How long has the scaffolding
on your block been up?

About this tracker

Sidewalk sheds (commonly called scaffolding) are temporary overhead structures installed to protect pedestrians from falling debris during construction, facade repairs, or building inspections. Under NYC Local Law 11, buildings taller than six stories must undergo periodic facade inspections every five years. When inspectors find unsafe conditions, property owners are required to install a sidewalk shed until repairs are complete.

While intended as a short-term safety measure, many sidewalk sheds remain in place for years — sometimes decades. The NYC Department of Buildings issues sidewalk shed permits that must be renewed every three months, but there is no hard limit on how many times a permit can be renewed. The result: thousands of semi-permanent structures blocking sunlight, hurting foot traffic for local businesses, and creating safety concerns of their own.

This tracker uses official NYC DOB NOW permit data (2017 onward). A long “first permit” date at an address means there has been at least one shed there since that year, with renewals since — not necessarily that the same shed has been up continuously. Sheds often come down and go back up across separate construction projects on the same building. If you live near a long-standing sidewalk shed, you can contact your local Community Board or file a 311 complaint requesting an update on the construction timeline.