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 in the area subject to the regulations, ordinances, or local laws.

  
  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 regulations shall provide that a board of appeals may determine and vary 16 their application in harmony with the general purpose and intent, and in 17 accordance with general or specific rules therein contained. 18 2. Except as otherwise and expressly authorized by this subdivision, 19 no village shall enact, amend or otherwise modify such local laws if 20 such enactment, amendment or modification will have the effect of reduc- 21 ing the number of allowable housing units in the area subject to the 22 enacted, amended or modified local law. 23 § 4. Section 261 of the town law, as amended by chapter 458 of the 24 laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows: 25 § 261. Grant of power; appropriations for certain expenses incurred 26 under this article. [For] 1. Except as provided in subdivision two of 27 this section, for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals, 28 or the general welfare of the community, the town board is hereby 29 empowered by local law or ordinance to regulate and restrict the height, 30 number of stories and size of buildings and other structures, the 31 percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts, and 32 other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use 33 of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or 34 other purposes; provided that such regulations shall apply to and affect 35 only such part of a town as is outside the limits of any incorporated 36 village or city; provided further, that all charges and expenses 37 incurred under this article for zoning and planning shall be a charge 38 upon the taxable property of that part of the town outside of any incor- 39 porated village or city. The town board is hereby authorized and 40 empowered to make such appropriation as it may see fit for such charges 41 and expenses, provided however, that such appropriation shall be the 42 estimated charges and expenses less fees, if any, collected, and 43 provided, that the amount so appropriated shall be assessed, levied and 44 collected from the property outside of any incorporated village or city. 45 Such regulations may provide that a board of appeals may determine and 46 vary their application in harmony with their general purpose and intent, 47 and in accordance with general or specific rules therein contained. 48 2. Except as otherwise and expressly authorized by this subdivision, 49 no town shall enact, amend or otherwise modify such local laws or ordi- 50 nances if such enactment, amendment or modification will have the effect 51 of reducing the density of allowable housing units in the area subject 52 to the enacted, amended or modified local law or ordinance. 53 § 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 54 it shall have become a law; provided, however, that any city, town or 55 village that has a local law, regulation or other policy that does not 56 comply with the provisions of this act shall, prior to the effective 
 S. 8662 3 1 date of this act, take any action necessary to ensure compliance with 2 this act upon the effective date of this act.