Why every NYC building owner needs a structural engineer before they need one - by Joe DiPompeo

Meet the Unsung Hero in Your Real Estate Investment Strategy

If you’re a developer, landlord, property manager, or board member in New York City, you’re not just managing a building—you’re stewarding a multi-million-dollar investment. And in a city as complex and regulated as New York, every square foot is loaded with liability.

That’s where a licensed professional engineer (PE) comes in, not as a cost, but as a strategic partner.

A professional engineer does more than sign off on drawings. We assess risk, assess structural integrity, and keep your building compliant with local laws. 

We help you protect your investment before something breaks.

The Real Threat: Hidden Structural Risk

Many buildings look fine on the surface — until they don’t. Cracks in a foundation, water infiltration, steel corrosion, or brick displacement may go unnoticed by even seasoned managers. But to a trained eye, they’re red flags that can lead to structural failure, legal exposure, and massive unplanned costs.

Worse, in the wake of recent building and parking structure collapses, NYC regulators are tightening requirements. Local Law 11 (FISP) continues to enforce rigorous facade inspections every five years for buildings over six stories. And parking garages are now under heightened scrutiny after the 2023 collapse in Lower Manhattan.

These are not suggestions, they’re enforceable mandates. And failure to comply isn’t just a fine; it can mean liability, insurance issues, and exposure to lawsuits.

You don’t want to play catch-up with compliance.

What an Engineer Actually Does for You

Think of your engineer as a financial advisor for your physical building. We audit, analyze, and advise.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Pre-Purchase Due Diligence: Before you buy, we evaluate the bones of the building, potentially revealing liabilities that could cost you later.

• Condition Assessments: We can identify vulnerabilities before they become highly visible, actionable, or expensive.

• Local Law Compliance: From FISP reports to parking structure inspections, we keep your building in step with NYC’s ever-changing code landscape.

• Renovation and Expansion: Planning a new penthouse or cellar extension? An engineer verifies you’re not compromising the building’s stability.

• Maintenance Planning: We build out long-term capital plans for structural systems — so you budget proactively, not reactively.

In every scenario, our goal is the same: safeguard your building, reduce your liability, and preserve your investment.

The Cost of Waiting

Too many owners think of engineers as the people you call after something goes wrong. But by then, you’ve already lost the advantage.

Let’s put it in numbers. Hiring an engineer to perform a routine condition assessment might cost you $5,000–$15,000. But missing a structural defect in your facade? That’s a six-figure repair, months of scaffolding, and a potential DOB violation on your record.

And if you’re trying to sell or refinance? That violation could impact valuation, insurance premiums, and lender interest.

Waiting doesn’t save you money. It only delays the invoice — and increases the total.

A Clear Plan to Protect Your Property

If you’re ready to move from reactive to proactive building management, here’s how to get started:

1. Engage a Licensed Engineer: Choose someone familiar with NYC building codes and DOB processes.

2. Schedule a Baseline Assessment: Get a current-state picture of your building’s structural health.

3. Map Out a Compliance Calendar: Local Laws 11, 126, 97, and more — know your dates and what’s due.

4. Build a Capital Plan: Prioritize repairs and upgrades over 1, 5, and 10 years to manage risk and cost.

5. Stay in Touch: Your engineer should be part of your ongoing management team, not a once-a-decade consultant.

The Stakes Are High - So Are the Rewards

Buildings that are structurally sound, well-documented, and compliant don’t just avoid fines, they perform better. They retain value. They attract stronger tenants. They’re easier to refinance and faster to sell.

In other words, buildings that are engineered for longevity become assets that work for you, not against you.

So, if you’re a building owner, manager, or developer in NYC, don’t wait for a Local Law violation to make that call.

Partner with a professional engineer. Because the best problems are the ones that never happen.

Important Deadlines Reminder:

New York City Deadlines

PIPS – Parking Structures (Brooklyn)

• Deadline: December 31, 2025

• All parking structures in Brooklyn must file their full PIPS Condition Assessment Report with DOB by this date.

• Annual observations are required between filing cycles to monitor any deterioration.

Annual Parking Reports

• All parking garages must complete an annual observation each year.

• These reports help track conditions between the 6-year PIPS filing cycles.

Parapet Inspections

• Required annually for most buildings (excluding 1–2 family homes).

• Deadline: December 31 each year.

• No DOB filing required, but inspection records must be kept for six years.

New Jersey – Condo Inspection Law (S2760)

• Structural inspections now required for residential condos and co-ops.

• Initial inspections:

• Buildings 15+ years old — due by January 8, 2026.

• Newer buildings — due within 1 year of the 15^th anniversary of C.O.

• Reserve studies: should have been updated or completed by January 8, 2025 if older than 5 years. The new law mandates that studies must be updated at least every 5 years. 

• Re-inspections every 5–10 years depending on building age.

Joe DiPompeo, PE is president of Structural Workshop, LLC, Mountain Lakes, N.J.