Do I need a building permit for a scaffolding on back of house?

I’m considering having the back of my house repointed and trying to figure out if the contractor needs a permit from the city to do the work. He has insurance and a rigger’s license for the scaffolding and I think he told me a permit isn’t necessary, but his English is not so great and I’m not totally sure we understood each other. Can anyone enlighten me? It’s a 3-family home in Brooklyn and the bricks on the back are letting in water. Thanks!

brokelyn

in Dept. of Buildings (DOB) 8 years ago

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utoeid | 8 years ago

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The city has allowed these scaffolding companies to take on mob like proportions. The scaffolding is expensive, permitting is expensive and time consuming and the City drags it’s useless feet on every aspect of it. This all started under Bloomberg and now you can easily drop 30K on a full height scaffolding on a 4 story B’stone. Your scaffold guy will say whatever to get the job but consider if it is not put up properly and one of his workers falls off, or he damages the building? You may as well give him the keys to your house and bow backing out. Hire a reputable waterproofing company that will get the permits, rent and erect the scaffolding or be responsible for hiring a reputable scaffolding company, make sure you see the permits and that they are legal and all the work is listed as desired and hold back a good chunk of the final payment until the scaffolding is down and gone and make sure he carries the proper levels of worker’s comp and liability insurance.

Guest User | 8 years ago

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from DOB website: “A permit is required prior to erecting a sidewalk shed or supported scaffold over 40 feet in height.” It doesn’t say anything about front or back or side… i think the question about whether you need a construction permit for the whole job is a more complicated one that you might want to ask DOB or an architect or expediter about.

Guest User | 8 years ago

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from DOB website: “A permit is required prior to erecting a sidewalk shed or supported scaffold over 40 feet in height.” It doesn’t say anything about front or back or side… i think the question about whether you need a construction permit for the whole job is a more complicated one that you might want to ask DOB or an architect or expediter about.