DOB Inspection Matrix
Maps a project’s scope of work to required special and progress inspections under Chapter 17 of the NYC Building Code (BC §1705) and the DOB NOW Technical Reports schedule (TR1–TR8, updated November 2025).
Project Information
“Major Building” drives the minimum Special Inspection Agency class per 1 RCNY 101-06(c)(4) — see notes below the matrix. If unsure, check with your expediter/PE of record.
Build the Scope of Work
Click a project area to reveal specific yes/no characteristics. Each characteristic you select is weighted (1–5) against the special inspections it triggers — no typing, no keyword guessing. The checklist and matrix below update live as you go.
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Review & Adjust Special Inspections
Items highlighted gold with a NEEDED tag were auto-checked from your selections above (score ≥4/5). Items tagged POSSIBLE scored 2–3/5 — review and check manually if applicable. Anything can be overridden by hand.
Special Inspection Matrix
| Special Inspection Item | BC Section | Phase | Min. Special Inspector Qualification | Agency Class Note | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No items generated yet. Complete Section 2 and click “Generate Matrix.” | ||||||
Class key:
CLASS 1/2 ONLY underpinning, mechanical demolition, and excavation sheeting/shoring/bracing >10 ft must be performed by a Class 1 or Class 2 registered agency (1 RCNY 101-06(c)(4)(iii) exception).
CLASS 1 LIKELY triggered when “Major Building” is checked — Class 2 agencies are barred from new major-building construction, full demolition of a major building, large alterations (≥1 full story removed, or ≥20,000 sf / 20% partial demolition), or enlargements >10,000 sf.
CLASS 1/2/3 no major-building restriction applies; class is otherwise a function of project size only.
SEPARATE PROGRAM not a standard TR1 Special Inspection Agency item — governed by its own DOB/OTCR/FDNY review track (see Energy Storage Systems below).
PROGRESS INSPECTION a DOB NOW Technical Report (TR1–TR8) milestone inspection performed by the applicant/RDP of record over the course of construction — not a registered Special Inspection Agency item and has no Class 1/2/3 designation.
Not covered by this matrix: Facade Inspection Safety Program / FISP (Local Law 11/1998, renumbered under Local Law 126/2021, Admin Code §28-105.1) and Local Law 152 periodic gas piping inspections are periodic, filing-cycle obligations tied to the building itself rather than to this project’s scope of work — they apply on their own schedules regardless of what’s checked above. Battery/Energy Storage Systems (1 RCNY 101-19, effective 10/26/2025) are included here as a flag because they’re new and easy to miss, but they run through OTCR site-specific review and independent peer review rather than a standard registered Special Inspection Agency. Progress Inspections and TR8 Energy Code Progress Inspections (DOB NOW Technical Reports, updated November 2025) are now included as scope-triggered items — confirm the mandatory/conditional designation for your specific work type(s) against the current DOB NOW Technical Reports list before filing, since some are auto-populated by DOB NOW based on job type rather than by manual selection.
Frequency (continuous vs. periodic) is set at the sub-task level within each BC §1705 provision (e.g., concrete placement is typically continuous, while formwork/rebar review is periodic) and is not summarized per-category here — confirm against the specific BC §1705.x subsection and your TR1 scope of inspection before filing.
Disclaimer
This tool is a planning aid, not a substitute for a Registered Design Professional’s determination or DOB NOW filing. Special inspection code sections reflect the 2022 NYC Construction Codes per DOB Buildings Bulletin 2022-014 (the 2022/2014 crosswalk) and 1 RCNY 101-06 Appendix A (special inspector qualifications). Progress inspection categories (TR1, TR8, and related milestones) reflect the DOB NOW Technical Reports list, updated November 2025. Always verify current requirements, applicable Buildings Bulletins, and TR scope against the DOB NOW system before filing.