File #: Int 0265-2018    Version: * Name: Limiting nighttime illumination for certain buildings.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Environmental Protection
On agenda: 1/31/2018
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to limiting nighttime illumination for certain buildings
Sponsors: Justin L. Brannan, Helen K. Rosenthal, Ben Kallos, Antonio Reynoso, Daniel Dromm , Margaret S. Chin, (by request of the Queens Borough President)
Council Member Sponsors: 6
Summary: The local law prohibits nighttime illumination of the exterior or interior of any building whose main use or dominant occupancy is classified in group B or M pursuant to the New York City building code. Small stores are exempted and certain landmarked buildings may apply for a waiver of this requirement. Where a building owner has made a showing of special circumstances indicating a need for night security lighting the department may vary or waive the requirements of this section. Buildings may remain illuminated where individuals remain inside and where nighttime illumination is required by law, rule or zoning resolution. Seasonal displays may be illuminated until midnight and storefront displays are permitted limited illumination until midnight.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 265, 2. Int. No. 265, 3. January 31, 2018 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 01-31-2018, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - January 31, 2018, 6. Committee Report 12/1/21, 7. Hearing Testimony 12/1/21, 8. Hearing Transcript 12/1/21
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2021*Justin L. Brannan City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/1/2021*Justin L. Brannan Committee on Environmental Protection Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/1/2021*Justin L. Brannan Committee on Environmental Protection Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/31/2018*Justin L. Brannan City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/31/2018*Justin L. Brannan City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 265

 

By Council Member Brannan, Rosenthal, Kallos, Reynoso, Dromm and Chin (by request of the Queens Borough President)

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to limiting nighttime illumination for certain buildings

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Subchapter 2 of chapter 1 of title 24 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 24-116.2 to read as follows:

§ 24-116.2 Limitations on nighttime illumination. a. As used in this section, “night” means the period of time beginning at sunset and ending at sunrise.

b. No exterior or interior of a building whose main use or dominant occupancy is classified in group B or M pursuant to the New York city building code may be illuminated at night, except as follows:

1. This subdivision shall not apply to small stores, as such term is defined in section 20-910.

2. An owner of a building that is a landmark, as such term is defined in section 25-302 of the code, and twenty or more stories in height may apply to the landmarks preservation commission for relief from the provisions of this section for such building. If such commission finds that such building is a significant part of the city’s skyline, as determined pursuant to rules promulgated by such commission, such commission may, after consultation with the department, waive or vary the provisions of this section for such building.

3. Upon a showing by a building owner that special circumstances indicate a need for night security lighting for such building, the department may waive or vary the provisions of this section for such building to the minimum extent necessary to accommodate such lighting. The department shall, in coordination with the police department and the department of buildings, promulgate rules defining such special circumstances. 

4. Where individuals are inside of a building at night, such building’s interior or exterior may remain illuminated until such individuals exit such building.

5. This subdivision shall not prohibit illumination of a building’s interior or exterior at night where such illumination is required by law, rule or the New York zoning resolution.

6. Storefront display windows containing temporary seasonal displays may be illuminated until midnight or until the last individual within the building exits, whichever occurs later.

7. Storefront display windows, other than those containing temporary seasonal displays, may be illuminated at night, provided that (i) such illumination does not exceed fifty watts per linear foot of the window perimeter until midnight and does not exceed twenty-five watts per linear foot of the window perimeter after midnight, (ii) no more than twenty percent of the luminaires providing such illumination are located more than fifteen feet from the window, and (iii) each luminaire used for such illumination has a luminous efficacy greater than thirty lumens per watt.

c. An owner or operator of a building found to be in violation this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of one thousand dollars for each violation.

d. The department shall enforce the provisions of this section.

§2.  This local law shall take effect 120 days after enactment, except that the commissioner of environmental protection and chair of the landmarks preservation commission shall take such measures as are necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the promulgation of rules, prior to such date.

 

SS / BM

Int. 578-2014 / LS 2187 / Int 7-2010

LS# 183

1/5/2018 2:54PM