Local Law Provisions for Climate Change Adaptation

In September 2014, New York enacted the Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA), which requires in part that the New York Department of State and the Department of Environmental Conservation create model local laws relating to climate adaptation for use by local governments. The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law has assembled existing and suggested local law provisions that reflect diverse approaches to adaptation to climate-enhance flood risk. This document is a collection of useful statutory options- one that takes note of local law provisions enacted by local governments in New York, as well as relevant state laws enacted in New York and other jurisdictions. This paper is organized into three sections: Permitting Review, Targeted Development Restrictions and Prudent Development, and Protection/Armoring.