New York City Council Delays Gas Detector Mandate Until 2027

The ticking clock for installing natural gas detectors above every gas appliance has been put on pause. The New York City Council passed a law postponing the enforcement of Local Law 157’s gas detector mandate from May 1, 2025 until no sooner than January 1, 2027. The new deadline will take effect one year after the Department of Buildings (DOB) determines there are enough approved and affordable gas detectors available on the market.

LL157 was passed in the wake of a deadly East Village gas explosion a decade ago and is intended to prevent similar disasters. However, as the original May 2025 deadline came and went, it became clear there were limited products available that actually met DOB specifications. “This legislation is about protecting public safety while ensuring fairness for tenants, homeowners and property managers,” says Bronx Council Member Eric Dinowitz, who introduced the bill. 

The law’s strict placement rules — detectors must be installed no less than three inches and no more than 12 inches from the ceiling near each gas appliance — left just one option: the DeNova Detect sensor, manufactured by the Japanese company New Cosmos. However, supply chain issues, a product recall and the impact of tariffs made it increasingly complicated for property owners to get hold of the detectors. “Building owners are committed to compliance, but the original timeline wasn’t feasible,” says Michael Wolfe, president of Wolfe Realty Services.

The extension doesn’t change the law’s intent, but gives property owners more time to meet the requirements. “By extending the compliance timeline, we are ensuring that DOB can implement this life-saving law in a way that is practical, safe, and equitable,” says Council Member Erik Bottcher, who co-sponsored the legislation. It also gives more time for manufacturers to develop alternative products and compete with the DeNova Detect device.

Some boards and property managers worked hard to meet the original compliance deadline. Jerry Kestenbaum, founder of smart technology firm Aware Buildings and an advocate for the extension, says in this case, those who acted early were not rewarded. “I know one customer wrote a check for nearly $1 million to cover all their 15,000 units,” he says. This type of early action is applauded by DOB in spite of the extension. “We encourage property owners to install natural gas alarms as soon as they are able,” says deputy press secretary David Maggiotto.

The new law has the support of the Real Estate Board of New York, the Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums and the Presidents Co-op and Condo Council. As with other housing code enforcement, NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development will be responsible for ensuring property owners are in compliance. Buildings without gas hookups are exempt.