NYC to Review Building Codes for Cost Savings Starting Late 2026

New York City will launch a Department of Buildings task force in late 2026 to examine the city's construction codes for cost-saving measures. The effort is part of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's "Block by Block" housing plan. The task force will review codes that apply to new affordable housing, office-to-residence conversions, and school construction.

Officials said the review will consider smaller elevators and non-traditional building materials while maintaining safety standards.

Current rules require elevators sized for emergency stretchers and wheelchairs. The task force will study whether smaller elevators could be permitted in existing walk-up buildings. The agency will also examine the use of smaller plumbing materials. DOB Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said these changes could affect project financing and the rents or sale prices that result.

55 percent in April. New leases signed in the borough rose 21 percent from March and 12 percent from the same month last year. Only 34 percent of city apartments are step-free, including 21 percent of buildings constructed before 1974. A related pilot program allowing smaller elevators in walk-ups is scheduled to begin in 2026.

The city introduced its first existing-building code in December 2025. Last month, officials announced changes intended to shorten leasing timelines for about 10,000 affordable units. Mamdani has proposed a $100 billion plan to produce 200,000 new affordable, publicly subsidized, and rent-stabilized homes over the next decade.