New York Finalizes Rule for New Buildings to Be Electric

New York is now the first state in the U.S. to require new buildings to be built entirely electric, without hookups to fossil fuels including gas, the New York State Assembly reported.

The rule was initially passed in 2023 as the All-Electric Buildings Act and was finalized with the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council’s approval in late July 2025.

According to the new mandate, residential buildings up to seven stories tall and commercial or industrial buildings up to 100,000 square feet with building permit applications for initial construction approved on or after Dec. 31, 2025 will be required to meet the requirements by that date.

Commercial and industrial buildings over 100,000 square feet will need to meet the requirements by 2029, Canary Media reported.

New York just became the first state to bar fossil fuels in most new buildings. It’s a win for the climate and a win for owners’ utility bills.

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— Canary Media Inc. (@canarymedia.com) July 31, 2025 at 10:33 AM

These requirements are meant to curb emissions from the built environment, as buildings account for 31% of all emissions in New York.

There will be some exemptions, including for agricultural building, medical facilities, crematoriums, laboratories, restaurants and other specific facility types that meet certain criteria.

The finalization of the rule follows a court decision earlier in July, where the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of New York ruled that the state could move forward enacting the 2023 All-Electric Building Act. Building and fossil fuel groups had previously challenged the act using the same argument that helped overturn the ban on gas in new buildings in Berkeley, California.

“The fossil fuel industry was sent a powerful message by the court in this case — the health, well-being, affordability, and prosperity of our communities matters more than the industry’s profits and the hollowness of its fear mongering,” Dawn Wells-Clyburn, executive director of PUSH Buffalo, said in a statement. “The AEBA remains a powerful victory in the fight for our lives.”

The New York act could still face legal challenges, as industry groups have requested for the U.S. Department of Justice to block it from taking effect, Canary Media reported.

For now, the act remains in place and could reduce energy usage in New York homes by about 17%, saving residents nearly $5,000 per household over 30 years. According to the New Buildings Institute, building decarbonization in the state of New York could even save money in the construction of some buildings, leading to around $7,500 to $8,200 in savings for building 100% electric single-family homes compared to conventional single-family homes.

“When New Yorkers come together… we can win even in the face of opponents with an almost-limitless budget,” Alex Beauchamp, Northeast region director at Food & Water Watch, told Canary Media. ​“That is how we won this bill. It’s also how we are going to continue the fight to get fossil fuels out of all the existing buildings in the state.” 

New York becomes first state to commit to all-electric new buildings. The state finalized rules ensuring most new edifices will install electric heat pumps and stoves instead of gas appliances, lowering costs and improving air quality. grist.org/energy/new-y… #NewYork #NY #Climate #Buildings

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— Grist (@grist.org) August 4, 2025 at 11:49 AM