June 30, 2025<\/p>\n
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n New York, NY – At today\u2019s New York City Council Stated Meeting, the Council unanimously passed Introduction 1281-2025, legislation authored and championed by Council Member Eric Dinowitz, that postpones the enforcement of Local Law 157 (Gas Detector Mandate) from May 1, 2025 to no earlier than January 1, 2027.<\/p>\n The bill also requires the Department of Buildings (DOB) to certify that compliant natural gas detectors are readily available before enforcement can begin. If the DOB cannot determine that a sufficient number of compliant manufacturers are available, the compliance deadline would extend to January 1, 2029.<\/p>\n The bill was approved by the Council\u2019s Committee on Housing and Buildings prior to today\u2019s vote. At the pre-Stated Meeting press conference in City Hall\u2019s Red Room, Speaker Adrienne Adams invited Council Member Dinowitz to speak on the urgency of pausing enforcement to protect New Yorkers from penalties related to a law that currently cannot be implemented effectively.<\/p>\n Local Law 157 was enacted to improve gas safety following deadly explosions in 2014 and 2015 that killed 10 people and injured more than 70, but its implementation has faced serious obstacles – including device shortages, high costs, and a recent recall of the only feasible, legally compliant gas detector on the market.<\/p>\n In April, Council Member Dinowitz and 17 Council colleagues wrote to the DOB requesting a compliance extension. The DOB responded that only legislation could amend the deadline, prompting Dinowitz to introduce Int. 1281-2025. Currently, only one device, manufactured by DeNova, meets both legal and NFPA standards. However, DeNova is experiencing significant supply chain delays and cannot fulfill orders in time. Additionally, over 26,000 units were recently recalled for failing to sound upon gas detection, and prices have increased due to tariffs – compounding the barriers to compliance.<\/p>\n \u201cThis legislation is about protecting public safety while ensuring fairness for tenants, homeowners, and property managers,\u201d said Council Member Eric Dinowitz<\/strong>. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Speaker Adams, Housing and Buildings Chair Pierina Sanchez, and my Council colleagues for advancing this bill quickly and collaboratively. This is what responsive, effective policymaking looks like – and I\u2019m proud we got this done so New Yorkers don\u2019t have to worry about unfair penalties hanging over their heads.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cAs City lawmakers, we fully support the mandate to install gas detectors in residential buildings\u2014this is an important measure to protect New Yorkers and save lives. But for any safety requirement to be effective, it must also be feasible,\u201d said Council Member Erik Bottcher.<\/strong> \u201cIt has become clear that the technology required to implement Local Law 157 is not yet widely available and remains prohibitively expensive for many property owners. By extending the compliance timeline, we are ensuring that the Department of Buildings can implement this life-saving law in a way that is practical, safe, and equitable. This extension does not change the law\u2019s intent\u2014it reinforces it. I am eager to vote on this legislation that will help ensure the law\u2019s success citywide. Thank you to my colleague, Council Member Dinowitz for his leadership on this important reform.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to the City Council, especially Council member Dinowitz, for quickly responding to this urgent situation by passing Int. 1281,\u201d said President & CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC) Vijay Dandapani.<\/strong> \u201cWithout this bill, countless hotels would have been forced to shut down for weeks to meet the requirements of this mandate. This would have occurred as New York is reckoning with a dramatic drop in tourism. While we hope in the future technology will be available to fulfill the goals of the law, we deeply appreciate that the Council recognized this is not the case now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCouncil Member Dinowitz heard our concerns loud and clear. When our co-ops and condos couldn\u2019t access the number of natural gas detectors we needed to protect our residents, he listened – and he and the City Council have taken real action,\u201d said President of the Association of Riverdale Cooperatives and Condominiums (ARC) Julia Engel<\/strong>. \u201cThis legislation is a direct response to the frustrations and challenges our buildings face, and it\u2019s exactly the kind of common-sense, safety-first policy we need. We\u2019re proud to have a Council Member who not only understands the unique needs of our community, but actually steps up to address them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaking apartments safer for renters by requiring natural gas detectors is important, and property owners support efforts to make this happen,\u201d said President of the Bronx Realty Board and Building Owner Billy Schur.<\/strong> \u201cBut with the chaos of tariffs creating supply shortages, pushing back the deadline is needed. We are thankful that Council Member Dinowitz understands this and has introduced and passed a bill to do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" June 30, 2025<\/p>\n FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n New York, NY – At today\u2019s New York City Council Stated Meeting, the Council unanimously passed Introduction 1281-2025, legislation authored and championed by Council Member Eric Dinowitz, that postpones the enforcement of Local Law 157 (Gas Detector Mandate) from May 1, 2025 to no earlier than January 1, 2027.<\/p>\n …<\/p>\n