HPD Begins Enforcement of Local Law 151, Requiring Annual Steam Radiator Inspections in Buildings with Young Children

May 8, 2026

New York, NY - Steam radiators, when not properly maintained, can pose a threat to public safety. Temperatures can reach up to 220°F, and when combined with corroded pipes or faulty valves, radiators can rupture without warning, releasing high-pressure steam capable of causing serious injury or death.

Beginning tomorrow, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will enforce Local Law 151 of 2025. The law, Ben Z's Law-named in memory of Binyammen Zachariah Kuravsky-requires owners of residential buildings with three or more units and steam heating systems to inspect steam radiators at least once every two years in apartments where a child under age six resides and in common areas, strengthening protections for the youngest New Yorkers.

Building owners must comply with two key requirements: the Annual Notice Process and the Steam Radiator Inspection Process.

Annual Notice Process
Beginning January 2027, and annually thereafter, owners must provide tenants with the Annual Notice for Inspection of Steam Radiators between January 1 and January 16 in English and Spanish and collect completed notices by February 15. Tenants are responsible for returning the notice by that date and providing access for inspection and any necessary repairs if a child age six or younger resides in the apartment. If a tenant does not respond and the owner has no knowledge of a child under six residing in the unit, the owner must submit a

Owners are also required to maintain records documenting when and how notices were sent, whether tenants responded or a child under six was known to reside in the unit, inspection results, and any repairs performed. HPD recommends using the Record of or a similar tracking tool.

Inspection Process and Requirements
After reviewing tenant responses, owners must determine which units require inspection and hire qualified inspectors as required by city regulations. Qualified inspectors include licensed master plumbers, high-pressure boiler operating engineers, stationary engineers, oil burning equipment installers, mechanical contractors, individuals working under their direct supervision, NYCHA heating plant technicians or heating maintenance workers, and building superintendents who have reviewed HPD's Steam Radiator Inspection Training Manual and completed the required Owner Certification of Superintendent.

Inspectors must complete the official Steam Radiator Inspection Checklist for each apartment where a child age six or younger resides and for common areas. If a defect is found, inspectors must notify the tenant, owner, and HPD within 48 hours. Hazardous radiators must be removed from service within 24 hours and repaired or replaced within seven days, and all other defects must be corrected within 14 days.

Owners must maintain and provide all required records, including annual notices and inspection reports, upon request by HPD. Failure to maintain or produce these records, as required by city regulations, may result in civil penalties of up to $500. HPD may also conduct inspections at any time in response to complaints and issue violations as appropriate.

A new webpage has been added to HPD's website, providing all of the information above and links to appropriate resources.

Reminder to Tenants
Tenants with non-functioning, leaking, or otherwise defective radiators, regardless of whether a child resides in the unit, may call 311 to report issues if a property owner does not address their concerns. During heat season, housing inspectors ask tenants if their radiators are leaking water or steam, and if so, an inspection is conducted, and violations are issued when defects are identified and/or heat is inadequate.

Once a violation is issued, landlords are responsible for correcting it within the allotted period. Class C violations related to radiators may be addressed through the agency's emergency repair program.

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About Housing Preservation and Development

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) oversees housing standards across all 3.7 million homes in New York City. As the nation's largest municipal housing agency, HPD is responsible for building and preserving affordable housing, protecting tenants from harassment and displacement, and holding landlords accountable across the five boroughs. Under Commissioner Dina Levy and the Mamdani Administration, HPD is pursuing an ambitious housing agenda focused on the needs of New York's tenants. With a broad set of tools including standards enforcement, tenant resources, and the creation of new affordable housing, HPD is committed to making New York City a more affordable place for renters and homeowners alike.