Council action affects suspensions and revocations. By a vote of 47-0, the City Council passed two amendments to the Department of Buildings’ self-certification program. The program allows registered architects and professional engineers to bypass Buildings’ review of their plans by self-certifying that the project complies with zoning laws and the building code.

The amendments eliminate the self-certification program for certain types of work, including all demolitions as well as changes to egress, use or occupancy for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings.

The amendments also allow Buildings’ Commissioner, after a hearing at OATH, to suspend or revoke engineers’ and architects’ self-certification privileges. Grounds for suspension or revocation include knowingly or negligently certifying plans that contain false information, as well as submission within a 12-month period of two sets of certified plans that Buildings later revokes or that demonstrate incompetence or lack of knowledge. Buildings may adopt rules adding additional grounds for suspension or revocation. (read more…)