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Council hearing on natural‑gas alarm deadline: Department of Buildings backs a compliance delay, raises technical concerns
Summary
Intro 12‑81, which would delay the compliance deadline for required natural‑gas detectors, was heard and received conditional support from the Department of Buildings; the Department of Buildings raised technical issues about interconnection and market reporting requirements.
Council Member Andrew Dinowitz (introduced in the hearing) and other members asked about Intro 12‑81, legislation that would push back the compliance deadline for the city requirement to install natural‑gas alarms in certain residential buildings until device supply and affordability permit and no earlier than Jan. 1, 2027.
Robert Hollub, executive director for code development at the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), testified that DOB does not object to extending the compliance deadline in principle because industry supply and cost issues have created compliance challenges. Hollub said that DOB adopted the applicable industry standard (NFPA 715) by rule in 2024 and that devices meeting the applicable standards are currently limited. He explained technical concerns with the code text as written, noting the existing building code section (9 0 8.100.2) contains requirements written for different devices and recommending removal or alignment of that section with the industry standard. Hollub also raised concerns about an annual market‑availability report and said market research and affordability assessments are outside DOB's expertise.
HPD representatives clarified enforcement responsibilities: requirements for these alarms are enforced through the housing maintenance code and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development has primary enforcement for violations, DOB said it has not issued fines under Local Law 157 related to the alarm mandate and has not yet projected how many properties would be subject to fines, in part because compliance is measured at the dwelling‑unit level.
Council members asked whether fines had been issued, how many properties might be subject to violation, and whether there would be refund processes for owners already fined. DOB and HPD said no fines have been issued yet and that they would follow up with additional information on potential counts and enforcement procedures. The committee held Intro 12‑81 for additional review; no vote was taken.
