The New York Building Code Council has voted unanimously to add the All-Electric Buildings Act of 2023 to the state’s building code. This move will require most new homes and low-rise buildings under seven stories in New York to be built as all-electric starting January 1, 2026. The regulation will extend to all new construction for buildings seven stories or taller beginning January 1, 2029.
This change is part of a broader effort by the state to reduce reliance on fossil fuels such as natural gas and propane for cooking, hot water, and heating in new buildings. The decision comes after a U.S. District court upheld New York’s authority to set environmental regulations, despite opposition from construction and energy industry groups who argued that climate-related rules should not fall under state jurisdiction. That ruling is currently being appealed.
New York is set to become the first state in the nation to ban fossil fuel connections in new construction projects. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is actively monitoring developments related to this policy and has stated it will continue providing updates as the implementation deadline approaches.
