New York City’s local laws encompass a comprehensive range of subjects, reflecting the city’s diverse and dynamic nature.

These regulations ensure the safety, sustainability, and well-being of its residents while promoting environmental stewardship and urban resilience. Below are some key categories and notable examples:

1. Building and Construction Regulations

New York City enforces stringent building and construction regulations to maintain the safety and sustainability of its infrastructure. Notable local laws in this category include:

• Local Law 11: Requires regular facade inspections for buildings taller than six stories to ensure structural integrity and protect public safety.

• Local Law 97: Establishes ambitious greenhouse gas emission limits for large buildings, significantly reducing the city’s carbon footprint.

2. Environmental and Energy Conservation

Promoting sustainability and environmental health is a core focus of New York City’s local laws. Key initiatives include:

• Local Law 85: Mandates compliance with the New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) for renovation or alteration projects, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

• Local Laws 92 and 94: Require the installation of green roofs or solar photovoltaic systems on new and certain renovated buildings to increase renewable energy usage and mitigate urban heat.

3. Parking structures / structural integrity

​Local Law 126 of 2021, enacted in New York City, mandates periodic inspections of parking structures to ensure their structural integrity and public safety. Under this law, owners of parking structures are required to engage a New York State licensed and registered Professional Engineer (PE), designated as a Qualified Parking Structure Inspector (QPSI), to conduct these inspections at least once every six years. ​

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Scope of the Law:

The law applies to various types of parking structures, including:​

• Buildings, or portions thereof, used for parking or storing motor vehicles, including spaces inside or under a building.​

• Open parking garages and enclosed parking garages as defined in the NYC Building Code.​

However, certain structures are exempt from these inspection requirements, such as:​

• Autobody and automotive repair shops, automotive showrooms, and automotive service stations.​

• Garages with occupancy of fewer than three cars.​

• Unenclosed, unattached outdoor parking lots.​

• Private garages serving one- and two-family homes.​

Inspection Cycles:

The inspection and reporting deadlines are organized into cycles, further divided into three sub-cycles, based on the Community District where the parking structure is located:​

• Sub-cycle A: Manhattan Community Districts 1 through 7, with the first inspection cycle from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023.​

• Sub-cycle B: Manhattan Community Districts 8 through 12 and all Brooklyn Community Districts, with the first inspection cycle from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.​

• Sub-cycle C: All Community Districts in the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, with the first inspection cycle from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.​

It's important to note that, in addition to the regular inspection cycles, the Department of Buildings has mandated a one-time initial observation of all parking structures in certain Community Districts to be performed and filed by August 1, 2024. ​

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Reporting and Compliance:

Following the inspection, the QPSI must file a condition assessment report with the Department of Buildings (DOB), classifying the parking structure's condition as:​

• Safe: No issues found; the next inspection is due in six years.​

• Safe with Repair and/or Engineering Monitoring (SREM): Conditions that are not immediately hazardous but require repairs or monitoring; an amended report is due within three years.​

• Unsafe: Conditions that pose an immediate hazard; owners must address these issues within 90 days and file an amended report within two weeks of completing the repairs.​

Property owners are responsible for correcting any unsafe conditions within the specified timeframe to ensure public safety. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in penalties.​

For more detailed information and resources, you can visit the NYC Department of Buildings' official page on parking structure inspections.

These local laws exemplify the city’s commitment to fostering a safer, more sustainable, and energy-efficient urban environment. Let me know if you need further elaboration or information on additional local laws.