What's happening
This bill allows the New York City buildings commissioner to waive or modify certain multiple dwelling law requirements in cases of hardship.
Why it matters
Expands flexibility for housing development. By allowing the buildings commissioner to waive or modify certain requirements, the bill could make it easier to renovate, build, or adapt multiple dwellings in NYC, especially in cases where strict adherence to the law creates obstacles.
Targets “practical difficulties” and “unnecessary hardships”. This gives property owners and developers a formal way to seek relief from rules that may not make sense in all situations, potentially speeding up projects or reducing costs associated with rigid regulations.
Balances flexibility with safety and intent. The bill specifically states that any waivers or modifications must maintain the “spirit and intent” of current law and preserve public health, safety, and welfare, which means not all requests will be granted—there are still clear limits to the commissioner’s discretion.
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Who cares
New York City Department of Buildings
The bill would let the commissioner vary or modify multiple dwelling law requirements when strict compliance causes practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships.
Owners and developers of multiple dwellings in New York City
The bill would create a path to relief from statutory requirements for existing buildings, new construction and alterations.
Residents of multiple dwellings in New York City
Any modifications would have to preserve public health, safety and welfare and maintain the law’s spirit and intent.
Headline styles
Let Buildings Chief Waive Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4036
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the multiple dwelling law, in relation to granting the commissioner of buildings of the city of New York the power to waive provisions of the multiple dwelling law with regard to the construction or alteration of multiple dwellings in such city
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The multiple dwelling law is amended by adding a new section 15 to read as follows:
§ 15. Variations. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this chapter, for multiple dwellings erected, to be erected or altered in any city with a population of one million or more, where compliance with the strict letter of this chapter causes any practical difficulties or any unnecessary hardships, the commissioner of buildings of such city shall have the power, provided the spirit and intent of this chapter are maintained and public health, safety and welfare are preserved, to vary or modify any provision or requirement of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07261-01-9
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.