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.
  • 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.

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:

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 12231.

 

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

 

Buffalo:

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 14221:

 

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 

 

Hudson Valley:

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 Cortlandt Town Hall, Vincent F. Nyberg General Meeting Room, 1 Heady Street, Cortlandt Manor, New York 10567:

 

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 

Tuesday, June 13, 2023 

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

 

Long Island:

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, Room (to be determined), Hauppauge, New York 11788:

 

Thursday, January 12, 2023 

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Thursday, June 8, 2023 

Thursday, July 13, 2023 

Thursday, August 10, 2023 

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Thursday, November 9, 2023

 

Rochester:

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 Tofany Boulevard, Rochester, NY, 14612

 

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Wednesday, March 8, 2023 

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

 

Syracuse:

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 13202:

 

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Thursday, February 16, 2023 

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Thursday, April 20, 2023 

Thursday, May 18, 2023 

Thursday, June 15, 2023 

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Thursday, September 21, 2023 

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Thursday, November 16, 2023 

Thursday, December 21, 2023

 

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

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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) 428-4124

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]
 

Contact us by phone: