Mayor Signs Update to Heating Requirements

On May 24, the City Council passed heating legislation and Mayor de Blasio recently signed it into law. The legislation sets the overnight temperature requirement at 62 degrees. This is an increase from 55 degrees, the prior standard temperature from 10 PM to 6 AM during the heating season from Oct. 1 to May 31.

HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer praised the legislation, saying it “will improve the quality of life for thousands of New Yorkers. The increase in the minimum required overnight heat temperature to 62 degrees represents the first change in heat requirements since 1967, and will help all city residents, particularly seniors, children, and those with health conditions, weather the cold winter nights. I want to thank City Council Housing Chair Jumaane Williams for working closely with HPD on this issue.”

The new law also removes the outdoor temperature threshold for overnight heating. Owners were required to heat buildings overnight when the outside temperature fell below 40 degrees. Now, regardless of the outside temperatures, buildings will be required to heat units to 62 degrees during overnight hours in heat season.

The new heating requirements go into effect on Oct. 1, 2017. According to the text of the law, HPD may adopt guidelines before the rule is enforced.