New York now sets deadlines for full environmental reviews and exempts some housing on developed sites
A local board that orders a full environmental review must now decide and finish within statutory time limits, and qualifying housing on previously disturbed sites is exempt from review.
On May 26, 2026, New York amended the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA"), ECL Article 8, through Part R of chapter 58 of the Laws of 2026, a 2026–2027 State budget bill, effective immediately. The statute now sets outer time limits on the environmental impact statement ("EIS") process. Under ECL § 8-0109 as amended, the lead agency must decide whether an EIS is needed no more than one year after the lead agency is established, and, for actions involving a permit or authorization application, must prepare and make the EIS available within two years after a draft EIS is determined to be required. Part R also exempts certain housing on previously disturbed sites from SEQRA review altogether.
L. 2026, ch. 58, Part R; ECL §§ 8-0109, 8-0111 (as amended May 26, 2026); 6 NYCRR §§ 617.4, 617.7