In 1982, the New York State legislature passed Article 7-C of the Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL), also known as the Loft Law. The law created a new class of buildings in New York City. These buildings are known as interim multiple dwellings (IMD). Generally, these buildings are former commercial and manufacturing spaces that were used as residences by at least three or more families living independently from April 1, 1980 through December 1, 1981. The Loft Law also established the Loft Board to coordinate the legal conversion of these spaces to safe, rent-stabilized residential units.
In June of 2010, June of 2013 and June of 2015, the State Legislature amended the Loft Law to include units in a commercial or manufacturing building which lacks a residential certificate of occupancy, where three or more families lived independently for twelve consecutive months from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009.
In June of 2019, the State Legislature amended the Loft Law to include units in a commercial or manufacturing building which lacks a residential certificate of occupancy, where three or more families lived independently for twelve consecutive months from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016.
In addition, the amended Loft Law requires that units:
Section 282 of the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law establishes the New York City Loft Board. The Board is charged with overseeing the conversion of Interim Multiple Dwelling (IMD) buildings from commercial and manufacturing spaces to safe, rent-stabilized residences that comply with the minimum standards of safety and fire protection stated in Article 7-B of the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law. To achieve this goal, the Board adjudicates and mediates disputes between owners and tenants, tracks the progress of each building undergoing legalization and prosecutes parties who violate the Loft Law and the Loft Board's rules.
See a map of buildings currently under the jurisdiction of the Loft Board.