Proposed Int. No. 955-A
By Council Members Zhuang, Louis, Wong, Morano, Epstein, Thomas-Henry, Hanks, Maloney, J. Sanchez, Aldebol, Encarnación, Restler, Schulman, Banks, Wilson, Ung, Feliz, Narcisse, Krishnan, Lee and Won
A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to accelerating the opening of new businesses by coordinating required inspections
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 20-w to read as follows:
§ 20-w. Coordination of inspections required to open a business. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Child care program. The term “child care program” has the same meaning as set forth in section 47.01 of the health code.
Food service establishment. The term “food service establishment” has the same meaning as set forth in section 81.03 of the health code.
b. The mayor, or the head of an agency or office designated by the mayor, shall establish and operate a program to coordinate, between and among any necessary agency, any inspection or plan review required for a prospective business to open and begin to operate, and to reduce the time needed for a prospective business to open. Such program shall include, but need not be limited to, coordination of any inspection required for a child care program or a food service establishment to open and begin to operate.
c. The mayor, or the head of such agency or office designated by the mayor pursuant to subdivision b of this section, may promulgate rules establishing criteria for eligibility or priority for the use of this program. Such criteria may include, but need not be limited to, the location of a business, the industry in which a business operates, the number of employees of a business, whether a business is part of a franchise or a chain, and whether the owner of a business owns or operates any other business.
d. The mayor, or the head of such agency or office designated by the mayor pursuant to subdivision b of this section, may provide an online application for a prospective business that meets the eligibility criteria established pursuant to subdivision c of this section to use to enroll in the program required by this section.
e. No later than December 31, 2027, and each year thereafter, the mayor, or the head of such agency or office designated by the mayor pursuant to subdivision b of this section, shall submit to the speaker of the council, and post on the city’s website or the website of such agency or office designated pursuant to subdivision b of this section, a report on the effectiveness of the program required by this section. Where the head of an agency or office designated by the mayor establishes the program required by this section, such head shall submit such report to the mayor. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, data regarding the average amount of time required to open eligible types of businesses with and without the assistance provided through the program.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.
TIW
LSR #21413
5/22/2026 2:32 PM