DOB

Yes that’s true, one worker is allowed to perform work in a building. Not all work requires a permit. Generally, additions, moving walls, and moving wet rooms require permitting. You can remove finishes, replace doors, refinish floors, replace a toilet without changing its location, etc., without needing a permit. Ripping out radiators and replacing them with mini-split HVAC may not require a permit, depending on the specifics of the installation. Sometimes flippers follow the rules and sometimes they don’t.

cate

in General Discussion 5 years and 1 month ago

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cmartinez150 | 5 years and 1 month ago

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My neighbors and I have been filing numerous complaints through 311 about illegal construction on a one family brownstone next to me (we’ve tried talking to the owner, who is a flipper and refuses to get permits). DOB has visited the house and left at least 3 notices to call for inspection – and closes the complaints. Meanwhile workers keep on working. Is there any recourse from the DOB when the owner doesn’t respond to the notices? And is there anything else we can do? I have both a newborn and a tenant who is now working from home – I worry both about the noise and possible damage to my foundation.

cate | 5 years and 1 month ago

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Not all construction requires a permit. How do you know the construction is illegal? Noise is not illegal. What makes you think they will damage your foundation? If there is cause for concern, usually you would document existing conditions and engage a lawyer to create an agreement and monitoring and, as part of the agreement, they would pay for the expense. However, right now, no construction is permitted at all — unless it is “essential.”

cmartinez150 | 5 years and 1 month ago

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Cate – thanks for the thoughtful response – though I laughed out loud at the “agreement” part. Again, this guy is a flipper (his “agency” sells houses) and will only talk in person. He is fully gutting the place, including ripping out and disposing of the existing radiators. When he was ripping out the radiators it felt like my adjacent walls were shaking and sounded like bricks between the foundation walls were falling beyond the usual sound of falling debris, which scared me. But there has been no physical damage, and, as a lawyer myself, I believe it is pointless at this point to do anything besides attempt to get DOB to investigate and possibly fine him. My question was more limited as to DOB involvement – I wanted to know if there is any recourse from the DOB when an owner fails to respond to several notices for inspection.

Btw when I spoke to a DOB inspector who was investigating one of the complaints, he said that one worker is allowed to perform work inside the building.

Thanks again.