NYC Council to vote on new rules for scaffolding, sidewalk sheds
NEW YORK (PIX11) – The New York City Council is set to take up a series of bills aimed at cracking down on scaffolding and sidewalk sheds.
Manhattan City Councilmember Keith Powers is leading the call for reform, saying outdated rules can allow scaffolding and sidewalk sheds to stand far longer than needed.
He’s sponsoring legislation that would cut shed permits for façade repairs from one year to three months and wants penalties for scaffolding that blocks the public right away but isn’t connected to any ongoing construction or demolition work.
Another bill calls for the Department of Buildings to study and recommend new sidewalk shed designs, including increased lighting, by Sept. 30. The measure also expands the sheds’ color palette beyond hunter green.
The city estimates there are nearly 400 miles of construction sheds across all five boroughs. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and State Assemblymember Micah Lasher recently held the Sheddie Awards to “shed light” on scaffolding that’s been up for years.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.