-year retention, and DOB penalties.
- How Often Are Parapet Inspections Due in NYC?How often do NYC parapet inspections need to happen? A plain-English guide to Local Law 126 annual timing, FISP cycles, and staying DOB-compliant.
- How Much Does a Parapet Inspection Cost in NYC? (2026 Pricing Guide)Parapet inspection cost in NYC for 2026: what owners pay under Local Law 126 by building size, what drives pricing, and how to compare quotes.
- NYC Building Owner's Parapet Inspection Checklist for 2026A step-by-step NYC parapet inspection checklist for building owners: prep, what the report must include, seasonal upkeep, and six-year record-keeping.
- Unsafe Parapet 90-Day Repair Timeline in NYCAn unsafe parapet in NYC must be repaired within 90 days of DOB notification. The timeline: who notifies the DOB, sidewalk sheds, repairs, and penalties.
- Parapet Inspection vs. FISP (Local Law 11): What NYC Building Owners Need to KnowParapet inspection vs. FISP in NYC: who can inspect, how often, what gets filed with the DOB, and when a Local Law 11 report can also cover Local Law 126.
Client
Thanks to their detailed inspections and clear reporting, we were able to address potential issues before they became costly problems.
Get started
Request your inspection.
Tell us the address and the building height. We come back with a fixed price and the next available date.
- Prefer to talk
- (646) 355-8530
- Office hours
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- Office
- 131 Varick St., STE 1024, New York, NY 10013
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