New city rule will sprout more sidewalk sheds despite Mayor Adams’ ‘Get Sheds Down’ program

The city keeps piling on new sidewalk-shed requirements even as Mayor Eric Adams touts a mostly toothless “Get Sheds Down” program.

Starting Sept. 28, landlords must perform annual “parapet observations” as spelled out in new Department of Buildings rules.

Under Local Law 126, passed in 2021, landlords must hire private inspectors to check out parapets for potentially dangerous conditions.

If hazards are found, property owners must install “public protection” while work is done to correct them. Translation: more sidewalk sheds.

The new rule is even more far-reaching than infamous Local Law 11, which requires inspections of every building more than six stories high every five years.

It requires parapet checks every year of every building “fronting the right of way” (a public street) and “regardless of height.”

Starting Sept. 28, landlords must perform annual “parapet observations,” likely leading to more sidewalk sheds.William Farrington The new rule directly hinders Mayor Eric Adams’ “Get Sheds Down” program.Kevin C. Downs

Benjamin Krall, founder/CEO of Urban Umbrellas — supplier of prettier, white sidewalk sheds with flared tops —  called the rule an important step towards ensuring pedestrians are kept safe from a broader scope of unsafe conditions than those addressed by Local Law 11.

“However, it directly hinders the mayor’s “Get Sheds Down” initiative, as it will almost certainly result in the installation of more sidewalk scaffolding, not less, across a much larger aggregate of buildings,” Krall said.

“New Yorkers should expect an overall increase in the number of work done unto their buildings.”