A maintenance checklist for small building owners in NYC
Summary
Regular checks of the roof, drains, heating, electrical and common areas prevent most expensive repairs. Many NYC buildings also have required inspections, such as gas piping every four years, which are easiest to manage with an inspection calendar.
Every season
- Clear roof drains, gutters and leaders
- Inspect the roof and parapets for cracks and loose flashing
- Check common-area lights, exit signs and emergency lights
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at turnover and on schedule
- Check for leaks under sinks and around boilers and water heaters
Before heating season
NYC heating season (opens an external site) runs from October 1 to May 31. Have the boiler or heating system serviced before it starts, and check radiators and thermostats in vacant units.
Inspections many buildings need
- Gas piping inspection (opens an external site) by a licensed master plumber every four years, for most buildings except one- and two-family houses and other R-3 buildings (Local Law 152), and natural gas alarms in every apartment (opens an external site) of a building with gas service, required by January 1, 2027 (Local Law 157); confirm the date with DOB, which may extend it if too few approved alarms are on the market
- Annual boiler inspection (opens an external site) for buildings with six or more apartments, and for commercial and mixed-use buildings
- Facade inspection every five years (opens an external site) for buildings taller than six stories
- Lead paint notice each January (opens an external site) to all tenants in buildings with three or more apartments built before 1960 (or from 1960 to 1978 if the owner knows lead paint is present), asking whether a child under 6 lives there, and window guards for apartments with children 10 and under in buildings with three or more apartments
Keep records
Keep dates, invoices and inspection reports in one place. These records support violation dismissals and insurance claims, and they are needed when you sell or refinance. For a rental building, the same payment records show which contractors may need a Form 1099-NEC from you; our guide explains the 2026 rules.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer regular maintenance?
Yes. We can service your building on a schedule you choose or handle repairs as they come up.
Can you fix open violations?
We correct many types of violations, especially electrical and construction violations. Include the violation number with your request, and we will determine the work needed to clear it.
Sources
6 sources
- Heat and Hot Water Information (opens an external site)NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
- Gas Piping Inspection (opens an external site)NYC Department of Buildings
- Boiler Compliance (opens an external site)NYC Department of Buildings
- Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) Compliance (opens an external site)NYC Department of Buildings
- Lead-Based Paint (opens an external site)NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
- NYC Council Passes Council Member Dinowitz's Gas Detector Bill (Intro 1281-2025) (opens an external site)New York City Council
This guide reflects our experience and our interpretation of the rules as of the date it was published or last updated. Regulations, codes, incentives and the way agencies enforce them change often, and our interpretation may be incomplete or wrong. It is general information, not legal, engineering, tax or financial advice. Consult the relevant agency and a licensed professional before you plan, purchase or begin any work. Reading this guide does not make you our client and does not create any contractor, consulting or advisory relationship. Outstanding Construction Inc is not liable for any loss arising from the use of or reliance on this content, and is responsible only for work performed under a written contract signed with us.