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Owners & management · 10/13/2026

Gas alarms due in NYC apartments with gas by January 1, 2027

Under Local Law 102, owners of covered residential buildings with gas piping must install natural gas alarms in each dwelling unit near gas appliances by January 1, 2027. DOB, FDNY, HPD, National Grid and Con Edison are holding outreach events in all five boroughs. Small owners can get a limited number of free detectors there, first-come, first-served.

Published by NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)Read the original ↗

Photo: Jim.henderson, CC BY-SA 4.0

What happened

The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) issued a release on October 13, 2026 reminding the public that a new rule takes effect on January 1, 2027. From that date, owners of covered residential buildings that have gas piping must provide and install code-compliant natural gas alarms in every dwelling unit, near gas appliances. The rule comes from Local Law 102, which the City Council passed last year, according to DOB.

The alarms detect methane, the main component of natural gas. Owners may use hard-wired alarms, plug-in alarms that use an AC outlet, or battery-powered alarms. The city does not endorse any brand or model. The device must be listed and labeled to UL 1484 or UL 2075. DOB says it has found several compliant battery-powered models from five manufacturers that are sold online and in hardware and home improvement stores. Battery models can be placed in the best detection spots without an outlet or wiring.

DOB is working with the Fire Department (FDNY), the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), National Grid and Con Edison on outreach events in all five boroughs. At these events, DOB and National Grid will give a limited number of free gas detectors to small residential property owners who attend, first come, first served, while supplies last. They will also demonstrate how the detectors work.

HPD Commissioner Dina Levy said that starting next year, HPD code enforcement staff will inspect for the alarms. Officials repeated the safety rule: if an alarm goes off or you smell gas, leave right away, then call 911 from a safe distance. National Grid also listed 718-643-4050, and Con Edison listed 1-800-75-CONED.

Key facts

Deadline
January 1, 2027
Law
Local Law 102, passed by the City Council last year
Requirement
Natural gas alarm in each dwelling unit near gas appliances, in covered residential buildings with gas piping
Approved standards
Listed and labeled to UL 1484 or UL 2075
Allowed types
Hard-wired, plug-in (AC outlet), or battery-powered
Enforcement
HPD code enforcement staff will inspect for alarms starting next year
Free detectors
Limited supply for small property owners at DOB and National Grid outreach events, first come, first served
Gas leak numbers
911; National Grid 718-643-4050; Con Edison 1-800-75-CONED

What it means

Landlords

If your building has gas piping and is a covered type, you must install a UL 1484 or UL 2075 listed alarm in each unit near gas appliances by January 1, 2027. HPD says its inspectors will check for them starting next year, so check the label before you buy.

Tenants and voucher holders

Your landlord, not you, is responsible for providing and installing the alarm in your unit. If it sounds or you smell gas, leave first and call 911 once you are a safe distance away.

Caseworkers

Small owners you work with may be able to get a free detector at the borough outreach events while supplies last. Clients should know the leave-first, then-call-911 rule for gas alarms and odors.

The highlights

  1. Alarms must be listed to UL 1484 or UL 2075. Battery, plug-in or hard-wired allowed.
  2. HPD code enforcement staff will inspect for gas alarms starting next year.
  3. DOB and National Grid give small owners free detectors at outreach events.

Why it matters Landlords

Landlords have until January 1, 2027 to put a listed gas alarm in each unit, and HPD will start inspecting for them next year.

What to do: Install a UL 1484 or UL 2075 listed gas alarm near gas appliances in every unit.

Not known yet

  • The exact list of building types covered, which the release text provided did not include
  • The specific detector models on DOB's partial list
  • Dates and locations of the outreach events
  • Penalties or violation classes for owners who do not comply

Background

HPD enforces the city's Housing Maintenance Code in rental housing. Inspections usually follow tenant complaints made through 311, and inspectors can issue violations that owners must correct and certify by set deadlines. Owners are already required to provide smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in apartments, and new device rules are typically checked through the same inspection process.

Summary written by Bulwark from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)’s announcement. The original story is at nyc.gov. This is general information, not legal advice.

Read the original at NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)More NYC housing news

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