FISP (the Facade Inspection Safety Program, still widely known by its earlier name, Local Law 11) requires owners of New York City buildings taller than six stories to have their exterior walls inspected every five years by a qualified professional, with results filed with the Department of Buildings. It's administered under Article 302 of Title 28 of the NYC Administrative Code and it becomes directly relevant to construction forensics whenever a facade failure, falling-material incident, or inspection/repair dispute is at issue.
- Current cycle. FISP is in Cycle 10, which commenced February 21, 2025 and runs through February 21, 2030.
- Sub-cycles. Cycle 10 is divided into three sub-cycles based on the building's block number: Sub-cycle A (block ending in 4, 5, 6, or 9), Sub-cycle B (ending in 0, 7, or 8) and Sub-cycle C (ending in 1, 2, or 3), each with its own filing window within the five-year cycle.
- Who can inspect. Only a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI), a licensed architect or engineer with specific DOB-recognized experience, can conduct a compliant inspection. The examination has to be a genuine close-up, hands-on inspection of the facade, not a ground-level or binocular review.
- Classification outcomes. A facade is classified Safe, "Safe with a Repair and Maintenance Program" (SWARMP: non-urgent conditions that must be repaired before the cycle ends), or Unsafe, which requires immediate DOB notification, public protection (such as a sidewalk shed) and repairs generally within 90 days.
- Unresolved SWARMP conditions carry forward at real risk. A SWARMP condition identified in one cycle that remains unrepaired by the close of the following cycle's first sub-cycle can default to an Unsafe classification, with fines accruing from there.
FISP inspection reports and repair history are frequently relevant evidence in a facade-related dispute: whether the question is whether a condition should have been caught in an earlier cycle, whether a SWARMP repair was actually completed to standard, or whether a falling-material incident traces back to a documented, unaddressed condition. On the construction management side, coordinating FISP-driven repair work is its own kind of project: qualified inspector access, sidewalk shed logistics and DOB filing deadlines all have to be managed alongside the physical repair itself.
For the full New York statutory framework FISP sits within (including Labor Law and CPLR limitations periods), see our New York Construction Law Guide.
This article is a general informational overview, not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client or expert-client relationship. FISP cycle dates, sub-cycle assignments and program rules are subject to change. Confirm current requirements with the NYC Department of Buildings or qualified New York counsel.
