New York Community Association Laws
Condominiums (RPL Art. 9-B), Cooperatives (BCL/CCO & proprietary lease), HOAs (no single act; offering-plan rules in 13 NYCRR Part 22), manufactured home parks (RPL § 233/233-b), corporate law (BCL/N-PCL), Attorney General Real Estate Finance Bureau (Martin Act). Reference hub
New York regulates how common-interest communities are formed and sold more than how they are run day-to-day. The Attorney General’s Real Estate Finance Bureau (REFB) polices offering plans under the Martin Act and detailed 13 NYCRR rules, especially for conversions. Once formed, condos follow the Condominium Act; co-ops rely heavily on corporate law and their proprietary lease; and most HOAs operate under corporate statutes and the offering-plan disclosures (there is no single “HOA Act”). The result is disclosure-heavy and tenant-protective at the front end, with board autonomy tempered by corporate-law process and REFB enforcement.
At a glance
- Condos: RPL Art. 9-B (records, liens, board powers, meetings).
- Co-ops: Corporate law BCL (shareholder meetings, records, elections) + proprietary lease.
- HOAs: No single statute; see N-PCL/BCL + 13 NYCRR Part 22 (offering-plan rules).
- Conversions: GBL Art. 23-A & 13 NYCRR Parts 18/20/21/23; special NYC & suburban protections.
- Manufactured home parks: RPL § 233 & § 233-b (tenants’ rights; rent increase limits).
Primary Statutes
Condominiums — Real Property Law, Article 9-B
Formation, governance, records, common charges & liens, bylaws/meetings, board powers.
Cooperatives — Business Corporation Law & Cooperative Corporations Law
Most housing co-ops are corporations subject to BCL (shareholder meetings, records, elections). CCO may also apply.
Martin Act (Offerings) — General Business Law, Article 23-A
AG oversight of condo/co-op/HOA offering plans and conversions (GBL § 352-e, 352-eee/eeee/eeeee).
Manufactured/Mobile Home Parks — RPL § 233 & § 233-b
Tenant rights, disclosures, fees, rent-increase limits and process.
Corporate Acts — BCL & N-PCL (governance basics)
Association corporate powers, member/shareholder meetings, inspection rights, election challenges.
Popular Sections (direct links @ NYSenate; mirrors where useful)
Condominium Act (RPL Art. 9-B)
Co-ops (BCL — corporate governance)
Conversions & Consumer Protections (Martin Act)
Administrative Rules (Attorney General — 13 NYCRR)
REFB’s offering-plan regulations (NYCRR Title 13). Links prefer AG/LII; Westlaw mirrors included for browsing.
Condos
Co-ops
Community Association Manager Licensing
State licensing status
- No dedicated CAM license in New York. Many management tasks do not require a special state CAM credential.
- Certain brokerage/rental activities may require a Real Estate Salesperson/Broker license via NY Department of State (DOS).
NY DOS — Real Estate (overview)
Verify a NY Real Estate License
Practical note
- Boards commonly hire managing agents; contracts should define scope, compliance, and insurance.
- Without a CAM statute, corporate law and the governing documents control meetings, records and elections.
Governing Documents & Overlays
- Governing documents: Declaration (condos), proprietary lease/house rules (co-ops), HOA declaration/CCR, bylaws, board rules/resolutions.
- Corporate law: BCL (co-ops & some HOAs) and N-PCL (many HOAs, some condo associations) for meetings, notices, records, elections.
- Offering-plan layer: For new builds and conversions, disclosures & consumer protections under GBL Art. 23-A and 13 NYCRR.
- Other overlays: FHA/FHAct, ADA (as applicable), NYC/local codes, tax & building regulations.
New York City — Local Laws & Programs
Key NYC requirements impacting condos/co-ops/HOAs
- Local Law 97 (emissions caps): Carbon limits for large buildings with penalties for exceedance.
DOB LL97 ·
NYC Accelerator - LL33 & LL84 (energy grades & benchmarking): Annual benchmarking and public letter grade posting.
Energy Grades ·
Benchmarking - FISP / Local Law 11 (façade): Buildings over six stories must complete a façade inspection/report every five years.
FISP overview - Local Law 152 (gas piping): Periodic inspections on a four-year cycle (most buildings; R-3 exempt).
Gas piping inspections - Housing Maintenance Code (HPD): City housing standards & enforcement.
Code (PDF) ·
HPD Code Enforcement - Co-op/Condo Property Tax Abatement (DOF): Building-level application by management/board.
Program overview
NYC rules layer on top of state law and your governing documents. Verify applicability by occupancy, floor count, covered-building status, and filing cycle.
Attorney General — Real Estate Finance Bureau (REFB)
REFB (offerings & conversions)
- Public info line: (212) 416-8122
- Main helpline (OAG): 1-800-771-7755
- Mailing/Courier: 28 Liberty St., 21st Fl., New York, NY 10005
Disclaimer
This page is a general reference and not legal advice. Laws and rules change; always verify the current text on the official linked sites and consult qualified counsel for your situation.
Last updated: September 8, 2025