New York City Local Law 154 Timelines

New York City (NYC) introduced Local Law 154 (LL154), also known as the NYC Building Electrification Law, in December of 2021. This law will serve to replace the usage of fossil fuels with electricity to supply new buildings with power for cooking, heating, and/or hot water.

How will LL154 be implemented?

LL154 will affect applications for new buildings within the five boroughs of NYC beginning in January of 2024. Applications pertaining to existing buildings, such as renovations, repairs, and equipment replacements, will not be affected by this law. LL154 will initially apply to buildings below seven stories. Then, beginning in 2027, the law will also include buildings seven stories and taller.

The phaseout of fossil fuels will proceed in stages, mostly affecting residential buildings. The LL154 “What You Need to Know . . .” bulletin released by the NYC Department of Buildings provides the dates by which applications for new buildings must comply with LL154 requirements. The following breakdown is excerpted from the bulletin:

• “January 1, 2024: for Group R-3 (1,2 family homes) and all occupancies less than 7 stories (excluding Service HW [service hot water])
• December 31, 2024: for NYC School Construction Authority projects
• December 31, 2025: for Affordable Housing less than 7 stories (excluding Service HW)
• July 2, 2027: for all occupancies (includes Service HW)
• December 31, 2027: for Affordable Housing 7 stories or taller (includes Service HW)”

Various occupancies will be exempt from LL154, including:

• Laboratories
• Laundromats
• Hospitals and crematoriums
• Commercial kitchens
• Wastewater treatment or food waste facilities
• Manufacturing facilities
• Emergency backup power
• Emergency management facilities

By limiting the usage of fossil fuels in new buildings, NYC hopes to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the building construction sector.

Walden is actively tracking changes to building-related rules, as well as updates to regulations and laws pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Read our blog on a similar New York State law banning the installation of natural gas appliances in new buildings here. Contact Walden today at 516-559-6976 to learn more about the changes LL154 will bring to the construction and energy usage industries.