Landlords in New York City can now purchase exemptions that free them from meeting the requirements of Local Law 97, the municipal ordinance aimed at cutting building‑related carbon emissions. The policy change was announced on Monday, August 17, 2026, by city officials under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has previously pledged to tighten the emissions standards set by the law.
Local Law 97, enacted to curb the city’s greenhouse‑gas output, imposes strict limits on the amount of carbon that buildings may emit. Since buildings account for the largest share of the city’s emissions, the ordinance targets a sector that is central to New York’s climate strategy. The new option for landlords to buy exemptions represents a shift in how the city will enforce compliance, allowing property owners to avoid the mandated reductions by paying for a waiver.
The mayor’s office confirmed that the exemption program is now available, though details of the purchase process were not disclosed in the announcement. The move follows years of discussion about the feasibility of meeting the law’s stringent targets, especially for older or financially strained properties. By offering a market‑based route to compliance, the city hopes to maintain progress toward its climate goals while providing landlords with flexibility. The decision arrives as the administration continues to evaluate how best to balance environmental objectives with the economic realities faced by property owners across the five boroughs.