New Laws & Regs

City Council Passes Additional Lead Paint Laws

August 24, 2023    

Automatic audits of self-inspections, mandated abatement, and a new inspection program are on deck.

 

 

Owners Now Required to Disclose Flood Risks to Tenants

June 22, 2023    

New York State is joining a handful of other states that have enacted flood disclosure laws for renters to ensure they are made aware of potential flood risks to apartments before it’s too late. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of disasters, lawmakers hope to provide...

New Deadlines for Phasing Out Fuel Oil Grade No. 4 Boilers

March 24, 2023    

The maximum penalty for burning No. 4 oil after the phase-out dates has been increased to $10,000.

 

Mayor Signs Laws to Strengthen Fire Safety

March 24, 2023    

The legislation responds to the risks related to e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries.

 

Although e-bikes and e-scooters are an affordable and convenient alternative to cars, the fires caused by the batteries that power such micromobility devices are a significant problem in...

Council Unanimously Votes to Expand Rights of Elderly Tenants

February 21, 2023    

New York City’s population of older adults, which currently represents 20 percent of the city’s entire population, will grow as the Baby Boomer generation ages. A 2021 CUNY Graduate Center study reports that the population of adults ages 65 and older in New York State will increase...

DSNY Publishes Final Rules to Reduce Hours Trash Stays on Streets

December 21, 2022    

In our November 2022 issue, we covered new trash rules proposed by the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) governing the time for placing solid waste and recyclable materials at the curb for collection. On Nov. 19, DSNY held a public hearing on the proposed rules. Since then, DSNY recently...

DOB Releases Proposed Local Law 97 Compliance Regulations

October 25, 2022    

Owners get more climate protection law details ahead of 2024 deadline.

 

The DOB recently issued draft regulations to implement Local Law 97 of 2019 (LL97). In 2019, the City Council passed LL97 with ambitious goals to tackle climate change by putting carbon caps on the city...

DSNY Proposes New Trash Collection Rules

October 25, 2022    

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) recently announced the opening of the public comment period for new proposed rules regarding when to put out garbage for collection. The aim of the new rules is to reduce the number of hours trash and recycling will sit on New York City sidewalks...

City Council Votes to Require Self-Closing Door Inspections

June 28, 2022    

On June 2, the City Council voted on legislation requiring inspections for self-closing doors in residential buildings. This is an additional fire safety measure to prevent fire tragedies, and it complements the recent legislative package that was passed in May and signed into law on June 1....

Governor Signs Hotel Conversion Bill

June 28, 2022    

On June 7, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law New York State Senate Bill S4937C. This law allows hotels that are already authorized as Class B hotels to rent rooms for permanent residence purposes and unlocks $200 million in state funds to finance the conversions. The bill cites both the lack...

City Council Seeks to Strengthen Fire Safety Rules

May 19, 2022    

At a recent City Council hearing, councilmembers questioned fire and housing department leaders on the city’s safety inspections of residential buildings in the wake of a January fire at a high-rise in the Bronx that left 17 people dead. The Bronx apartment building fire, the city's...

City Council Passes Legislation to Limit Fees for Early Vacancies

December 21, 2021    

On Nov. 23, 2021, the City Council passed Int. 2312-A, which amends the landlord’s duty to mitigate damages for an early vacancy of a leased residence. Specifically, it limits the fees owners can collect from tenants who vacate before the end of a lease to prepare the property for the next...