New York City storefronts that still drop solid metal gates at closing time are officially on the clock. The Department of Buildings took to X on Feb. 25, 2026 to remind property owners that roll-down security grilles on buildings classified as Business (Group B) or Mercantile (Group M) must meet a visibility standard by July 1, 2026. Owners are being told to check their Certificate of Occupancy or the building code to confirm whether the rules cover their particular storefront.
What the rule requires
The regulation says that horizontal or vertical grilles installed along the sidewalk must allow at least 70 percent visibility when they are closed. Any grille that was installed or replaced on or after July 1, 2011 has to hit that 70 percent mark no later than July 1, 2026, according to the Department of Buildings. The advisory ties the schedule to Local Law 75 of 2009 and flags the relevant sections of the 2022 Building Code.
Who it covers and how to check
The rule applies to properties listed in the code as Occupancy Group B (Business) and Group M (Mercantile). That category covers offices, many service businesses and a wide range of retail storefronts, as laid out in the building code. Owners who are not sure where they fall are being urged to check their Certificate of Occupancy or consult the full use list in the New York City Building Code (BC 302.1).
Costs, permits and penalties
Ignoring the rule can cost you. Noncompliance can trigger violations and fines, and the City Council file tied to Local Law 75 sets minimum penalties of $250 for a first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent violation. Owners who fix the issue and file a certificate within 90 days may be able to avoid a penalty, according to the City Council.
The advisory also notes that replacing a gate is not always as simple as calling a metal shop. The work may require permits and, in some cases, a registered design professional. For the paperwork side of things, the department points owners to DOB NOW and its storefront checklists for filing guidance, according to the Department of Buildings.
How to comply
Owners are being urged to start with a basic question: is your current grille a solid metal curtain that blocks the view into the space, or an open-grille or mesh-style model? If it is a solid panel, you will likely need to swap it for a curtain that provides at least 70 percent visibility when closed. Many manufacturers publish visibility specs for their standard patterns, which can help confirm whether a proposed replacement meets the rule.
For step-by-step instructions and a quick checklist on when a permit or design professional is needed, owners can review the storefront guidance from the Department of Buildings and contact dobhelp for additional direction.
What this means for small businesses
For small retailers and restaurants that have relied on opaque roll-downs for years, the rule is more than a technical code update. It could mean a sizable bill for new gates and a scramble to line up installers before the July 2026 deadline. The law also instructs the department to coordinate outreach with the Department of Small Business Services and local business groups so owners can get help navigating permits and possible funding options. Details on the outreach requirement and enforcement provisions are laid out in the City Council file…