For six weeks this summer, New York City ran a program most homeowners have never heard of: a free, no-strings building inspection where a city inspector walks your property, flags what needs fixing, and hands you zero fines for whatever they find. Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani kicked off this year’s No-Penalty Inspection Program on June 1, running it through July 10, as first reported by The Indian Eye.
A homeowner or small property owner calls 311, gets connected to the right DOB unit, and schedules a field visit. An inspector shows up, looks the building over, and gives guidance on repairs, safety requirements, permits and maintenance. If they spot an actual violation, they tell you how to fix it before any penalty kicks in. Normally a DOB inspector finding a problem means a fine is already on its way. The program does not issue fines for violations found during these inspections.
The inspections cover a specific list: decks and patios, retaining walls, facades for buildings under six stories, boilers, gas piping systems, unregistered private elevator devices, sidewalk vaults and business signs. This year marked the first time the program included inspections of sidewalk vaults and gas piping systems, an expansion the city said was meant to reach more property owners.
This year’s window closed July 10, so the program is not currently taking appointments. It runs as a seasonal push each summer around National Homeownership Month rather than year-round.
The Department of Buildings has run the No-Penalty Inspection Program since 2005, conducting what it describes as thousands of free inspections across the five boroughs over the past two decades. Mamdani’s own framing leaned less on launching something and more on getting people to use something that already existed.
“Too often, homeowners only hear from government when something has gone wrong and a fine is already on the way,” Mamdani said. “We’re working to elevate programs that have long existed, and this one is about making city government a partner, not a punisher. By providing free inspections and expert guidance, we’re helping New Yorkers keep their homes safe, avoid unnecessary costs, and protect one of the most important investments they will ever make.”
Tigani pitched it as a first call to make before you spend money. “At the Department of Buildings we know that dealing with building repairs and regulations can sometimes feel stressful or complicated, which is why initiatives like our No Penalty Inspection Program are designed to give New Yorkers straightforward, expert guidance in a respectful and transparent way,” he said. “Before hiring a construction professional, give us a call first and let our team provide you free expert guidance on your next home repair project.”
Leila Bozorg, the deputy mayor for housing and planning, framed it around the grind of keeping up a building. “Whether you’re a first-time or a longtime homeowner, it can be hard to keep up with required maintenance and make improvements,” she said. “Our administration is here to help, thanks to DOB staff across the city who will provide expert guidance to property owners without risk of penalty.”
Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Dina Levy tied it to the money side, aiming the offer at owners already squeezed by insurance and utility bills. “For property owners already struggling with high insurance and utility costs, these free inspections offer a unique opportunity to assess the state of their properties without the fear of large fines or penalties,” she said. “Not only do free, no-penalty inspections reduce stress and costs for owners, they also help keep New Yorkers safe in their homes.”
The city is positioning the inspections as one piece of a bigger homeownership push. Under Block by Block, the administration’s housing plan, the city says it is expanding programs meant to help residents stay in their homes and protect themselves from predatory practices, including the city’s first Mayor’s Office to Prevent Deed Theft, an enhanced HomeFix program and a new Mortgage Assistance Program. When the program is running, New Yorkers schedule an inspection by calling 311.
