The NYC Local Law Compliance Calendar: Every Deadline Property Owners Need to Know
If you own or manage property in New York City, compliance isn't optional — it's a year-round responsibility. Between HPD, DOB, DEP, and DOHMH, the alphabet soup of agencies enforcing local laws can feel overwhelming. Miss a deadline, and you're looking at violations, fines, and potentially unsafe conditions for your tenants.
At Environmental Safeguard Solutions, we help property owners across New York and New Jersey stay ahead of these deadlines — not scrambling to catch up after a violation hits. This guide breaks down the major NYC local laws by their compliance timelines so you can plan your year with confidence.
Lead Paint Laws: Local Law 31 & Local Law 66
Who it applies to: Residential buildings built before 1960, or between 1960–1978 with known or suspected lead-based paint.
The deadline that mattered most: August 9, 2025 — all applicable buildings were required to complete XRF lead paint inspections in every dwelling unit and common area.
Local Law 31 of 2020 expanded NYC's lead safety framework significantly. It requires certified, third-party EPA inspectors using XRF (X-ray fluorescence) technology to test all painted surfaces. The threshold for lead-based paint was lowered to 0.5 mg/cm² under Local Law 66 of 2019, down from the previous 1.0 mg/cm².
Ongoing obligations include:
- Annual inspections for units where a child under 6 resides
- Annual notice requirements under Local Law 1 of 2004
- 10-year record retention for all inspection and remediation documentation
- Immediate submission of XRF records when HPD issues a lead hazard or turnover violation
If you haven't completed your XRF inspections yet, you're already past the deadline and at risk for HPD violations. ESS provides full-service lead paint inspections and can help you get compliant fast.
Mold & Indoor Allergens: Local Law 55 & Local Law 61
Who it applies to: Multiple dwellings with 3+ units (LL55); covered buildings with 10+ residential units or 25,000+ sq ft of non-residential space (LL61).
Timeline: Ongoing — these are complaint-driven and require continuous compliance.
Local Law 55 of 2018 requires property owners to keep dwellings free of mold, moisture conditions, and pests. Annual inspections of units are mandated, and any tenant complaint triggers a response obligation. When HPD issues a mold violation, the clock starts ticking:
- Class B (hazardous) violations: 30 days to correct
- Class C (immediately hazardous) violations: 21 days to correct
Local Law 61 of 2018 added filing requirements for mold projects in covered buildings. If mold exceeds 10 square feet, you must hire separate licensed mold assessors and remediators — and they cannot be from the same firm. Penalties for non-compliance range from $800 to $10,000 depending on the number of violations.
ESS provides licensed mold assessments and works with qualified remediation partners to keep you in compliance.
Gas Piping Inspections: Local Law 152
Who it applies to: All buildings in NYC (except small residential buildings entirely used by the owner).
Timeline: Rolling deadlines by community district, on a four-year cycle.
Local Law 152 requires periodic inspections of gas piping systems by a Licensed Master Plumber (LMP). The current cycle deadlines are:
- December 31, 2025: Community Districts 2, 5, 7, 13, 18
- December 31, 2026: Community Districts 4, 6, 8, 9, 16
- December 31, 2027: Community Districts 11, 12, 14, 15, 17
- December 31, 2028: Community Districts 1, 3, 10 (Cycle 3 begins)
Non-compliance can result in fines up to $10,000 per year. As of early 2026, all filings must go through DOB NOW digitally — no more paper submissions. Don't wait until the last quarter of your deadline year. Plumbers book up fast and inspections can uncover conditions that need correction before you can certify.
Facade Inspections: Local Law 11 / FISP
Who it applies to: All buildings over 6 stories in NYC.
Timeline: Five-year cycles with staggered sub-cycles based on block number.
The Facade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP) is now in Cycle 10, which began February 21, 2025. Filing windows for the current cycle:
- Sub-cycle 10A (blocks ending in 4, 5, 6, 9): February 21, 2025 – February 21, 2027
- Sub-cycle 10B (blocks ending in 0, 7, 8): February 21, 2026 – February 21, 2028
- Sub-cycle 10C (blocks ending in 1, 2, 3): February 21, 2027 – February 21, 2029
New in Cycle 10: hands-on inspections are required at least every 60 feet of facade, balcony and railing inspections are more rigorous, and the "Get Sheds Down" legislation (effective January 2026) introduces penalties of $5,000–$20,000 for owners who leave sidewalk sheds up without addressing unsafe conditions.
Asbestos: NYC Administrative Code & EPA/NESHAP
Who it applies to: Buildings constructed before 1981 undergoing renovation or demolition.
Timeline: Before any renovation or demolition work begins.
While not tied to a single local law with annual deadlines, asbestos compliance is a critical pre-construction requirement. Before disturbing building materials in pre-1981 structures, an ACP-7 filing with the NYC DEP is required, and asbestos surveys must be conducted by a certified inspector. Abatement work must be performed by licensed abatement contractors with proper notification to DEP.
ESS handles asbestos inspections across NYC and New Jersey to make sure your renovation projects don't get shut down.
Energy & Emissions Laws
Local Law 84 — Benchmarking
Deadline: May 1 annually (for the prior year's data). Covers buildings 25,000+ square feet. Quarterly penalties of $500 for non-compliance (up to $2,000/year).
Local Law 87 — Energy Audit & Retro-Commissioning
Deadline: Every 10 years based on tax block number. Buildings due in 2025 received an extension to March 31, 2026. Penalties: $3,000 first year, $5,000 per additional year.
Local Law 97 — Carbon Emissions
Deadline: May 1 annually (grace period through June 30). Penalties of $268 per ton of CO2 equivalent over the building's emissions limit. This is the big one — the most financially impactful compliance law for large buildings in NYC.
Local Law 88 — Lighting & Sub-Metering
Deadline: One-time filing, due alongside LL97 for applicable buildings.
Local Law 33 — Energy Efficiency Grades
Deadline: October 31 annually — post updated energy efficiency letter grade at each public entrance. $1,250 fine for non-compliance.
Parking Structures: Local Law 126
Who it applies to: Parking garages and structures not covered by FISP.
Timeline: Six-year inspection cycles with annual observation checklists.
The third inspection cycle runs from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. Annual checklist inspections are required following the initial observation report. Non-compliance can result in fines up to $17,000 per year.
Other Key Annual Deadlines
- HPD Registration: Due annually — required for all multifamily residences (3+ units).
- Cooling Tower Compliance (LL77/LL76): Legionella testing every 30 days during cooling season (April–October), plus summertime hyperchlorination (July–August) and annual certification.
- Local Law 157 — Natural Gas Detectors: All residential buildings must have gas detectors installed in every room with a gas appliance. Compliance was required by May 1, 2025.
- Bedbug Reporting (LL69): Annual filing of bedbug infestation history with HPD.
How ESS Keeps You Ahead of the Calendar
At Environmental Safeguard Solutions, we specialize in the local laws that hit property owners hardest: lead paint inspections (Local Law 31), mold assessments (Local Laws 55 & 61), asbestos inspections, and HPD/DOB compliance services. We also offer CityWatch, our free compliance monitoring platform that tracks HPD and DOB violations across your entire portfolio — so you never get blindsided by a deadline again.
Don't wait for a violation to find out you're behind. Contact ESS today at (929) 305-1232 or visit ess-nyc.com to schedule your inspections and get compliant.
