NYC Passes Intro 994-2024 Establishing New Cooling Requirements for Residential Buildings

The New York City Council has passed Intro 994-2024, now enacted as Local Law No. 23 of 2026, which amends the New York City Administrative Code and Building Code to establish new cooling requirements for tenant-occupied residential buildings, beginning in 2030. The law is intended to address health risks associated with extreme heat and represents a significant expansion of owner obligations during the summer months.

Intro 994-2024 creates a framework requiring owners to provide cooling systems capable of maintaining indoor temperatures at or below 78°F in tenant dwelling units, subject to phased implementation and future rulemaking by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (“HPD”).

Key Provisions

  • Beginning June 1, 2030, owners of tenant-occupied buildings must provide dwelling units with cooling systems capable of maintaining an indoor temperature of no more than 78°F upon a tenant’s request.
  • For buildings with owner-controlled or centralized cooling systems, owners must maintain indoor temperatures at or below 78°F during the designated cooling season, which runs annually from June 15 through September 15.
  • HPD will develop tenant notices explaining how tenants may opt in to receive cooling, the applicable standards, and any potential rent or regulatory implications associated with the installation.
  • The law authorizes hardship extensions for owners who can demonstrate financial, electrical, capital, or technical challenges to compliance. HPD is directed to promulgate rules governing installation standards, compliance timelines, utility cost considerations, and enforcement.
  • HPD must issue annual reports regarding complaints and installations. Violations of the cooling requirements may be classified as hazardous violations.

Why This Matters and Next Steps

Although the law does not take effect immediately, it imposes substantial future obligations on residential building owners and will likely require advance planning, including evaluation of existing cooling infrastructure, electrical capacity, and capital expenditures. Owners should also expect additional guidance and compliance requirements as HPD issues implementing regulations.

Owners should begin assessing how this law may affect their buildings and portfolios, particularly with respect to long-term planning and potential eligibility for hardship relief.

Owners with questions about how Intro 994-2024 applies to a specific building, including cooling system requirements, available hardship relief, and compliance timelines, should contact their KMWB attorney to discuss next steps.

Media Contacts:

Briana Spariosu
Kucker Marino Winiarsky & Bittens, LLP
(212) 869-5030
bspariosu@kuckermarino.com