Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-47
Plumbing facilities
Operative Text
A. Buildings shall be provided with plumbing systems designed to dispose of the sewage from all fixtures and to furnish cold water to every water closet and urinal and hot and cold water to every sink, lavatory, bathtub and shower required therein. B. There shall be provided within each dwelling unit plumbing fixtures consisting of at least: (1) One kitchen sink; (2) One water closet; (3) One bathtub or shower; and (4) One lavatory. C. Where multiple dwellings contain sleeping accommodations arranged as individual rooms or suites, for each multiple of six sleeping rooms or fraction thereof there shall be provided plumbing fixtures consisting of at least: (1) One water closet; (2) One bathtub or shower; and (3) One lavatory. D. Where multiple dwellings contain sleeping accommodations arranged as a dormitory, for each multiple of 15 persons or fraction thereof so accommodated there shall be provided and located adjacent thereto plumbing fixtures consisting of at least: (1) One water closet; (2) One bathtub or shower; and (3) One lavatory. E. Urinals may be substituted in men's toilet rooms for not more than one-third (1/3) of the required number of water closets. F. Privies, privy vaults and outhouses shall be prohibited on residential premises.
Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-47 establishes minimum plumbing requirements for residential buildings, including the fixtures that must be present in each dwelling unit—at least one kitchen sink, one toilet, one bathtub or shower, and one lavatory. Buildings with shared sleeping arrangements, such as rooming houses or dormitories, must provide a scaled number of fixtures based on the number of rooms or occupants. The provision also bans privies, privy vaults, and outhouses on residential properties, and limits urinal substitutions to no more than one-third of required toilets in men's restrooms.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-47, compliant residential property operators ensure that every dwelling unit contains the four required plumbing fixtures—kitchen sink, toilet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory—and that all plumbing systems supply both hot and cold water where required. Operators of rooming houses or dormitory-style buildings calculate fixture counts based on the applicable ratios (one set per six sleeping rooms, or per 15 dormitory occupants) and keep those fixtures in working order. Outhouses and privy vaults are strictly prohibited, and any urinal installations in men's facilities must not replace more than one-third of the required water closets.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-47 gives residential tenants the right to a dwelling unit equipped with at least a kitchen sink, toilet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory, all connected to a functioning plumbing system that provides hot and cold water as required. Tenants who find that required fixtures are missing, non-functional, or that hot water is not supplied may have grounds to raise a housing code violation. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with Albany's code enforcement office, contacting a local tenant-rights organization for guidance, or raising the violation as a defense in relevant legal proceedings.
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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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