New York State Insider: Legislative Update: New York State Building Code.

 We cannot ignore the increase in intense hurricanes battering our coastal communities. It is past time that we reevaluate the New York State Building Code and address the increased likelihood of flooding associated with climate change. Although there is a model code, few municipalities have adopted it. This bill strengthens the effort to have a more robust building code adopted across the state. 

The damage caused by Hurricane Ida prompted Assemblyman Otis and I to introduce legislation, S.7582B/A.9216B, that would ensure threats posed by sea level rise, flooding, storms, and certain other water-based hazards in coastal and flood-prone areas are accounted for by the building code council and in the state building code in two ways:

 

1. The Building Code Council will be required to investigate how the building code could be changed to better protect buildings from the threats of sea level rise, flooding, storms, and certain other water-based hazards; and
2. The building code must be updated to include new standards designed to protect life, property, and the surrounding communities from sea level rise, flooding, storms, and certain other water-based hazards.

The legislation passed both the Senate and the Assembly with overwhelming support.