S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    224
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 9, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. BRAUNSTEIN, MOSLEY, BENEDETTO, JAFFEE, COLTON,
   MONTESANO, KIM -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK -- read once and
   referred to the Committee on Cities
 
 AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the  city  of  New  York,  in
   relation to the filing of deeds containing restrictive covenants
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is  amended
 by adding a new section 27-106 to read as follows:
   § 27-106 REGISTRY OF DEEDS WITH RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. (A) THE DEPART-
 MENT  SHALL  MAINTAIN  A  REGISTRY  OF  ALL DEEDS CONTAINING RESTRICTIVE
 COVENANTS THAT ARE FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT. ANY SUCH FILING SHALL  NOT
 BE  DEEMED  AS  ACCEPTABLE  IN  LIEU  OF  ANY  OTHER FILING REQUIREMENTS
 MANDATED OR PERMITTED UNDER ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW,  RULE  OR  REGU-
 LATION. A DEED CONTAINING ONE OR MORE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS MAY BE FILED
 WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR INCLUSION IN THIS REGISTRY BY ANY OWNER OR HOME-
 OWNER  ASSOCIATION  WHOSE  PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT
 AND/OR BY OR ON BEHALF OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION  OR  CIVIC  ASSOCI-
 ATION  WHOSE AREA OF GEOGRAPHIC CONCERN, AS SET FORTH IN ITS CERTIFICATE
 OF INCORPORATION, CHARTER OR OTHER RELEVANT ORGANIZING DOCUMENT,  ENCOM-
 PASSES  THE  PROPERTY  THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF SUCH RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
 THE FILING SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A  NOTARIZED  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT
 ACKNOWLEDGING THE AUTHENTICITY OF SUCH DEED. THIS REGISTRY SHALL BE MADE
 AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.
   (B)  PRIOR  TO THE ISSUANCE OF ANY PERMIT, EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT
 SHALL SEARCH THE REGISTRY CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION  (A)  OF  THIS
 SECTION  FOR  THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER ANY DEED LISTED IN THIS
 REGISTRY CONTAINS ANY RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WOULD BE VIOLATED BY THE
 ISSUANCE OF THE REQUESTED PERMIT OR THE COMPLETION OF  THE  PROJECT  FOR
 WHICH  SUCH  PERMIT  IS  SOUGHT.  IF A VIOLATION OF ANY SUCH RESTRICTIVE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02653-01-9

 A. 224                              2
 
 COVENANT WOULD OCCUR, THEN THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT  ISSUE  SUCH  PERMIT
 EXCEPT  AS AUTHORIZED BY ORDER OF A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION. ANY
 OWNER OR HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION WHOSE PROPERTY IS  THE  SUBJECT  OF  SUCH
 RESTRICTIVE  COVENANT,  OR ANY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR CIVIC ASSOCI-
 ATION WHOSE AREA OF CONCERN ENCOMPASSES THE PROPERTY THAT IS THE SUBJECT
 OF SUCH RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, SHALL BE BARRED  FROM  COLLECTING  DAMAGES
 AGAINST  THE  CITY FOR THE FAILURE TO ENFORCE THE RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED
 IN SUCH RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IF SUCH RESTRICTIVE COVENANT HAS  NOT  BEEN
 FILED  WITH  THE  DEPARTMENT.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE ANY ADDI-
 TIONAL RULES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
   (C) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE INTERPRETED TO  LIMIT  OR  REDUCE
 THE RIGHTS OF ANY OWNER OR HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION WHOSE AREA OF GEOGRAPH-
 IC  CONCERN ENCOMPASSES THE PROPERTY THAT IS SUBJECT OF SUCH RESTRICTIVE
 COVENANT OR COVENANTS TO INITIATE AND MAINTAIN LEGAL ACTION  TO  ENFORCE
 ANY SUCH COVENANT OR COVENANTS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.