After years of complaints about New York City’s seemingly permanent forest of construction sheds and scaffolding, the City Council voted Wednesday to approve a package of bills aimed at transforming these structures across the five boroughs.
The legislation tackles what many New Yorkers consider an urban blight: the approximately 8,500 green plywood structures that shroud nearly 400 miles of city sidewalks, with an average lifespan of about 500 days.
“For too long, our city has been covered in over 400 miles of ugly, dingy scaffolding that impacts the experience of everyday New Yorkers, small business owners, and people coming to visit our city,” said Council Member Keith Powers, who sponsored several of the bills.
Among the most significant changes is shortening the duration of sidewalk shed permits for façade repairs from one year to just three months, with exceptions for demolition and new construction projects. The legislation also introduces penalties for property owners who delay necessary repairs or fail to submit required documentation on time.
The reform package addresses aesthetic issues as well. New sheds will need to reach a minimum height of 12 feet, up from the current standard, while lighting requirements will double and shift to LED fixtures. Notably, the traditional hunter green color requirement will be relaxed, with options for metallic gray, white, or colors matching adjacent buildings.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, a long-time advocate for scaffold reform, celebrated the vote. “We finally did it,” he said. “Today we are showing New Yorkers we can solve problems.”
The legislation also authorizes the Department of Buildings to revisit the five-year façade inspection cycle mandated by Local Law 11, potentially extending it to between six and 12 years. New buildings would see their first required inspection delayed from five to eight years after completion.
Small business owners have frequently complained that the structures obscure storefronts and create uninviting pathways for potential customers. Ahmed Maaraba, who works at a dry cleaner on the Upper West Side, told CBS New York that the shed outside his business prevents people from seeing the shop. “People cannot see clearly when they walk in or moving with the car, so it’s a big problem for us,” he said.
The scaffolding industry generates approximately $1.2 billion annually in the city, according to a 2018 report, creating financial incentives that have contributed to delays in removing the structures.
Mayor Eric Adams, who launched a “Get Sheds Down” initiative in July 2023, is expected to sign the legislation. Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo stated that the reforms will “improve safety in New York City while returning valuable sidewalk space back to the public.”
The Department of Buildings is expected to recommend new sidewalk shed designs by September 30, 2025, as part of this overhaul, potentially changing the face of New York’s streetscape for the first time in decades.
