Yonkers, NY Building Safety: Scaffold & Sidewalk Shed (2026)

City Code § 56-98A ties the requirement to state rules: scaffolding must be used whenever the New York Uniform Code and 12 NYCRR 23 call for it, or whenever the Commissioner otherwise directs it. Subsection B requires a permit from the Department before any scaffolding is erected, and when scaffolding will go up over a public street, way or sidewalk, approval from other City departments is required before the Department issues that permit. Under Subsection C, a scaffolding permit expires by limitation, and all scaffolding erected under it must come down, within six months of issuance; the Commissioner may renew an expiring permit once for either a 90-day or 180-day period, but only if the permit has not already been revoked, suspended or expired, the application information is current, the associated building permit is in compliance, the renewal fee is paid, a building permit has actually been obtained for the underlying work, and construction activity is genuinely underway.

Subsection D is the enforcement teeth: if scaffolding must stay up for safety reasons but no construction activity is underway, the Commissioner may impose a fine of $500 per week on the property. 75 per linear foot per story or section.