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NYC Council Passes COPA Bill Giving Nonprofits First Shot at Distressed Buildings
The City Council passed the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act on October 22, requiring owners of about 2,100 distressed buildings to offer nonprofits a chance to bid first, ending a six-year legislative battle.
Why it matters
One of the first major housing policies passed under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, it changes the fate of about 2,100 distressed apartment buildings and directly affects New York's affordable housing supply.
Full report
On October 22, the New York City Council passed Introduction 905-A, the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA), sending it to Mayor Zohran Mamdani for signature. Mamdani has previously voiced support and included the bill in his housing plan.
The vote ends a six-year legislative saga: the Council passed an earlier version in December 2025, which then-Mayor Eric Adams vetoed on his final day in office; a revised version was reintroduced on May 14, 2026.
The bill covers roughly 2,100 buildings designated by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) as problem buildings — 4+ units with repeated violations, in enforcement programs, or in tax arrears facing municipal foreclosure. Before selling, owners must notify HPD and certified nonprofits: a 20-day intent window, a 70-day offer window, and a 15-day price-match window — 145 days total (down from 160 in the previous version).
The law takes effect one year after enactment; HPD must first draft implementing rules and certify participating organizations. The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) voiced conditional support, small-landlord groups oppose the measure, and legal challenges remain possible.
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