New York City has long been one of the most expensive places to build in the nation, thanks at least in part to the city’s onerous building code. The code is so complex and out-of-date that commercial and residential buildings cost millions of dollars more to construct in New York than in other parts of the country (or even upstate), where uniform codes like the International Building Code (IBC) and Fire Code are already in effect.

Mayor Bloomberg has made modernization and streamlining of the building code a priority for his administration. Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster has led the campaign to simplify the code, lowering costs for developers while still ensuring safe, sound, efficient buildings.

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