What's happening
This bill requires local construction laws with higher standards than state codes to take effect only after council approval.
Why it matters
Shifts power from local governments to the state council. , meaning localities can no longer immediately enforce stricter construction standards—they must wait for state-level approval, potentially slowing down local responses to community safety or environmental needs.
Could limit rapid innovation or responsiveness in local building codes. , especially in regions facing unique local risks (like flood or hurricane zones), since enhanced standards can’t be applied until state review and approval are complete.
Centralizes oversight of building regulations. , aiming for greater uniformity across the state, which may benefit builders and developers operating in multiple jurisdictions—but could frustrate communities wanting to address specific local concerns quickly.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Towns Set Stricter Codes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.348
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 44–18
- 3rd reading cal.417
- Substituted for S4284
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.334
- Rules report cal.334
- Reported
Show 2 earlier actions
- Reported referred to rules
- Referred to local governments
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Stricter Local Building Codes
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Thomas Croci
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6361
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the adoption by local governments of higher or more restrictive standards for construction
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 379 of the executive law, as amended by chapter 772 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
1. Except in the case of factory manufactured homes, intended for use as one or two family dwelling units or multiple dwellings of not more than two stories in height, the legislative body of any local government may duly enact or adopt local laws or ordinances imposing higher or more restrictive standards for construction within the jurisdiction of such local government than are applicable generally to such local government in the uniform code. Within thirty days of such enactment or adoption, the chief executive officer, or if there be none, the chairman of the legislative body of such local government, shall so notify the council, and shall petition the council for a determination of whether such local laws or ordinances are more stringent than the standards for construction applicable generally to such local government in the uniform code. [During the period in which the council is considering such petition, such] Such local laws or ordinances shall [remain in] take full force and effect upon an affirmative determination by the council as provided herein.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00979-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.