I keep telling myself it’s temporary, but the sidewalk bridge outside my building on 1st Ave near 110th has been up since before summer and it’s starting to feel like part of the neighborhood. The landlord swears it’s for facade work, the super just shrugs, and the kids from the school down the block use the poles as a jungle gym. I don’t really mind the shade, but the bodega entrance underneath is now a cave and the metal plates rattle every time a bus passes. I’ve seen those little DOB stickers but I can’t make heads or tails of them. Is there a city database where you can check if the permit is active? Or do I just accept that this is our version of a stoop now?

Oh wow, I just moved over by 110th and I walk under that thing every morning to get my iced coffee. I honestly thought it was permanent, like part of the building. It’s so dark under there. Do you know if the green construction fences on the side streets have permits too? I assumed if something stays up long enough, it’s just the building’s choice. Is there a number to call or do I just have to deal with it? Thanks for asking this, I felt too silly to bring it up.

OP, the sticker is actually useful. If you can get close enough, there should be an alphanumeric permit number on it. Then you can search the DOB's Building Information System (BIS) by the building address. The sidewalk shed itself usually gets listed under the building’s facade work. The key thing to look for is whether the permit is expired or just inactive. If it’s expired, you can file a 311 complaint for an illegal sidewalk shed, and DOB has to send an inspector, though "has to" can mean six weeks later.

I dealt with one in Astoria that stayed up for two full years. The permit was technically active because the landlord kept renewing it, but the work never started. In that case, the city can’t force removal if the permit is current — the owner has the right to keep it as long as the permit allows. Still, a 311 complaint with a photo and the address can help if it’s truly expired or the plates are loose. You can also ask the landlord in writing for the DOB number and the expected completion date. They may ignore you, but having the request documented matters if you ever go to the community board or try to get your local council member involved.

One caveat: a shed can be kept up for inspection cycles even if no one is actively working. Some owners put it up a year in advance and then wait for a contractor. It’s ugly, but legal. The bodega owner might have better luck calling 311 from their side too — commercial tenants get a different response than residential callers.

I’m not even in East Harlem but there’s one on the corner of my block in Dyker that’s been up since I was a kid, I swear. Do these things get taken down and reused somewhere else, or do they just rust in place? Also @big_city_beth, I always thought the green fences were just part of the street too. Now I’m wondering if my bus stop has been under an illegal shed for years. @astoria_arch, when you call 311 do they actually tell you anything or is it just a tracking number? The noise from the plates is the worst part near me.

I just had a crew put one of these up outside my place yesterday at 7am with zero notice. I didn’t know what was happening until the metal beams were already on the sidewalk. This thread is making me feel like I should get the number off the sticker now before it becomes a permanent fixture. @DykerNewbie, I’ve wondered about the reuse thing too — seems like such a waste. Does anyone know if there’s a rule about how early they can start banging around? I was about to go downstairs in my pajamas.

Appreciate the responses. @astoria_arch, you were right about the BIS site. I grabbed the number off the sticker this morning, and the permit actually expired in March. Filed a 311 complaint and uploaded a photo of the sticker and the loose plate near the curb. The super gave me a weird look when he saw me taking pictures, but I’m not trying to get anyone in trouble — I just want the light back.

@big_city_beth, the green construction fences do have permits too, same system. If one is blocking the whole sidewalk and there’s no pedestrian detour, that’s a separate 311 category. Don’t be embarrassed, we all learn when something blocks our coffee path.

@DykerNewbie, from what I can see, they do get taken down and trucked elsewhere if the permit is closed out. But some sit so long they might as well be landmarks. I’ll update if DOB actually shows up before winter.