Variances

Phone call

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, Albany, New York 12231.

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

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 21, 2024

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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 20, 2024

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

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 Jr. State Office Building, 250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Room 4A9A, Hauppauge, New York 11788:

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Thursday, November 21, 2024

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 10, 2024

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

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: