Cohoes, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 215 § 215-25
Plumbing
Operative Text
A. General requirements. (1) Plumbing systems shall be maintained in a sanitary and serviceable condition. (2) Plumbing systems shall be maintained so as not to weaken structural members nor cause damage or deterioration to any part of the building through fixture usage. B. Water supply. (1) Potable water from an approved source shall be available at all times in residential buildings. The domestic water supply system of the building shall be connected to such approved source and shall not be subject to contamination. When supplied from a public source, the potable water supply shall not be connected to private or unsafe water supplies. (2) The water supply shall be installed and maintained so as to provide at all times a supply of water to plumbing fixtures, devices and all appurtenances in sufficient volume and at pressures adequate to enable them to function satisfactorily and without undue noise under all normal conditions of use. (3) Water supply systems shall be installed and maintained so that water used for purposes of cooling or heating shall not be reintroduced into the domestic water supply system nor be distributed through such equipment to plumbing fixtures. (4) Hot water supply systems shall be provided with safety devices arranged to relieve hazardous pressures and excessive temperatures. C. Sewage drainage system. (1) Plumbing fixtures shall be drained to a sewage drainage system, and such system shall be connected to a public sewer or to an adequate and approved system of sewage disposal. (2) Where a public sewer is not available, a system shall be provided to receive and dispose of sewage without hazard or nuisance. (3) Sewage or other waste which may be deleterious to surface or subsurface waters shall not be discharged onto the ground or into a waterway unless it has first been rendered harmless through subjection to treatment in conformity with generally accepted standards. (4) Substances which will clog the pipes, produce explosive mixtures, destroy the pipes or their joints or interfere unduly with the sewage disposal process shall not be discharged into the building drainage system unless it is provided with approved devices suitable for intercepting such substances. (5) Each fixture directly connected to the sewage drainage system shall be equipped with a water seal trap. (6) The drainage system and its attendant vent piping shall be maintained so as to provide adequate circulation of air in all pipes so that siphonage, aspiration or pressure will not cause a loss of trap seal under ordinary conditions of use. (7) Each vent terminal to the outer air shall be installed and maintained so as to minimize the possibilities of clogging, frost closure, the return of foul air to the building or the creation of a nuisance to adjacent premises. (8) Drains provided for fixtures, devices, appliances or apparatus containing food, water, sterile goods or similar materials shall be equipped with air breaks adequate to prevent contamination of such contents from any possible backup of sewage through the direct or indirect drainage piping. D. Plumbing facilities. (1) Buildings and portions thereof 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. In multiple dwellings, hot water shall be furnished at 130° F. to 140° F. temperature range from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. (2) There shall be provided within each dwelling unit, plumbing fixtures consisting of at least: (a) One kitchen sink; (b) One water closet; (c) One bathtub or shower; and (d) One lavatory. (3) Where multiple dwellings contain sleeping accommodations arranged as a dormitory, for each multiple of 12 persons or fraction thereof so accommodated, there shall be provided and located adjacent thereto, plumbing fixtures consisting of at least: (a) One water closet; (b) One bathtub or shower; and (c) One lavatory. (4) 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: (a) One water closet; (b) One bathroom with tubs or shower; and (c) One lavatory. (5) Urinals may be substituted in men's toilet rooms for not more than 1/3 of the required number of water closets. (6) Privies, privy vaults and outhouses shall be prohibited on residential premises. E. Plumbing fixtures. (1) Plumbing fixtures shall be made of smooth, nonabsorbent material and shall be free from concealed fouling surfaces. (2) Plumbing fixtures shall be located in spaces that are accessible, lighted and ventilated.
Section 215-25 of the Cohoes Code of Ordinances establishes comprehensive standards for plumbing systems in residential buildings, covering everything from water supply safety to sewage drainage and fixture requirements. The rule requires that potable water be available at all times from an approved, uncontaminated source, that sewage be properly routed to an approved disposal system, and that each dwelling unit contain at minimum a kitchen sink, water closet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory. In multiple dwellings, hot water must be supplied within a temperature range of 130°F to 140°F between 6:00 a.m. and midnight, and all plumbing fixtures must be made of smooth, nonabsorbent materials and placed in accessible, lighted, and ventilated spaces.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to ch. 215 § 215-25 of the Cohoes Code of Ordinances generally keep plumbing systems in sanitary, serviceable condition through routine inspections and prompt repairs. Compliant operators ensure that hot water is delivered within the 130°F–140°F range during the required hours of 6:00 a.m. to midnight in multiple dwellings, and that each unit contains the minimum required fixtures—sink, water closet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory. Operators also take care that drainage systems, vent piping, and water supply lines are free from blockages, contamination risks, and structural damage, and that safety relief devices on hot water systems are functional.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 215-25 of the Cohoes Code of Ordinances, tenants in residential buildings have a right to continuously available, uncontaminated potable water, properly functioning sewage drainage, and the minimum required plumbing fixtures within their dwelling unit. Tenants in multiple dwellings are also entitled to hot water within the 130°F–140°F range from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. If these standards are not being met, tenants may consider documenting the conditions, contacting the Cohoes Code Enforcement office to report a potential violation, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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