N.Y. SCT Law § 55

§ 55. When foreclosure action may be commenced. Except as herein\notherwise provided, the action provided for in the last section may be\ncommenced at any time after twelve months in respect to unimproved or\nnon-residential real estate, or thirty-six months in respect to\nresidential real estate and within eight years from the date of sale\nmentioned in the certificate of sale, or five years from the date of the\ntax deed and all the provisions of the civil practice law and rules and\nall other provisions of law and the rules of practice relating to\nactions for the foreclosure of mortgages shall apply to the action\nhereby authorized so far as applicable, except as herein otherwise\nprovided. It shall be sufficient for the plaintiff to set forth in his\ncomplaint in such action a copy of or the substance of his certificate\nof sale or tax deed, and the interest, penalties, additions and expenses\nclaimed by him, with a statement that the premises described in the\ncertificate of sale or deed have not been redeemed or conveyed pursuant\nto the provisions of this act, and that the plaintiff elects to recover\nas herein provided, also that the defendants have or may have some\ninterest in or lien upon the property affected by the action.\n