Construction Injury Newsroom

Buildings Department Releases Monthly Build Report

Permits Rose 6% in the Bronx as Inspections Performed Increased 23.4%

Buildings Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster, FAIA, today announced that the Buildings Department Bronx Borough Office issued more building permits, increased the number of inspections, and audited more professionally-certified applications in October as compared to the same period of time last year. The numbers were published today in the Building Understanding, Integrity, Leadership, and Dedication (BUILD) Report. Published monthly, BUILD provides a citywide overview of the Department's performance delivering services and enforcing the Building Code and Zoning Resolution.

In October 2007, the Buildings Department's Bronx Borough Office received 877 construction-related complaints. During this same period, inspectors and plan examiners in the Bronx Borough Office:

• Performed 1,991 construction inspections, a 23.4% increase from October 2006
• Responded to 100% of emergency complaints within the target time frame
• Audited 25% of professionally-certified permit applications received, surpassing the target of 20%

“Just like Compstat has helped the New York Police Department identify crime trends, our BUILD Reports allow us to hold ourselves accountable and identify trends and areas for improvement, so that we can strategically allocate resources accordingly,” said Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster. “Today's numbers demonstrate that we are increasing scrutiny of professionally-certified permit applications in the Bronx. The hard work our staff has put into transforming the Buildings Department is starting to deliver results. However, we still have a lot of work ahead. With construction activity maintaining a stable pace, we must be proactive in our duties to ensure all developments in the City are built safely and in compliance with building and zoning regulations.”