New Document Required for All Permits in DOB NOW

The DOB’s new property ownership certification for Local Law 160 of 2017 is now available. According to a recent DOB Service Notice, as of June 30, 2021, all applications (except LAAs, electrical, and elevator jobs) will require this form to proceed in DOB NOW, the online platform for professional engineers (P.E.), registered architects (R.A.), licensees, special inspectors, progress inspectors, filing representatives, and owners to submit jobs to the DOB.

Local Law 160 Basics

Local Law 160 of 2017 states that the DOB will deny permits for buildings whose owners owe $25,000 or more in covered arrears to the city. The term “covered arrears” as used in Local Law 160, includes the following:

• Unpaid fines, civil penalties, or judgments entered by a court or OATH pursuant to Title 28, Chapter 2 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York;
• Unpaid fees or other charges assessed by the DOB.

The permits for new buildings, demolition permits, and permits to change the use, egress, or occupancy for a property are affected by Local Law 160.

Property Ownership Certification

As required by Local Law 160 of 2017, the form includes the following information:

• The name and business address of each owner of the property;
• A list of the properties in New York City owned by each owner; and
• Whether each owner owes covered arrears to the city for each property and the amount of the covered arrears owed.

If you have more properties that can be listed on the available space of the Property Ownership Certification form, you can use the Supplemental Property Ownership Certification form at https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/pdf/PropertyOwnershipCertSupplement.pdf. On the Documents tab of the Plans/Work (PW1) application, owners can upload the form(s) as one file under the Document Name: Property Ownership Certification form. The document is required prior to permit and cannot be waived.