The City inspects and licenses amusement rides at street fairs, block parties and special events. This is to ensure the safety of operators and riders. All amusement rides must pass a check by the Department of Buildings (DOB) before use. Examples of rides are:

• Ferris wheels
• Tilt-a-Whirls
• Carousels

Temporary rides, which are used for less than 14 days, need to pass an inspection each time they are set up. If a ride passes, it gets a Green Card. This means the ride is safe. The City needs 12 days' notice to do inspections and process license applications for temporary amusement rides.

• Inspection requests
  Starting March 18, 2022, you must ask for inspections of temporary amusement devices from the NYC Department of Buildings. Use DOB NOW: Safety. Do not send these requests to the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

• Inspection rules
  Read Title 1 of the Rules of the City of New York §3005-10 to know the rules for inspecting temporary amusement devices.

• Permit fees

  • $130 for Temporary Rides Inspection

• Payment methods

  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Mastercard
  • Visa

To reschedule or cancel an inspection:

• Open the request in DOB NOW: Safety.
• From the Inspection(s) tab, select Reschedule or Cancel.
• If you cancel the inspection, you will need to pay another inspection fee to schedule a new inspection.

To submit an inquiry about DOB NOW:

• Visit the DOB NOW Help Form at www.nyc.gov/dobnowhelp.

License Applications

You must file all license applications for amusement devices with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP).

Permanent Installations

You cannot install, dismantle, remove, relocate or reassemble permanent amusement rides without filing an application. The application forms and all required documents must be completed and filed by the owner, amusement park operator or the owner’s representative. The application must be approved by the Department before the amusement device can be used and include:

• The name, address and signature of the amusement device owner

• Complete application and engineering plans signed and sealed by a registered design professional including other reports required by Section 3005-10 of this rule and the manual. Engineering plans, dimensioned to scale, must identify parts and components of amusement devices including, but not limited to, bars, cables, chains, ropes, rods, pipes, girders, braces, fittings, fasteners, trusses, pressure vessels, pressure piping, gears, clutches, speed reducers, welds, bearings, couplings, shaftings, axles, hangers, pivots. carriers (such as tubs, cars, chairs, gondolas or seating and carrying apparatus of any description) and safety bars, belts, harnesses, chains, gates or other restraining, containing or retaining device

• Foundation support and details signed and sealed by a registered design professional

• Trade or descriptive name and model number, if any, of the amusement device together with any identifying numbers

• The name and address of the manufacturer

• Passenger capacity of the amusement device

• An electrical permit, if applicable

• Estimated cost of the device and installation

• Commercial general liability insurance as required by DCWP

Temporary and Portable Installations

For temporary and portable amusement devices, including inflatable ones, the owner, amusement park operator or owner’s representative must file a registration application with the Department. The registration information must be approved by the Department before the amusement device can be used and include:

• The name, address and signature of the amusement device owner

• Trade or descriptive name and model number, if any, of the amusement device

• The name and address of the manufacturer

• Manufacturing date of the amusement device

• Passenger capacity of the amusement device

• Commercial general liability insurance as required by DCWP

Fees

Refer to Table 28-112.2 of the Administrative Code.

Alterations and Modifications

All alterations and modifications to an amusement device must be filed with the Department. Refer to §3005-04 for design guidelines and §3005-06 for device identification requirements.

Dismantling and Removals

All dismantling and removals of permanent amusement devices must be filed with the Department. A registered design professional must sign and sealed these filings to attest that the dismantling and removal of the amusement device would not leave any remaining structure associated with the device unstable or in a compromised condition.

Cease Use Order

If the commissioner determines that the operation of an amusement device may be dangerous to life, health or safety, they may issue a “cease use” order. This order requires the equipment to be shut down, sealed or otherwise made inoperable. A tag or notice must be affixed to the amusement device warning that it is unsafe for operation. It is unlawful to operate the device or remove or deface the tag until the order is lifted.

Adverse Weather Conditions

Amusement devices exposed to strong winds or storms cannot be operated under such conditions, except to release passengers.

Recordkeeping

• Manuals: All amusement deivce manuals must be kept on site and available to the Commissioner upon request.

• Records: All inspection and test records must be kept on site and available to the Commissioner upon request. These records must include:

• Date and nature of all inspections and tests

• Any violation or notice of deficiency issued by NYC and the action taken to fix the problem

• Any repairs and adjustments made to any part of the equipment to ensure safe operating conditions

• Any parts changed or repaired

• The inspectors’ names

• Duration: The amusement park operator must keep current operation, maintenance, inspection and test records for each amusement device for the past year in a maintenance log kept on site. The records must be kept up to date and be made available to the Commissioner on request. The owner must maintain records for the past seven years.

Certification and Revocation

• Certificate of Competency for Amusement Park Operators: Operators must get a Certificate of Competency from the Department by showing they can operate an amusement device safely in normal and emergency situations. Each certificatge must list every device that the applicant will be operating.

• Certificate of Competency for Inflatable Rides: Operators must bring, set up and operate the ride at a location and time set by the Department.

• Duration and renewal: Certificates are valid for one year and can be renewed each year.

• Revocation: After being notified and being given an opportunity to be heard, an operator may have its certificate revoked by the Department for not following the requirements.

Amusement Ride Operator Qualifications

All amusement devices must be operated by a competent person chosen by the owner or operator. Operators must:

• Be 18 years old or older (17 for kiddie ride operators)

• Be free from any physical or mental conditions that could affect the performance of their duties

• Be able to communicate and understand English

• Hold a current certificate of operation from the amusement park operator

• Be trained according to ASTM F 770 by the amusement park operator

Responsibilities

• Owner responsibilities: Refer to general maintenance, device maintenance and recordkeeping requirements.

• Amusement device operator responsibilities: Operators must:

• Pay full attention during operation

• Not use personal telecommunication or listening devices during operation

• Not operate more than one amusement device at a time

• Know and be trained in the use of all normal and emergency controls of the device

• Be within reach of the normal and emergency operating controls during operation. No other person may handle the controls unless the device is designed to be partially or entirely operated or controlled by a passenger

• Not operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Operate the ride according to the manual. An amusement device must not be operated at an unsafe speed or at a speed beyond that recommended by the manufacturer. The operating manual must be kept with the amusement device or in an office on the same location as the device. The manual must be made available for inspection or use by the Department

• Ensure the ride’s electrical disconnect switch is turned off and locked out during maintenance or emergencies. The amusement device must remain locked-out and tagged-out until such time that the restoration of power will not create a hazard

• Not operate an amusement device without a current certificate of compliance

Owner, Amusement Park Operator and Ride Operator Responsibilities

They must refuse admission to an amusement device if:

• The passenger’s health, physical condition or conduct appears unsafe

• The passenger does not meet the specific requirements as per posted height and guardian restrictions

Legible signs displaying these restrictions must be posted in full view of individuals seeking admission.

Amusement Park Operator Responsibilities

• Training of device operators: The operator who holds a Certificate of Competency must train device operators according to ASTM F770 and document the training. All training must be documented in a log which must be kept at the site and made available upon the Department's request.

• Issuing Certificates of Operation: After training, the operator must issue Certificates of Operation to amusement device operators. .

• Affidavit: The operator must provide an affidavit stating that the amusement device operators have been issued certificates and meet the qualifications. Such affidavit must include a government-issued photo identification card of each device operator as well as a list of the amusement devices that he/she has been trained to operate.

• Ensuring compliance: The operator must ensure that the amusement device operators comply with the requirements and revoke certificates if requirements are not met or as directed by the Department and notify the Department of the revocation in writing.

• Inflatable amusement devices: Prior to an event, the amusement park operator must provide the Department with the event location, event dates and written certification verifying that all of the installed inflatable amusement devices comply with the manufacturer's manual and bulletins. The Department may perform an audit of the Certificate of Competency requirements at such an event location.

• Create or log Into eFiling account:
  Use an eFiling account to log into DOB NOW at www.nyc.gov/dobnow. If you do not have an eFiling account, visit www.nyc.gov/dobnowtips to learn how to make one.

• Register your device:

  • Once logged into DOB NOW, select DOB NOW: Safety then Elevator.

  • On the Elevators Safety Filings Dashboard, select +Amusement Device Periodic Inspection.

  • If this is your first time asking for an inspection for the device in DOB NOW, you need to register the device by selecting +Register New Device and entering the required information.

  • DOB NOW will give an AR number to the device. This AR number replaces any old AR number.

• Submit inspection request:
  After registering the device, select the Inspection(s) tab on the left side of the page. Enter the required information about the event and choose an inspection date. You must pay the $130 inspection fee before submitting the inspection request. Send a separate inspection request for each device that needs an inspection.