Bill > S00353

This bill amends the Multiple Dwelling Law to clarify the definition of "floor area" and what is excluded from its measurement. The key provisions are: 1) Areas with floor-to-ceiling heights greater than 12 feet will be counted multiple times in the floor area calculation, up to 5 times for areas over 48 feet tall. However, the first 20 feet of height for ground floor areas will only be counted once. 2) Space used for mechanical equipment that exceeds 5% of the total floor area will be included in the floor area calculation. 3) Open areas located under the dwelling, when viewed from above, will be included in the floor area calculation and counted multiple times based on the height, similar to the building interior. 4) Certain areas such as cellars, attics, mechanical equipment spaces, and exterior balconies/terraces will continue to be excluded from the floor area calculation. The purpose of this bill is to provide clarity on how various spaces are measured and counted towards the total floor area of a dwelling, which can impact building regulations and zoning requirements.