Developers violating stop-work orders now subject to greater fines, jail time. The City Council unanimously approved two bills, increasing the penalties for violating stop work orders or undertaking illegal demolition work on one- and two-family homes. Council Speaker Christine Quinn explained that the changes would improve construction safety by deterring builders from working without proper permits. Council Member Vincent Gentile noted that builders would no longer be able to write off fines and penalties as a cost of doing business.

The Council raised the fines for failing to comply with a stop-work order from a flat $500 per violation to an incremental structure with a $2,000 fine for the first violation, $5,000 for the second, and $10,000 for each additional violation. The penalties must be paid before the Department of Buildings will allow work to continue. (read more…)