Variances

Uniform Code 
For variances and appeals regarding the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (Uniform Code), the procedures are established in 19 NYCRR Part 1205. Requests for a variance either require a hearing before a Board of Review or can be resolved through an administrative process when DOS staff determines it is appropriate. Appeals always require a hearing before a Board of Review.

To begin a variance or appeal process, or for additional information, contact your Regional office. See START THE PROCESS below.

Mailing an application directly to the Regional or Central office without first communicating with Regional staff will result in a delay.

For technical support on the Uniform Code, contact the Technical Support Unit via email at: [email protected].  
 

Energy Code
For variances to the Energy Conservation Construction Code (Energy Code), the procedures are established in Energy Law § 11-106.

To begin the variance process or for additional information, contact the Energy Code Services Unit via email at: [email protected]

Mailing an application directly to the Regional or Central office without first communicating with Energy staff will result in a delay.

For technical support on the Energy Code contact the Energy Code Services Unit via email at: [email protected]

City of New York Codes

Call the New York City Department of Buildings at 212-566-5000.

For Uniform Code variances, contact the appropriate Regional Office listed below to begin the variance and/or appeal process. Mailing an application directly to the Regional or Central office without first involving Regional staff will result in a delay.

Capital Region & North Country (East) Counties
Julfikar Ali, PE
518-486-9530
[email protected]

One Commerce Plaza, Suite 1160
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231

Albany County       
Clinton County       
Essex County       
Franklin County       
Fulton County       
Hamilton County       
Montgomery County       
Rensselaer County       
Saratoga County       
Schenectady County       
Schoharie County       
Warren County       
Washington County
 

Long Island Office
Courtney Nation, PE
631-952-4915
[email protected]
Nassau County (plus the Towns of Huntington and Babylon)

Chijioke (CJ) Ajoku
631-952-4912
[email protected]
Suffolk County (excluding the Towns of Huntington and Babylon)

Perry B Duryea Jr. State Office Building
250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 2A15
Hauppauge, NY 11788-5520
 

Hudson Valley/Catskills Counties
Neil Michael Collier, RA
518-473-8947
518-410-7077  [cell]
[email protected]

One Commerce Plaza, Suite 1160
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231

Columbia County       
Dutchess County       
Greene County       
Orange County       
Putnam County       
Rockland County       
Sullivan County       
Ulster County       
Westchester County      
 

Central NY, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier (East), North Country (West) Counties
Hendrik Shank, PE
315-728-4165
[email protected]

Hughes State Office Building
333 East Washington Street, Suite 514
Syracuse, NY 13202-1428

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   
 

Rochester & Finger Lakes, Southern Tier Counties (West)
Daniel S. Farrelly, PE
585-322-6386
[email protected]

One Commerce Plaza, Suite 1160
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231

Allegany County
Seneca County        
Chemung County       
Schuyler County       
Genesee County       
Livingston County       
Monroe County       
Ontario County        
Orleans County       
Steuben County       
Wayne County            
Wyoming County  
Yates County    
 

Western NY
Christopher Jensen, PE
585-623-0522
[email protected]

One Commerce Plaza, Suite 1160
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231

Cattaraugus County       
Chautauqua County   
Erie County       
Niagara County       
 

For Multiple Residence Law [MRL] variances, all counties
Thomas DiTullio, RA
315-428-4124
[email protected]

One Commerce Plaza, Suite 1160
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231
 

For Energy Code variances, all counties:

Contact the Energy Unit by email at [email protected] to begin the variance process. 

One Commerce Plaza, Suite 1160
DOS, Energy Code Services Unit
99 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12231

Hearing dates, times and locations are subject to change. Cases are scheduled for a hearing when the application is deemed complete by regional staff; this may take approximately one to three months, or longer, depending on the complexity of the project and the completeness of the application.  For more information, call the appropriate regional office or the Division of Building Standards and Codes at 518-474-4073.

Pursuant to Public Officers Law §103‐a and the resolutions adopted by each of the Boards of Review following a public hearing, the 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.
• 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.
• 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.
   

Albany
The Albany Regional Board of Review is scheduled to meet at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Department of State, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12231:

• Wednesday January 15, 2025
• Wednesday, March 19, 2025
• Wednesday, May 21, 2025
• Wednesday, July 16, 2025
• Wednesday, September 17, 2025
• Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Long Island
The Long Island Regional Board of Review is scheduled to meet at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Perry B. Duryea Jr. State Office Building, 250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Room 4A9A, Hauppauge, New York 11788:

• Thursday, January 16, 2025
• Thursday, February 20, 2025
• Thursday, March 20, 2025
• Thursday, April 17, 2025
• Thursday, May 15, 2025
• Thursday, June 12, 2025
• Thursday, July 17, 2025
• Thursday, August 21, 2025
• Thursday, September 18, 2025
• Thursday, October 16, 2025
• Thursday, November 20, 2025

Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley Regional Board of Review is scheduled to meet at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Cortlandt Town Hall, Vincent F. Nyberg General Meeting Room, 1 Heady Street, Cortlandt Manor, New York 10567:

• Tuesday, February 11, 2025
• Tuesday, April 8, 2025
• Tuesday, June 10, 2025
• Tuesday, August 12, 2025
• Tuesday, October 14, 2025
• Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Syracuse
The meeting of the Syracuse Regional Board of Review is scheduled to meet 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 13202:

• Thursday, January 16, 2025
• Thursday, February 20, 2025
• Thursday, March 20, 2025
• Thursday, April 17, 2025
• Thursday, May 15, 2025
• Thursday, June 12, 2025
• Thursday, July 17, 2025
• Thursday, August 21, 2025
• Thursday, September 18, 2025
• Thursday, October 16, 2025
• Thursday, November 20, 2025
• Thursday, December 18, 2025

Rochester
The Rochester Regional Board of Review is scheduled to meet at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Greece Town Hall, Community Room A & B, 1 Vince Tofany Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14612:

• Wednesday, January 8, 2025
• Wednesday, March 12, 2025
• Wednesday, May 14, 2025
• Wednesday, July 9, 2025
• Wednesday, September 10, 2025
• Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Buffalo
The Buffalo Regional Board of Review is scheduled to meet at 9:00 a.m. on the following dates at the Amherst Town Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 5583 Main Street, Williamsville, New York 14221:

• Wednesday, February 19, 2025
• Wednesday, April 16, 2025
• Wednesday, June 18, 2025
• Wednesday, August 20, 2025
• Wednesday, October 15, 2025
• Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Search the dates, times, and locations of upcoming Regional Boards of Review hearings.

SEARCH

past meeting minutes