Façade Ordinance Inspections

The City of Boston’s Inspection Services Department requires an inspection of an occupied structure that is over 70 feet above grade or classified as a high-rise structure, once every 5 years. An unoccupied structure  over 35,000 cubic feet (excluding residential buildings classified as single family, two family, or three family) requires an inspection once per year. Inspection reports must be developed by a Commonwealth of Massachusetts licensed Professional Engineer experienced in structural engineering or a licensed Registered Architect knowledgeable in the design, construction, and inspection of building facades.

Walker’s local Boston experts can guide you through the process and perform the inspection. Reach out to Andrew Jeffrey for your inspection!

The City of Chicago’s Department of Buildings‘ Exterior Wall Program applies to building enclosures and exterior walls that are more than 80 feet in height and over the public way. This program requires a visual inspection of the facades and filing a Short Form with the City of Chicago every two years. To qualify, the building must be previously classified as Safe or Safe with Maintenance. If certain criteria applies, such as not filing a report on time or if the building is deemed unsafe, the building will require a more in depth critical examination. Walker can help you determine your report filing needs with the City of Chicago. Inspections must be performed by a registered architect or registered structural engineer.

Diego Romero, Walker’s local Chicago lead, can help you determine your needs to comply with the Exterior Wall Program. We can perform the inspections and submit the report to the city on your behalf. We can also help assess your exposed metal for the City of Chicago Exposed Metal Inspection Requirements.

The City of Cincinnati’s Department of Buildings has an Ordinance which requires an inspection for the façades of buildings over 15 years of age with a height of 5 stories or 60 feet above grade. Inspections must be performed by a registered architect or engineer.

Walker’s Kyle Pawlak can help you determine if you need an inspection, perform the inspection, and assist with filing the appropriate documentation with the City.

City of Cleveland’s Department of Building and Housing has a façade ordinance for exterior walls and appurtenances. The façade ordinance requires an inspection for buildings over 75 feet above grade or 5 or more stories (whichever is shorter), have a protected distance that is equal to or less than the height of the substantial structure from its tallest height, and is over 30 years old. An inspection of the condition of exterior walls and appurtenances must be performed every 5 years by a qualified inspector.

Reach out to Walker’s Dave Parish for assistance with the City of Cleveland’s façade ordinance for exterior walls and appurtenances.

The Department of Building and Zoning Services of the City of Columbus has a façade ordinance related to the exterior walls and appurtenances that requires a Critical Observation Report. Buildings 20 years or older with a façade that are within 10 feet for a public right-of-way, pedestrian walkway or plaza are required to have a critical observation once every 5 years.

For assistance with the ordinance or performing the critical observation, Walker’s Kyle Pawlak can guide you.

The Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) of the City of Detroit  has a façade ordinance as a part of the property maintenance code. It requires all buildings with 5 or more stories in height to have all roof-mounted structures and every exterior wall or part of the building’s exterior inspected every 5 years by a competent person (including connecting bridges, cornices, copings, saves, bays, or similar projections).

Dave Parish, Walker’s local lead, can help you determine your needs to comply with the City of Detroit façade ordinance. We can perform the inspections and submit the report to the city on your behalf.

The City of Jersey City has Ordinance No. 21-054, which requires building owners to have a façade inspection performed and a report filed once every 5 years. Buildings that are higher than 6 stories, or buildings with masonry facades that are 4 stories or more in height must undergo this inspection.

Walker local specialist, Sara Holcomb, can help guide you through this process, perform the inspection, and prepare the report.

The City of Milwaukee’s Commercial Enforcement division of the Department of Neighborhood Services has the Façade Inspection Ordinance. It requires building 15 years or older with 5 stories or more to have an inspection performed by a Wisconsin registered architect or registered structural engineer. The requirements to submit the exam report is staggered based on the age of the building and the category type.

For assistance determining when your next inspection is due and performing the inspection, reach out the Walker local expert, Diego Romero.

New York City’s Department of Buildings has the Façade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP), formerly Local Law 11, which requires owners of buildings that are higher than 6 stories to have a façade inspection performed and a report filed once every 5 years. The scheduling of FISP report due dates is directly linked to the last digit of your building’s block number. For more information on FISP, please visit here.

Walker’s façade experts can assist you with your New York City FISP inspections and The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) report filings. Reach out to our experts to guide you through the process, Sara Holcomb.

The City of Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections has a property maintenance certification for exterior walls and appurtenances, formerly known as a façade ordinance. The Department also has certifications for fire escapes and fire escape balconies, as well as private bridges, and piers and other waterfront structures. For the façade ordinance, inspections by a licensed engineer or architect are required for buildings 6 or more stories in height or that have any appurtenance more than 60 feet in height. The due date of your inspection report varies depending on the year of construction. An inspection must be performed every 5 years unless a waiver or extension is approved because the façade, bridge, or fire escape was substantially restored within the past 5 years. New structures must be inspected within 10 years of completion, then every 5 years.

Walker’s local experts led by Dana Landis can guide you through the schedule and perform your inspections.

The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections has a façade ordinance in the Property Maintenance Code. All buildings and structures (except Use Group R-3) require an inspection and a signed and sealed report by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect every 5 years after the date of the original inspection.

Walker’s local specialist, Jared Wright, can guide you through the inspection process, perform the inspection and prepare the report.

The City of San Franciso’s Department of Building Inspection has San Francisco Ordinance #67-16. Buildings with 5 or more stories that were built between 1910 to 1970 require an inspection by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect every 10 years after the date of the original inspection. The due date of the inspection report varies depending on the year of construction.

Our local specialist, Ankita Lad, can assist with determining when your next inspection is needed, perform the inspection, and prepare the report.

The City of St. Louis’s Building Division’s Department of Public Safety has a façade ordinance requiring buildings over 5 stories or 60 feet in height must have cornices, entablatures, belt courses, trim and similar decorative features inspected every 3 years. Exterior cantilevered balconies, stairways and fire escapes of buildings must be inspected every 3 years. Inspections must be performed by a Missouri licensed deign professional.

Walker’s local experts led by Diego Romero can guide you through your inspections process.