Self-storage companies in New York City must notify customers 60 days before raising storage fees. They are also barred from ending a rental agreement without explaining why, and violations carry a fine of up to $1,000. Detailed rules implementing the law that requires city licenses for operators take effect Sept. 17.
Self-storage companies in New York City must now notify customers 60 days before raising storage fees. They are also prohibited from unilaterally terminating a rental agreement without explaining why. Two local laws passed last year took effect Aug. 25, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) rules to enforce them take effect Thursday, Sept. 17.
The fee-notice requirement is in Local Law 162 of 2025. It requires operators to give customers 60 days' notice before raising storage fees and to state the reason when ending a rental agreement. Violators face a fine of up to $1,000 per violation.
No Operating Without a License
Local Law 171 of 2025, which took effect at the same time, requires self-storage facilities to hold a DCWP license. Until now, the city's licensing system covered only "storage warehouses" that hold household goods and belongings, while self-storage facilities, where individuals rent a unit, operated without a separate license. The same law also eliminated the bond requirement previously imposed on licensed storage warehouses.
The rules taking effect on the 17th set out the procedures for applying for and maintaining a license, as well as the fee items that operators must disclose to consumers. DCWP said it also included the self-storage industry's notice requirements in the rules, based on the commissioner's authority to prohibit deceptive and unfair trade practices. Customers who did not receive notice of a fee increase, or whose contract was terminated without a reason, can file a complaint through 311 or DCWP.