The administration of Mayor Eric Adams is offering property owners additional time to adhere to a citywide law designed to reduce carbon emissions from large buildings, known as Local Law 97.
Passed in 2019, Local Law 97 sets forth strict limits on the emissions of carbon-based gases from sizable structures—including apartments and offices—in New York City. The initial emission caps are set to take effect in 2024, with progressively tougher regulations anticipated in 2030 and again in 2050.
Building owners are required to report to the Department of Buildings (DOB) to demonstrate compliance with the 2024 limits. However, in a recent announcement, the DOB has informed property owners that they may request an extension for submitting their compliance data.
The new deadline for requesting an extension is August 29, allowing a reprieve from the original end of June submission date. If a request is granted, owners will have until the end of December to submit the necessary information.
Moreover, property owners struggling to meet the demands of Local Law 88—mandating upgrades to lighting and electrical systems by January 1, 2025—can also receive leniency. Those owners can include their compliance plans within their Local Law 97 reports, thus avoiding fines for non-compliance for an additional two years as they work towards compliance.
At a recent expo focused on service providers—including energy efficiency consultants and solar installers—held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, city Chief Climate Officer Rohit Aggarwala underscored the administration’s commitment to enforcing Local Law 97.
Aggarwala noted, “To a certain extent, what we’re doing is giving a little bit of flexibility now in order to get the far more important prize of those more aggressive targets that are going to be that much more difficult in 2030.”
He elaborated on the challenges faced by building owners, stating that contractors, often handling multiple clients, have been unable to accommodate requests from property owners seeking assistance with Local Law 97.
“We know that it would be short-sighted to let people suffer because the industry hasn’t ramped up at the same pace as the demand,” Aggarwala added. “We think this is a set of pragmatic and thoughtful and environmentally wise extensions that we’re allowing.”
As buildings constitute the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the city, Local Law 97 aims to significantly reduce these emissions.
Although the majority of building owners are compliant with the 2024 emissions requirements, the more stringent regulations set for 2030 may pose substantial challenges.
In order to reduce carbon emissions, building owners will need to implement significant physical changes, such as installing solar panels or upgrading to more efficient electric appliances. Additionally, they have the option to purchase carbon offsets or renewable energy credits, which support initiatives bringing clean energy into New York City. Some of the necessary upgrades can entail high initial costs, and non-compliant owners could face hefty fines of $268 for every ton of carbon emissions exceeding the legal limits.
For some property owners, the financial burden of these requirements has led to discontent and resistance toward the law. A group representing condo and co-op homeowners even attempted to challenge the legislation in court, resulting in a lawsuit that ultimately failed. Interestingly, this group was represented by Randy Mastro, who currently serves as Adams’ first deputy mayor.
Consultants and organizations assisting property owners with Local Law 97 compliance now view the deadline extensions as a much-needed relief.
Daniela Paez, a climate resilience project associate at the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB), shared that the co-ops she represents have encountered financing difficulties, inconsistent cost estimates from contractors, and complications in securing services needed for compliance.
“For some buildings that have waited months to get an assessment, they realize what elements they are missing for Local Law 97—be it pipe insulation or lighting work,” Paez explained. “Yet, when they reach out to contractors from the vendor list, they often receive responses indicating that the contractors are at capacity or asking if they would like to bundle other services.”
Ali Al Jumaili, a project manager at consulting firm Bureau Veritas, praised the extension as helpful, emphasizing that it has made the compliance process less complicated for property owners. “They [the city] are reflecting on all the issues and obstacles during the process, and it’s a chance for a win-win situation for both parties to improve the process,” he said.
Conversely, Pete Sikora, the climate and inequality campaigns director at New York Communities for Change—a group that has staunchly supported Local Law 97—argued that the DOB should penalize property owners who fail to apply for the extension by the August 29 deadline. “That would show the industry that there are consequences for ignoring these rules, especially as there are owners who may be hoping the law will simply be repealed,” he commented.
As mayoral candidates enter the campaign race, Local Law 97 has surfaced as a point of contention, with several candidates weighing in on enforcement strategies. Nearly all candidates have advocated for expanded financial and technical aid for property owners to help them comply. One candidate proposed suspending the law, while others suggested refining the compliance options available to property owners.
image source from：https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/06/17/ll97-building-temporary-reprieve-carbon-restrictions/
