Confirm which NYC code applies from the filing date, then trace the zoning and code analysis, occupancy, construction class, egress, fire protection, and MEP references through the drawings. Projects filed on or after November 7, 2022 generally follow the 2022 NYC Construction Codes; the design professional and DOB decide compliance.
What does the NYC Construction Codes cover?
The 2022 NYC Construction Codes are part of Title 28 of the city’s Administrative Code. The Department of Buildings publishes them as the General Administrative Provisions and the New York City Plumbing, Building, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Codes, alongside the separately updated Energy Conservation Code and Electrical Code.
Buildings Bulletin 2022-007 states that Local Law 126 of 2021 enacted the 2022 NYC Construction Codes, effective November 7, 2022, and that they apply to projects filed on or after that date, with exceptions for certain earlier applications. The DOB 2022 Construction Codes page lists the NYC Existing Building Code as effective July 17, 2027. Both checked October 1, 2026.
Plan exam objections, filing, and the DOB review path are covered in the NYC plan check guide; this page covers reviewing the drawings against the code itself. Some facts appear on both pages. Projects elsewhere in New York State follow the state code listed on the New York page.
Collect the code analysis and the sheets it governs
Collect the zoning and building code analysis, occupancy and construction classification notes, egress and fire protection plans, floor plans and sections, door schedule, structural general notes, and the plumbing, mechanical, and fuel gas drawings. Add the energy analysis and any DOB bulletins the design relies on.
Check that every discipline cites the same code year. A project that started under the 2014 codes and was refiled can carry references to both.
Trace NYC code references through the set
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Code year | Cover sheet, code analysis, each discipline’s notes | Confirm one code year is used, based on the filing date. |
| Occupancy and construction class | Code analysis, floor plans, wall types | Match classifications to the current plans and sections. |
| Egress | Egress plans, floor plans, door schedule, stair sections | Trace each route and exit through the current plans. |
| Fire protection | Code analysis, sprinkler, standpipe, and alarm drawings | Check that systems the analysis relies on appear in the system drawings. |
| Plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas | MEP drawings and notes, equipment schedules | Confirm each trade cites the NYC code for its work. |
| Energy | Energy analysis, envelope details, equipment schedules | Match the energy analysis to the drawings and its applicable edition. |
The IBC guide describes the model-code checks the NYC Building Code builds on, and the NFPA 14 standpipe guide covers a system NYC high-rises depend on.
Example: one discipline cites the 2014 codes
Hypothetical example. A project filed after November 2022 cites the 2022 NYC Building Code on the architectural code analysis, while the plumbing general notes and riser diagrams still cite the 2014 NYC Plumbing Code from an earlier design phase.
The architectural code analysis cites the 2022 NYC Construction Codes, while the plumbing notes cite the 2014 Plumbing Code. Please confirm the code year that applies to this filing and coordinate the plumbing references.
The design team confirms the code year from the filing date and updates the plumbing notes. The conflict is a coordination question; DOB decides the code basis.
Review NYC drawings with Groundbook
Upload the current drawings and specifications to Groundbook, and state the code edition, amendments, and review scope in your instructions. Add the applicable NYC Construction Codes from a copy you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading it, and add the jurisdiction’s published amendments. See how Groundbook works with local and licensed codes.
Compare the code analysis and each discipline’s NYC code references with the current plans, egress and fire protection drawings, and MEP drawings. Flag mixed code years and conflicting classifications. Use the supplied NYC Construction Codes and DOB bulletins where applicable and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the sheets and references involved. Verify the filing date and code year before sending a comment.
Document review does not replace DOB plan examination, professional certification, or zoning review, and does not approve a filing.