Bill > S04108

This bill amends the New York City administrative code to establish new rules for charging demolition costs to property owners when a residential building is deemed unsafe due to arson. Specifically, the bill provides that owners of residential properties that have been deemed unsafe because of an arson-related fire will be billed for the actual cost of demolition, but the cost cannot exceed 25% of the total insurance settlement received by the owner. The bill includes an important exception: if the arson was committed by the legal owner or an occupant of the property, these special billing provisions do not apply. Additionally, the bill offers protections for owners of one-, two-, or three-family units by preventing their property from being sold as a tax lien for demolition costs for a period of ten years, and providing a ten-year window to cure any back taxes or existing liens with waived interest fees. The legislation aims to provide a fair and structured approach to handling demolition costs in cases of arson-related building damage, balancing the financial responsibilities of property owners with provisions to help them recover from such incidents.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4108