What's happening
This bill requires building owners in New York to clearly display street numbers and imposes fines for noncompliance.
Why it matters
Improves emergency response. By mandating that building street numbers are always clearly visible from the sidewalk, the bill aims to help first responders like police, fire, and emergency medical personnel quickly locate addresses during emergencies—potentially saving lives and property.
Creates local flexibility. The bill gives each city the authority to set its own standards for the size, form, and placement of street numbers, allowing for rules that fit local conditions while still maintaining a statewide requirement for visibility.
Enforces compliance with penalties. Owners who do not display proper street numbers after receiving a 30-day notice can be fined $25, with an additional $5 penalty for each subsequent day of noncompliance, providing a financial incentive to adhere to the law and maintain visible addresses.
Targets all responsible parties. The requirements and penalties apply not only to building owners, but also to agents, lessees, and anyone in charge of the property, ensuring that responsibility cannot be easily avoided.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Building Number Displays
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to local governments
- 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.
Require Building Number Signs
In Senate Committee · Local Government · Sponsor Phil Boyle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1010
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to requiring identification numbers to be displayed on certain buildings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent and purpose. It is the intent of this legislature to ensure the prompt response of designated agencies to emergency calls and situations. During emergencies time is of the essence and precious moments may be lost when fire, police and other emergency personnel are unable to quickly locate those in need. The legislature therefore declares that it is necessary to require that all premises be identified through the display of their numerical address in a conspicuous location.
§ 2. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 125-b to read as follows:
§ 125-b. Street numbers. 1. Requirements. The owner, agent, lessee or other person in charge of any building upon a street to which street numbers of buildings have been assigned, in which such building is situated, shall cause the proper street number or numbers of such buildings to be displayed in such manner that the street number or numbers may at all times be plainly legible from the sidewalk in front of such building. The term "front" as used in this section shall be construed to mean that side of the building which faces the street on which the number or numbers of such building, or premises on which such building is situated, have been allotted. The number or numbers shall be displayed on such side of such building or premises. Each city shall have the power to establish and enforce rules and regulations relating to the size, form, visibility and location of street numbers in accordance with the requirements of this section.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04562-01-9
A. 1010 2
2. Violations. If the owner, lessee, agent or other person in charge of any building in any city upon a street to which street numbers of buildings have been assigned in which such building is situated shall fail to display the proper street number of such building, as provided in the foregoing subdivision, the city in which such building is situated shall forthwith serve such person or persons with a copy of this section, and if after thirty days' notice the owner, lessee, agent or other person in charge of such building shall fail or neglect to comply with the provisions thereof, he or she shall be subject to a penalty of twenty-five dollars, which shall be sued for and collected in the name of the city. Any person who shall continue any such violation shall be punished by an additional fine of five dollars for each day such violation shall continue.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.