Governor Hochul signs new law to strengthen cooling tower inspections across New York City

Albany, New York – Governor Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation designed to strengthen oversight of cooling towers across New York City, introducing stricter inspection, reporting, and maintenance requirements intended to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.

The new law places additional responsibilities on owners and operators of buildings equipped with cooling towers, requiring them to regularly confirm that the systems have been properly inspected, tested, cleaned, and disinfected in accordance with the New York City Administrative Code. State officials say the measure is aimed at improving public health protections by ensuring that potentially dangerous conditions are identified and corrected much more quickly.

Cooling towers, which are commonly used to remove heat from large commercial, residential, and industrial buildings, can become breeding grounds for Legionella bacteria if they are not properly maintained. When contaminated water is released into the air as fine mist, people nearby may inhale the bacteria, potentially leading to Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia that can sometimes be fatal.

Governor Hochul said recent cases have demonstrated why stronger oversight is needed.

“Protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers is my highest priority,” Governor Hochul said. “Recent outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease underscore the urgency of certification requirements, and we look forward to working with the City to ensure New Yorkers are protected against these public health threats.”

The legislation, identified as S08472-A/A09058A, replaces the previous annual certification process with a requirement for building owners to submit certifications twice each year. Those certifications must be completed every January and July, or on dates designated by the New York City Department of Buildings.

State leaders believe increasing the frequency of certifications will provide additional oversight while helping ensure that maintenance issues are discovered and addressed before they become larger public health concerns.

Beyond requiring more frequent certifications, the legislation establishes strict deadlines for responding to problems discovered during inspections.

Under the law, building owners must correct maintenance deficiencies as soon as possible and no later than 48 hours after they are identified. If testing reveals dangerous levels of microbes that could pose a serious health threat, owners must notify the New York City Department of Buildings and begin corrective action as quickly as possible, with a maximum response time of 24 hours.

Lawmakers also approved tougher financial penalties for owners who fail to meet the new standards.

Civil fines will now reach $2,500 for a first violation, while a second or subsequent violation may result in penalties of $7,000. Violations that contribute to a fatality or serious injury can bring fines of up to $12,500, significantly increasing the consequences for failing to properly maintain cooling towers.

Health officials welcomed the legislation, saying it strengthens New York’s already extensive regulations surrounding cooling tower safety.

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New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership on this legislation that continues to advance New York State’s nation-leading regulations for cooling towers and reduce the public’s exposure to Legionella. Cooling tower operators should ensure they are conducting testing and treatment at the required intervals. The Department will continue to provide outreach to local health departments and healthcare providers to raise awareness about summertime pneumonia and to encourage clinical sampling for Legionella when a patient presents with pneumonia during the summer months.”

Officials say educating both healthcare providers and the public remains an important part of preventing future outbreaks. Early recognition of Legionnaires’ disease can improve treatment, especially during warmer months when the bacteria are more likely to spread through cooling tower systems.

New York City leaders also voiced support for the legislation, emphasizing that accountability among property owners remains one of the strongest defenses against bacterial outbreaks.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “Keeping New Yorkers safe means preventing outbreaks before they happen by holding building owners accountable for maintaining their cooling towers. New York City has the strongest cooling tower regulations in the country, requiring regular inspections, maintenance and testing to stop Legionella bacteria from spreading. Every year, we hold owners accountable with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, and we welcome any opportunity to strengthen these protections even further. Every New Yorker deserves to know that their city is doing everything possible to protect their health.”

City Council Speaker Julie Menin described the measure as another step toward preventing avoidable tragedies linked to contaminated cooling towers.

“No family should ever lose a loved one to a preventable Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. This legislation is an important step toward strengthening accountability and ensuring dangerous cooling towers are inspected, reported, and remediated before lives are put at risk. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this bill and for her commitment to protecting New Yorkers. At the City level, the Council will continue to press for additional reforms through a comprehensive oversight hearing and a package of legislation this September to strengthen prevention, transparency and public health protections so an outbreak of this scale never happens again.”

The legislation also received praise from lawmakers who helped move it through the State Legislature following previous Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in New York City.

State Senator Cordell Cleare said, “I drafted this bill one year ago during the Harlem Legionnaires’ Outbreak and I am grateful to the Governor for signing it in quick order. I look forward to working with Governor Hochul on a whole suite of solutions to ensure that our water, from source to tap, is pristine.”

State Senator Gustavo Rivera said, “I thank Governor Hochul for signing a law that will increase inspections and reporting requirements to ensure proper maintenance of cooling towers. The recent outbreaks of Legionnaires disease in New York City made it clear that these measures are needed to maintain the highest standards in hygiene and building safety, which will protect New Yorkers from this public health concern.”

Assemblymember Jordan Wright said the legislation strengthens prevention by requiring faster action and clearer accountability.

“Legionnaires’ disease is a serious and preventable public health threat, and we cannot afford to wait until New Yorkers become sick — or worse — to act. This legislation strengthens our protections by requiring more frequent testing and certification of cooling towers, establishing clear deadlines to address dangerous conditions and imposing stiffer penalties on building owners who fail to do their part to protect the public. I am proud to have championed this legislation because every New Yorker deserves to know that the places where they live, work, and gather are safe. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership and for signing this critical measure into law. Her partnership has helped us take a meaningful step toward preventing future outbreaks, holding negligent property owners accountable and protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers.”

Assemblymember Amy Paulin also emphasized the importance of preventing avoidable illnesses.

“Too many families across our state have suffered preventable losses from Legionnaires’ disease. Every New Yorker deserves the assurance that the buildings around them are safe and that owners are held accountable. I am grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership in signing this important measure to protect public health.”

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Legionnaires’ disease develops after exposure to Legionella bacteria, which naturally grow in warm water environments. The illness spreads when contaminated water droplets become airborne and are inhaled. It is not transmitted from person to person but instead through exposure to contaminated water vapor.

Symptoms often resemble those of the flu or other forms of pneumonia and may include fever, chills, muscle aches, coughing, and breathing difficulties. Because the illness can become severe, especially among older adults and people with weakened immune systems, health officials encourage anyone experiencing symptoms after possible exposure to seek medical attention promptly.

With the governor’s signature, New York is expanding its efforts to prevent future outbreaks by combining more frequent inspections, tighter reporting deadlines, stronger enforcement measures, and increased accountability for building owners. State and city leaders say the strengthened requirements will help reduce public exposure to Legionella bacteria while ensuring cooling towers throughout New York City are maintained according to the highest safety standards.

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