Answer six quick questions about your building and get an instant, personalized assessment of your fire escape's compliance risk — plus exactly what to do next.
Fire escape compliance depends on your building's height, the condition of the escape, and your inspection history. Buildings over six stories must comply with FISP (Local Law 11) inspection cycles; all buildings must keep their fire escapes structurally safe and free of significant corrosion or damage. The compliance checker above gives you a personalized risk assessment in about a minute, and a licensed contractor can confirm with an on-site inspection.
Yes, for buildings taller than six stories. Local Law 11 / the Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) requires periodic inspection of a building's exterior, including fire escapes, by a qualified professional on a five-year cycle. Buildings six stories and under are exempt from FISP filings but still must maintain their fire escapes in safe condition.
Buildings subject to FISP follow the program's recurring five-year inspection cycle. For all buildings, a professional inspection and repainting every few years is a sound practice — older iron and steel fire escapes benefit from more frequent attention because they corrode faster.
A fire escape violation from the DOB carries a base penalty plus daily accrual that begins after a cure period, escalating toward an OATH/ECB hearing if left unaddressed. The fastest way to limit exposure is to begin documented correction work with a licensed contractor and file a Certificate of Correction. You can estimate your potential exposure with our DOB Violation Risk Calculator.
You can do a useful preliminary self-assessment — which is exactly what the checker above provides — by evaluating your building height, the escape's age and condition, your inspection history, and your violation status. However, only a licensed contractor or qualified professional can perform an official inspection and certify compliance.
Cost depends on the building's height and the scope of work — a basic inspection and repaint is far less than structural restoration. NYC Fire Escape Painting provides free on-site estimates. Most routine painting and rust-remediation projects in Manhattan range from $1,500–$4,500 depending on the building.
NYC Fire Escape Painting is a licensed contractor providing fire escape repair, restoration, and violation correction across NYC. We are known for fast response, code-compliant work, and documented inspection support.