building and construction regulations have existed in new york city since its early days as new amsterdam in the 17th century. a "superintendent of buildings" position was created within the fire department in 1860, in response to the elm street fire on the lower east side of manhattan, which killed 20 people. the first buildings department was created in manhattan in 1892. in 1901 the new york state legislature passed the tenement housing act of 1901, which established a city tenement housing department, including a buildings bureau and a bureau of inspection. a citywide department of buildings though did not exist until 1936.