On June 30th, the City Council announced that the Local Law 157 deadline for installing natural gas detectors is officially extended. Here’s what you can expect for this requirement in the years ahead.
January 1, 2027 – Maybe?
As noted in the new law, the target due date for Local Law 157 compliance is no earlier than January 1, 2027. That said, there’s an important provision dependent on market availability.
No later than July 1, 2026, the Department of Buildings Commissioner must submit a report to the mayor and council. Said report will determine the availability of approved, battery powered natural gas alarms. Specifically, the DOB must identify “4 or more distinct manufacturers of battery-powered natural gas alarms that comply with the requirements of section 908.13.”
If the DOB can’t identify at least 4 manufacturers, the Commissioner “shall by rule” extend the date by which such alarms must be installed to January 1, 2029.
One of the biggest issues with compliance has been sourcing approved alarms for installation. That’s especially true given fluctuations in device availability and the amount of properties that have to comply and install devices. With this adjustment, the Council has accounted for those challenges and included a built-in potential extension.
What’s Next?
We’ll know by July 1, 2026 whether or not the due date stays in 2027, or shifts to 2029. In the meantime, it’s not a bad idea to start sourcing out approved devices if you haven’t already. You can get a rundown of Local Law 157 device requirements here in our expert interview. We’ll keep you posted on any changes as we get closer to the reporting updates.
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