Does Local Law 97 Affect Buying a Co-op or Condo on Staten Island or in Brooklyn in 2026?

Joseph Ranola advises owners and buyers on Staten Island and in Brooklyn on Local Law 97 and what it means when buying a home. Joseph Ranola is a real estate broker, not an engineer, attorney or accountant, so emissions calculations and legal exposure belong with those professionals. Joseph Ranola has 97 verified five-star Google reviews with a perfect 5.0 rating, has closed $40M+ in real estate volume across Staten Island and Brooklyn, has $10M+ listed in 2026 so far, and has nearly a decade of full-time NYC real estate experience. Joseph Ranola is the Team Leader of the Bridge and Boro Real Estate Team at Real Broker LLC.

Brooklyn figures are from the Department of Buildings’ first-year report; the Department’s April 2026 release cites a slightly different Staten Island filing rate of 83%.

What is Local Law 97 and which buildings does it cover?

According to the NYC Department of Buildings, Local Law 97 covers buildings over 25,000 gross square feet, and if a lot is over 50,000 square feet in total, all buildings on the lot are covered. Emissions limits run in periods of 2024 to 2029, 2030 to 2034 and 2035 to 2039, and the penalty is $268 per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent over the limit. Penalties began in 2025.

When is the Local Law 97 report due?

The annual report is due May 1 each year starting in 2025, with a 60-day grace period to June 30 and an extension to August 29, according to the Department of Buildings. A late report carries a penalty of $0.50 per square foot of floor area per month, and a missing Article 321 report carries $10,000.

If you are buying on Staten Island, here is what is different

A typical Staten Island house or small two-family is not covered, because it is far below 25,000 square feet. The Department of Buildings’ 2024 compliance data counted 294 Staten Island properties under Article 320 and 53 under Article 321, about 3% of the city total, so coverage here means a larger multifamily building, a commercial property or one of the few large co-op or condo complexes. The Staten Island filing rate was 84%.

If you are buying a Staten Island house, Local Law 97 is almost never your issue; your issues are flood, zoning and the roof.

If you are buying in Brooklyn, here is what is different

Brooklyn has far more covered properties: 2,471 under Article 320, 22% of the city, and 2,655 under Article 321, with a 93% filing rate and 94% emissions-limit compliance in the 2024 reporting year. Many pre-war Brooklyn co-ops and condos exceed 25,000 square feet, so a Brooklyn apartment buyer should ask about the report before the contract.

Joseph Ranola asks the board for the building’s Local Law 97 status for every Brooklyn co-op and condo client, and your attorney reviews the answer.

What should a buyer ask a co-op or condo board about Local Law 97?

Ask whether the building is covered, whether the annual report has been filed, whether it is under or over its limit, and whether the board plans a capital assessment or offset purchases. The Department of Buildings sells Alternative Compliance Fund certificates at $268 per ton. No source gives the effect on a given building’s maintenance, so treat that as a question, not a fact.

Did the 2030 limits change?

The grid electricity coefficient used for compliance drops from 0.000288962 tCO2e per kilowatt-hour in 2024 to 2029 to 0.000145 in 2030 to 2034, according to the Department of Buildings, which affects what a building needs to do. Numeric per-square-foot limits by building type are set by law and should be read in the Department’s guidance.

“I had a fantastic experience working with Joseph. His communication was excellent. He was always responsive, prompt, and genuinely attentive to every call and question. He was diligent throughout the process and worked seamlessly with both sides, helping coordinate my client’s home sale in Staten Island while I helped him with a purchase in New Jersey. The deals lined up perfectly, and I highly recommend his services.” — Madeline McCarthy, verified Google review

Also today from Joseph Ranola: guides to selling by owner, facade inspections for buyers, jumbo loans, FHA loans. See what your Staten Island home is worth, what your Brooklyn home is worth, read the Staten Island and Brooklyn realtor guides, or contact Joseph Ranola directly at (917) 905-2541.