Document Pre-Demolition Conditions of Adjacent Properties
domain: nyc.gov · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
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Steps
Before demolition/excavation begins, commission a pre-construction condition survey of adjacent properties within the zone of influence, documenting cracks, settlement, and plumbness with dated, geotagged photographs and written notes.
Have the survey signed by a licensed engineer where locally required — for example, NYC Technical Policy and Procedure Notice 10/88 requires monitoring of historic structures within a defined distance of construction.
Install crack monitors, settlement pins, or tell-tales on structures showing existing distress or falling within the monitoring radius, and record baseline readings before work starts.
Set vibration and settlement action thresholds based on local requirements or a recognized guideline where no local standard exists, defining a level that halts work if exceeded.
Repeat photographic and instrument documentation periodically during demolition and again at completion to build a clear before/during/after record.
Known gotchas
Requirements for who must conduct the survey and how close adjacent properties must be to trigger monitoring vary significantly by city — verify local rules rather than assuming a uniform standard.
Skipping baseline documentation shifts the burden of proof onto the demolition contractor if a neighboring property later files a damage claim, since there's no 'before' record to compare against.
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