Emergency Executive Order No. 2.5, signed January 30, 2026, continues New York City’s ongoing state of emergency—first declared in October 2022—used to support Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers that provide temporary housing amid increased arrivals in recent years. The order extends the emergency for 30 days, briefly extends provisions from Emergency Executive Order 2.4 for an additional five days, and—crucially—requires a concrete exit strategy: by February 19, 2026, the NYC Department of Social Services and the NYC Department of Homeless Services (working with the NYC Law Department) must deliver to the Mayor a plan to phase out facilities that are still operating under emergency suspensions and modifications of laws and rules.
What the order does (key points)
- Extends the overall State of Emergency for 30 days (originally declared October 7, 2022 under Emergency Executive Order No. 224).
- Extends Section 1 of Emergency Executive Order 2.4 (Jan. 25, 2026) for 5 days.
- Sets a hard deadline: Feb. 19, 2026 for DSS/DHS to submit a phase-out plan for facilities relying on continued legal/rule suspensions.
- Takes effect immediately and notes the emergency can be extended again in additional 30-day increments if needed.
- Maintains specific suspensions listed in the appendix, including parts of the NYC Administrative Code §§ 21-309, 21-312, and 21-124 (as previously continued under EEO No. 886, Nov. 19, 2025).
Why it matters: Order 2.5 keeps the emergency framework in place for temporary housing sites, but for the first time sets a firm deadline for an “exit strategy.” City agencies must submit a phase-out plan by Feb. 19, 2026.
What the Emergency Order Actually Suspends (Plain-English Guide)
Note: This is a simplified explainer for readers (not legal advice). The appendix to Emergency Executive Order No. 2.5 keeps specific suspensions in place for certain facilities—mainly affecting shelter and temporary housing rules. (PDF)
Key laws referenced in the Appendix (and why they matter)
- NYC Administrative Code § 21-309 — Referrals to non-compliant hotel units prohibited. In practice, this section restricts placing homeless families in hotel units that lack basic in-unit standards (e.g., bathroom, cooking facilities, refrigerator, etc.). Suspending it can make it easier to use hotel-type sites that don’t fully meet those requirements.
- NYC Administrative Code § 21-312 — Shelters for adults. This includes a well-known capacity limit: “No shelter for adults shall be operated with a census of more than 200 persons.” Suspending it can allow larger adult shelter operations at certain sites.
- NYC Administrative Code § 21-124 — Prohibiting the use of Tier I shelters. This section bars Tier I shelters and requires baseline in-unit standards for family shelters—such as a bathroom, refrigerator, cooking facilities, and an adequate sleeping area within each unit. Suspending it can temporarily loosen those unit-level requirements for certain facilities.
Timeline (quick reader version)
- Oct. 7, 2022: Emergency began with Emergency Executive Order 224 (PDF).
- Jan. 30, 2026: Order 2.5 is signed and takes effect immediately (PDF).
- By Feb. 19, 2026: DSS and DHS must submit a phase-out plan to the Mayor (see §3 in the PDF).
- Next: The emergency can be extended again in additional periods of up to 30 days if needed (per Order 2.5).
Related / Background (official sources)
- Emergency Executive Order No. 2.5 (NYC Mayor’s Office page) — PDF
- Emergency Executive Order 886 (Nov. 19, 2025) — PDF
- Emergency Executive Order 2 (Jan. 5, 2026) — PDF
FAQ
Does the order change services today?
Mostly it extends the existing emergency framework and keeps specific suspensions in place for certain facilities.
See the official text of Order 2.5
(PDF).
What’s new in 2.5?
A concrete requirement and deadline: DSS and DHS must deliver a phase-out plan to the Mayor by
Feb. 19, 2026 (see §3 of the Order 2.5 PDF).
Emergency Executive Order No. 2.5
WHEREAS, pursuant to a state of emergency first declared by Emergency Executive Order No. 224, dated October 7, 2022, and subsequent orders extending such state of emergency, the City has operated Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers to provide temporary housing in response to the substantial increase in arrivals during recent years; and
WHEREAS, such orders issued prior to January 5, 2026 did not provide or require a plan for actions that would be taken to eliminate the need for the suspensions and modifications of laws and rules effected by the orders; and
WHEREAS, such state of emergency continues for the present pending the expedited development and implementation of such plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in me as Mayor of the City of New York, by the laws of the State of New York and the City of New York, including but not limited to the New York Executive Law, the New York City Charter and the Administrative Code of the City of New York, and the common law authority to protect the public in the event of an emergency:
Section 1. I hereby direct that the State of Emergency declared in Emergency Executive Order No. 224, dated October 7, 2022, and extended by subsequent orders, is extended for thirty (30) days.
§ 2. Section 1 of Emergency Executive Order No. 2.4, dated January 25, 2026, is hereby extended for five (5) days.
§ 3. By no later than February 19, 2026, the Department of Social Services and the Department of Homeless Services, in consultation with the Law Department, shall develop and submit to the Mayor a plan to phase out the continued use of facilities that have been operated in reliance on the suspensions and modifications of laws and rules.
§ 4. This Emergency Executive Order shall take effect immediately. The State of Emergency shall remain in effect for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days or until rescinded, whichever occurs first. Additional declarations to extend the State of Emergency for additional periods not to exceed thirty (30) days shall be issued if needed.
_________________________
Zohran Kwame Mamdani
Mayor
Appendix
List of laws and regulations for which suspension continues for any facility subject to this order, including any operated by or on behalf of DSS or DHS, and any other facility existing on the effective date of this order:
- Sections 21-309 and 21-312 of the Administrative Code. (EEO No. 886, dated November 19, 2025, § 3, para. (d) and (g))
- Sections 21-124. (EEO No. 886, dated November 19, 2025, § 3, para. (h)(i))
January 30, 2026
Download Emergency Executive Order 2.5
Sources: NYC.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
