Home Facts Atlas

State facts

New York: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

New York has 8.6 million housing units. 73.9% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1959. 54.3% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

New York housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

New York housing units by year built 73.9% of New York housing units were built before 1980 and 26.1% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 0.8%; 2010–2019: 5.3%; 2000–2009: 6.4%; 1990–1999: 5.9%; 1980–1989: 7.7%; 1970–1979: 9.8%; 1960–1969: 12.1%; 1950–1959: 14.1%; 1940–1949: 7.6%; 1939 or earlier: 30.3%. Before 1980 73.9% 1980 or later 26.1% 2020 or later 0.8% 2010–2019 5.3% 2000–2009 6.4% 1990–1999 5.9% 1980–1989 7.7% 1970–1979 9.8% 1960–1969 12.1% 1950–1959 14.1% 1940–1949 7.6% 1939 or earlier 30.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which the EPA administers directly in New York.

How homes are heated

How homes in New York are heated

Main heating fuel, share of 7.7 million occupied homes

  • Utility gas 59.1%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 16.1%
  • Electricity 15.4%
  • Propane or other tank gas 4.9%
  • No fuel used 1.6%
  • Wood 1.3%
  • Other fuel 1.3%
  • Coal or coke 0.2%
  • Solar energy 0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how New York's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
4A62.5%8
5A30.6%36
6A6.8%18

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. New York spans 2: North-Central (57.5% of residents), Northern (42.5% of residents).

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 102 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 66 days in the mildest county to 201 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

2.5% of residential structures in New York carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 118,000 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 11 of 62 counties rate high or very high for riverine flooding; 5 of 62 counties rate high or very high for coastal flooding; 7 of 62 counties rate high or very high for hurricanes.

Fire ants and termites

No county in New York is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in New York

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Pest Management dec.ny.gov dec.ny.gov
  11. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Pest Management dec.ny.gov dec.ny.gov
  12. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Pest Management extapps.dec.ny.gov extapps.dec.ny.gov
  13. dos.ny.gov dos.ny.gov dos.ny.gov
  14. ag.ny.gov ag.ny.gov ag.ny.gov
  15. New York State Department of Labor, Mold Program dol.ny.gov dol.ny.gov
  16. epa.gov epa.gov epa.gov