Overview
The procedures for variances and appeals regarding the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (Uniform Code) are established in 19 NYCRR Part 1205. Requests for a variance generally require a hearing before a Board of Review. Some requests for a variance can be resolved through an administrative process when DOS staff determines it is appropriate. Appeals always require a hearing before a Board of Review. For additional information or to begin a variance or appeal process, contact your Regional office. Mailing an application directly to our central office without first involving a regional office will result in a delay.
The procedures for variances to the Energy Conservation Construction Code (Energy Code) are established in Energy Law § 11-106. Submitting an incomplete application will result in a delay.
Pursuant to Public Officers Law §103‐a and the resolutions adopted by each of the Boards of Review following a public hearing, the following Boards of Review are authorized to use videoconferencing to conduct meetings in the manner authorized by Public Officers Law §103-a:
- Long Island Board of Review – Resolution No. 1 of 2022 and the Procedures Governing Member and Public Attendance at Meetings Conducted by Use of Videoconferencing can be found HERE.
- Syracuse Board of Review – Resolution No. 1 of 2022 and the Procedures Governing Member and Public Attendance at Meetings Conducted by Use of Videoconferencing can be found HERE.
- Hudson Valley Board of Review – Resolution No. 1 of 2022 and the Procedures Governing Member and Public Attendance at Meetings Conducted by Use of Videoconferencing can be found HERE.
- Buffalo Board of Review – Resolution No. 1 of 2022 and the Procedures Governing Member and Public Attendance at Meetings Conducted by Use of Videoconferencing can be found HERE.
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Rochester Board of Review – Resolution No. 1 of 2022 and the Procedures Governing Member and Public Attendance at Meetings Conducted by Use of Videoconferencing can be found HERE.
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Albany Board of Review – Resolution No. 1 of 2022 and the Procedures Governing Member and Public Attendance at Meetings Conducted by Use of Videoconferencing can be found HERE.
Board Meetings
Hearing dates, times and locations are subject to change. For more information, call the Division of Building Standards and Codes at (518) 474-4073.
Albany: Wednesday
A meeting of the New York State Department of State’s Albany Regional Board of Review will be held at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Department of State, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, 5th Floor Conference Room, Suite 505, Albany, New York.
March 16, 2022
May 18, 2022
July 20, 2022
September 21, 2022
November 16, 2022
Buffalo: Thursday
A meeting of the New York State Department of State’s Buffalo Regional Board of Review will be held at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Amherst Town Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 5583 Main Street, Williamsville, New York:
February 16, 2022
April 20, 2022
June 15, 2022
August 17, 2022
October 19, 2022
December 21, 2022
Hudson Valley: Tuesday
A meeting of the New York State Department of State’s Hudson Valley Regional Board of Review will be held at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Town of Cortlandt Town Hall, 1 Heady Street, Vincent F. Nyberg General Meeting Room, Cortlandt Manor, New York:
February 9, 2022
April 12, 2022
June 14, 2022
August 9, 2022
October 11, 2022
December 13, 2022
Long Island: Thursday
A meeting of the New York State Department of State’s Long Island Regional Board of Review will be held at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Perry B. Duryea III State Office Building, 250 Veterans Memorial Highway, 4th Floor Conference Room, Hauppauge, New York:
January 13, 2022
February 3, 2022
March 10, 2022
April 14, 2022
May 12, 2022
June 9, 2022
July 14, 2022
August 11, 2022
September 8, 2022
October 13, 2022
November 10, 2022
Rochester: Wednesday
A meeting of the New York State Department of State’s Rochester Regional Board of Review will be held at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Greece Town Hall, Community Room A & B, 1 Vince Toffany Boulevard, Rochester, NY, 14612
March 9, 2022
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
July 13, 2022
September 14, 2022
November 9, 2022
Syracuse: Thursday
A meeting of the New York State Department of State’s Syracuse Regional Board of Review will be held at 9:30 a.m. on the following dates at the Hughes State Office Building, 1st Floor Main Hearing Room, 333 East Washington Street Syracuse, NY:
January 20, 2022
February 17, 2022
March 17, 2022
April 21, 2022
May 19, 2022
June 16, 2022
July 21, 2022
August 18, 2022
September 15, 2022
October 20, 2022
November 17, 2022
December 15, 2022
Search the dates, times, and locations of upcoming Regional Boards of Review hearings.
Start the Process
For Energy Code variances, send the variance application form (see link below) by email to [email protected] or by mail to:
One Commerce Plaza, Suite 1160
DOS, Energy Code Services Unit
99 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12231
For Uniform Code variances, contact the appropriate regional office listed below to begin the variance or appeal process. Applications that are submitted to the incorrect regional office may result in a delay.
Western NY/Rochester & Finger Lakes, Southern Tier (W) Counties
Ellicott Square Building
295 Main Street
208 8th Floor – Room #821
Buffalo, NY 14203
Andy Hvisdak - (716) 847-7612
Allegany County
Cattaraugus County
Chautauqua County
Chemung County
Erie County
Genesee County
Livingston County
Niagara County
Ontario County
Orleans County
Schuyler County
Seneca County
Steuben County
Wayne County
Wyoming County
Yates County
Central NY, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier (E), North Country (W) Counties
Syracuse Office
Hughes State Office Building
333 East Washington Street Room 514
Syracuse, NY 13202-1428
Thomas DiTullio - (315) 428-4434
Broome County
Cayuga County
Chenango County
Cortland County
Delaware County
Herkimer County
Jefferson County
Lewis County
Madison County
Oneida County
Onondaga County
Oswego County
Otsego County
St. Lawrence County
Tioga County
Tompkins County
Capital Region & North Country (E) Counties
Capital Office
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231
Dan Farrelly - (585) 322-6386
Albany County
Clinton County
Essex County
Franklin County
Fulton County
Hamilton County
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Rensselaer County
Saratoga County
Schenectady County
Schoharie County
Warren County
Washington County
Hudson Valley/Catskills Counties
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231
Neil Collier - (518) 473-8947
Columbia County
Dutchess County
Greene County
Orange County
Putnam County
Rockland County
Sullivan County
Ulster County
Westchester County
Suffolk County
Long Island Office
Perry B Duryea Jr. State Office Building
250 Veterans Memorial Highway - 2A15
Hauppauge, NY 11788-5520
Office - (631) 952-4912
Suffolk County (excluding the Towns of Huntington and Babylon)
Nassau County, Towns of Huntington & Babylon
Long Island Office
Perry B Duryea Jr. State Office Building
250 Veterans Memorial Highway - 2A15
Hauppauge, NY 11788-5520
Courtney Nation - (631) 952-4915
Nassau County (plus the Towns of Huntington and Babylon)
City of New York
Please call the City Department of Buildings - (212) 566-5000
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
Contact Assistant Director for Variances
Uniform Code Variances
Erika Krieger, RA, Assistant Director for Variances
Energy Code Variances
Contact us by email:
[email protected]