New York S 8662: Limits the authority of cities, villages and towns to impose certain zoning regulations, ordinances, or local laws which would have the effect of reducing the number or density of allowable housing units

Bill Text

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S08662 Summary:

BILL NOS08662 

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SAME ASSAME AS A08834

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SPONSORMAY

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §20, Gen City L; amd §7-700, Vil L; amd §261, Town L

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Limits the authority of cities, villages and towns to impose certain zoning regulations, ordinances, or local laws which would have the effect of reducing the number or density of allowable housing units in the area subject to the regulations, ordinances, or local laws.

Go to top S08662 Actions:

BILL NOS08662 

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01/07/2026REFERRED TO CITIES 2

Go to topS08662 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS08662 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS08662 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 8662

 IN SENATE

 January 7, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities 2

 AN ACT to amend the general city law, the village law and the town law,
 in relation to reforming exclusionary zoning ordinances

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "REZO-NY-
 2 ing (reform exclusionary zoning ordinances in New York) act".
 3 § 2. Subdivision 24 of section 20 of the general city law, as amended
 4 by chapter 742 of the laws of 1979, is amended to read as follows:
 5 24. [To] (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subdivision,
 6 to regulate and limit the height, bulk and location of buildings here-
 7 after erected, to regulate and determine the area of yards, courts and
 8 other open spaces, and to regulate the density of population in any
 9 given area, and for said purposes to divide the city into districts.
 10 Such regulations shall be uniform for each class of buildings throughout
 11 any district, but the regulations in one or more districts may differ
 12 from those in other districts. Such regulations shall be designed to
 13 secure safety from fire, flood and other dangers and to promote the
 14 public health and welfare, including, so far as conditions may permit,
 15 provision for adequate light, air, convenience of access, and the accom-
 16 modation of solar energy systems and equipment and access to sunlight
 17 necessary therefor, and shall be made with reasonable regard to the
 18 character of buildings erected in each district, the value of land and
 19 the use to which it may be put, to the end that such regulations may
 20 promote public health, safety and welfare and the most desirable use for
 21 which the land of each district may be adapted and may tend to conserve
 22 the value of buildings and enhance the value of land throughout the
 23 city.
 24 (b) Except as otherwise and expressly authorized by this subdivision,
 25 no city shall enact, amend or otherwise modify such regulations if such
 26 enactment, amendment or modification will have the effect of reducing
 27 the number of allowable housing units in the area subject to the
 28 enacted, amended or modified regulation.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04523-01-5

 S. 8662 2

 1 § 3. Section 7-700 of the village law is amended to read as follows:
 2 § 7-700 Grant of power. [For] 1. Except as provided in subdivision two
 3 of this section, for the purpose of promoting the health, safety,
 4 morals, or the general welfare of the community, the board of trustees
 5 of a village is hereby empowered, by local law, to regulate and restrict
 6 the height, number of stories and size of buildings and other struc-
 7 tures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards,
 8 courts and other open spaces, the density of population, and the
 9 location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry,
 10 residence or other purposes. As a part of the comprehensive plan and
 11 design, the village board is empowered by local law, to regulate and
 12 restrict certain areas as national historic landmarks, special historic
 13 sites, places and buildings for the purpose of conservation, protection,
 14 enhancement and perpetuation of these places of natural heritage. Such
 15 regulat