What's happening
This bill allows New York City to regulate or ban chain stores through zoning laws if done for a valid public purpose.
Why it matters
Empowers New York City to directly address the spread of chain stores. (“formula retail”) by letting local zoning laws regulate or ban them, potentially protecting neighborhood character and small businesses.
Defines “formula retail” broadly. (based on standardized features and a presence of at least 11 similar stores nationwide), meaning the law could affect a wide range of chain stores, not just the largest brands.
Requires any regulation or ban to serve a “valid public purpose” and be part of a comprehensive plan,. adding a layer of legal justification that could help the city defend such rules against lawsuits from large retail corporations.
May influence real estate development and commercial rents,. as limits on chain stores could increase opportunities for local and independent businesses, but might also affect consumer choice and commercial property values.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Chain Stores in Zoning
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
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.
Limit Chain Stores in Zoning
In Senate Committee · Cities · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6084
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 27, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. EPSTEIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the New York city charter, in relation to authorizing the enactment of zoning laws and ordinances to regulate formula retail uses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 200-a to read as follows:
§ 200-a. Formula retail uses. a. For the purposes of this section, the term "formula retail use" shall mean a retail sales establishment which, along with ten or more other retail sales establishments located in the United States, maintains two or more of the following features: a standardized array of merchandise, a standardized facade, a standardized decor and color scheme, a uniform apparel, standardized signage, a trademark or a servicemark.
b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, zoning resolutions enacted pursuant to section two hundred of this chapter may include the regulation, restriction or prohibition of formula retail uses where enacted pursuant to a comprehensive plan and a valid public purpose.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08560-01-9
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.