Short answer: In New York City, mayors are limited to two consecutive four- year terms, though there have been changes to term-limit rules in the past that affected different offices differently. The current framework generally means a mayor can serve up to eight years in a row, after which they would need a break before running again, if eligible under the law. Details:
- Term length: Each mayoral term is four years. The office is elected in November of even-numbered years and takes office the following January. This four-year cycle repeats for each term served.
- Term limits: The City Charter establishes term limits for the mayor. Historically, NYC introduced a two-term limit, briefly extended in the 2000s and then adjusted again in 2010, so that officials elected after certain years are subject to new limits, while some sitting officials previously elected were allowed additional terms under transitional rules. In practice today, the mayor can serve up to two consecutive four-year terms before a required break or until otherwise changed by charter amendments or new referendum.
- Elections cadence: Mayors are elected during the general election in November of a year following a presidential election, with the term starting in January of the next year. This cadence aligns with other NYC major offices and follows the structure of the NYC Charter.
If you’d like, I can pull the exact current wording of the NYC Charter provisions on term limits and summarize how they apply to a specific incumbent or recent amendments.
