Co-op and Condo Gyms Free to Reopen at Last

For fitness buffs and for people who simply need some exercise after being cooped up in their apartments for the past six months, the city has finally granted its long-awaited approval for the reopening of gyms in co-ops and condominiums. 

Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 2, gyms and fitness centers in residential buildings, hotels, office buildings and higher education institutions can reopen in the city – provided certain criteria are met. Indoor fitness classes are not permitted, and indoor pools must remain closed.

Before reopening a gym, co-op and condo boards must meet these criteria: read the New York State guidelines for reopening gyms, available here; affirm that you have reviewed and understand the guidelines and will implement them, by filling out a form available here; develop and post a Reopening Safety Plan, available here; and submit a Gym and Fitness Facility Inspection Request and Attestation Form, available here. Completing this form means that a facility has met new requirements issued by New York State to address COVID-19 and is ready for inspection by the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which is conducting virtual inspections of these facilities. 

The state’s extensive guidelines for reopening gyms require, among other things, that the space is never above 33% of capacity, that exercise machines and workout stations be arranged so that people can remain at least six feet apart, and that owners adhere to the cleaning and disinfection practices laid down by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.