The package of scaffolding bills, introduced by council members Keith Powers and Erik Bottcher, calls for a study on new sidewalk designs to be submitted to the council by September, and raises the minimum height to 12 feet with better LED lighting. It also requires more frequent inspections.

With more than 8,400 sidewalk sheds across the five boroughs, some have remained in place for years—blocking light, hurting businesses and even posing safety risks.

New York City voted yes to sweeping changes for scaffolding standards on Wednesday. The City Council approved a package of bills that tackled issues which have led to the massive accumulation of scaffolding sheds and other structures across the city.