NYC DOB ViolationsNYC cooling tower annual certification
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Short answer
Registered NYC cooling towers that operated during the year need an annual certification by November 1. Each piece of registered equipment needs its own certification, submitted online by the system permission owner through the NYC Cooling Tower Registration Portal. A health department inspection does not replace it.
What the certification must say
The certification must state that the cooling tower has been inspected, tested, cleaned and disinfected in compliance with Section 17-194.1 of the Administrative Code and Chapter 8 of Title 24 of the Rules of the City of New York. It must also document any corrective actions taken.
How to submit it
- Sign in to your NYC Cooling Tower Registration Portal account and open My Homepage.
- Open the Equipment Page. Each piece of equipment has a registration number starting with the digit 1.
- Click Upload Documents, complete the form and click Submit.
- Keep the emailed receipt in your cooling tower records as proof of upload.
- Repeat for each piece of equipment.
If the tower did not operate
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Did not operate, and is not decommissioned | Upload a statement of non-operation through the same steps |
| Decommissioned, with Health Department email confirmation | No annual certification is needed |
| Decommissioned, but the Health Department was not told | File a decommissioning form through the portal |
Other cooling tower requirements
| Requirement | Timing |
|---|---|
| Legionella sampling | Monthly since May 8, 2026, with no more than 31 days between samples |
| Reporting each sample date in the portal | Within five days of sample collection |
| Hyperhalogenation | Between July 1 and August 31 each year |
| Summertime Hyperhalogenation Declaration Form | Within 30 days of the procedure |
| Keeping maintenance records | At least three years |
Frequently asked questions
When is the NYC cooling tower certification due?
November 1. The city's notice for 2026 set the deadline at November 1, 2026 for all registered towers that operated in 2026.
Does a health department inspection count as the certification?
No. The Health Department regularly inspects cooling tower systems, but the annual certification is a separate filing that the owner uploads through the portal.
Do I need a certification for each tower?
Each piece of registered equipment in the system needs one. For more than one piece of equipment, repeat the submission for each.