LOCAL LAW 92/94 GREEN ROOF
INSTALLATION, NYC
New buildings and major roof renovations in New York City must generally dedicate the available roof to a green roof, solar, or both.Code-compliant vegetated roof systems — American Hydrotech certified, self-performed as one scope with the waterproofing beneath
National Urban League
Trusted by property owners, developers, public agencies, and institutional clients throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Under Local Laws 92 and 94 of 2019, new buildings in New York City — and existing buildings undertaking major roof renovations — must generally dedicate the available roof area to a sustainable roofing zone: solar panels, a green roof, or a combination of both. Exceptions exist for fire-code setbacks, mechanical equipment, terraces, and certain other conditions, so the compliant area is worked out building by building with your design team.
L&M Roofing has been installing vegetated roof systems in NYC since before they were required by law. We are American Hydrotech certified, we self-perform the waterproofing and the green roof assembly as one scope, and our installations include some of the city's most demanding projects — from the Coney Island Phase I towers to passive-house affordable housing developments.
WHAT COUNTS — AND WHAT TRIGGERS IT
The requirement generally applies to new construction and to major roof work such as replacing an entire roof deck or assembly — routine repairs and maintenance typically do not trigger it, but where the line falls for your project is a determination for your architect or engineer, and we can walk the roof with them. Compliant green roof assemblies pair a root-resistant waterproofing membrane with drainage, growing media, and plantings engineered for the structure's load capacity.
Done right, the sustainable roofing zone is not just a code checkbox: vegetated and blue roof assemblies manage stormwater, extend membrane life by shielding it from UV and thermal cycling, and turn mechanical roofs into usable amenity space that leases better. The waterproofing underneath is what makes or breaks the system — which is why we self-perform both layers.
WHAT IS EXEMPT
Most owners arrive at this law asking the same thing: how much of my roof does this actually apply to? Rarely all of it. The sustainable roofing zone is what remains after the excluded areas come out, and on a real building those exclusions take a serious bite. Areas generally excluded include:
Mechanical equipment
HVAC units, elevator bulkheads and the service clearances around them.
Occupiable terraces and amenity space
Roof areas built as usable outdoor space for residents or tenants.
Recreational space
Areas essential to the function of the facility, such as school or community rooftops.
Steep roof pitch
Roof planes pitched greater than 2:12 fall outside the zone.
Code-required access and setbacks
Fire-code setbacks, paths of egress and required clearances at the roof perimeter.
Stormwater detention
Blue roof assemblies and other detention systems serving the building.
Which exclusions apply, and how much roof is left once they do, is a determination for your architect or engineer — not for a roofing contractor to assert. What we can do is walk the roof with them and price the zone that survives the analysis.
Worth asking about separately: New York City offers a property tax abatement for green roofs, at a higher rate in designated priority districts. It is claimed independently of Local Law 92/94 compliance, the rates and eligibility rules change, and the current terms are worth confirming with the Department of Finance before you budget around them.
WHAT WE INSTALL
GREEN ROOFS WE INSTALLED
Coney Island Phase I, Beach Green Dunes III, Sendero Verde, National Urban League — the assemblies Local Laws 92/94 point toward, self-performed.
LL92/94 FAQS
Does replacing my roof membrane trigger the green roof requirement?
Not always. The laws generally apply to new buildings and major roof renovations such as full deck or assembly replacement — routine repairs and simple recovers typically do not trigger the requirement. The determination is made by your design professional with the DOB; we can assess the roof with them and price the compliant options. Call (914) 937-1030.
Green roof or solar — which should we choose?
It depends on the building: structural capacity, shading, stormwater goals, and how you want to use the roof. Many projects combine both. A green roof adds stormwater management and usable amenity value; solar generates power. We install the green roof side and coordinate seamlessly with solar installers on combined zones.
How much load does a green roof add?
Extensive sedum systems are engineered to be light — the assembly is selected to match your structure's capacity, confirmed by your engineer. Intensive assemblies with deeper media and plantings require more capacity and are typically used on new construction designed for them.
Who maintains the green roof after installation?
Vegetated roofs need seasonal maintenance — inspections, weeding, drainage checks. We install systems with maintenance access designed in and can connect owners with ongoing horticultural maintenance programs.
Planning a Roof Under LL92/94?
MBE Certified · Self-Performed · Serving NYC Since 1970