Colona CHAPTER 2 RENTAL HOUSING1 § 9-2-5-6
WATER HEATING FACILITIES
Operative Text
A. Minimum Requirements: Every dwelling unit shall have supplied water heating facilities which are properly installed, which are maintained in safe and good working condition, which are properly connected with the hot water lines required under the provisions of this Chapter and which are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit (120°F). B. Independent From Heating Facilities: Such supplied water heating facilities shall be capable of meeting the requirements of this subsection when the dwelling or dwelling unit or rooming unit heating facilities required under the provisions of Section 9-2-5-5 of this Chapter are not in operation. C. Owner Responsibility: The above shall be the sole responsibility of the owner and failure to provide the foregoing shall be a violation of this Chapter. (1997 Code)
Colona § 9-2-5-6 establishes that every rental dwelling unit must be equipped with water heating facilities that are properly installed, safely maintained, and capable of delivering water at a minimum temperature of 120°F at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub, or shower. These water heating systems must function independently from the unit's space-heating equipment, meaning they must work even when the central or room heating system is off. The provision places full responsibility for meeting these standards on the property owner, and any failure to comply constitutes a violation of the Chapter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Colona § 9-2-5-6, compliant property owners generally ensure that water heating equipment is professionally installed, routinely inspected, and kept in safe working order throughout a tenancy. Operators typically verify that hot water lines are properly connected and that the system can consistently deliver water at or above 120°F at every required fixture, regardless of whether the space-heating system is running. Because § 9-2-5-6(C) places sole responsibility on the owner, maintaining documentation of inspections and repairs is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating ongoing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Colona § 9-2-5-6 gives tenants the right to hot water at a minimum of 120°F at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub, and shower, and this obligation rests entirely with the property owner under subsection C. If hot water is unavailable or consistently below the required temperature, tenants may have grounds to report the condition to the local code enforcement or housing authority as a Chapter violation. Tenants experiencing this issue can also explore options such as raising the violation as a defense in relevant proceedings or contacting a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance on available remedies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation