Cohoes, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 215 § 215-33
Fire protection in multiple dwellings
Operative Text
A. Potable extinguishers. (1) Each oil burner for boiler, furnace or central hot water heater shall be provided with an approved hand fire extinguisher or two pails filled with sand. (2) Portable extinguishers required for fire protection shall be in their designated locations and in a condition which will permit efficient operation without delay. B. Smoke detecting alarm devices. (1) At least one single-station smoke detecting alarm device shall be provided adjacent to sleeping spaces in a rented dwelling unit, apartment or tenement and shall be located on or near the ceiling. (2) A "single-station smoke detecting alarm device" is herein defined as an assembly comprised of a photoelectric or ionization type of smoke detector in which the control equipment and audible alarm is in one unit and which the detection of smoke activates the alarm. (3) A single-station smoke detecting alarm device shall be maintained so that under normal conditions of use the device will not be a danger to health and welfare, a danger because of structural defects and will not create excessive noise or otherwise become a nuisance. (4) A single-station smoke detecting alarm device shall be approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (5) A single-station smoke detecting alarm device shall be designed and installed so as to avoid dead air space, detect smoke and activate the alarm, be reasonably free from false alarm and provide indication that the alarm is energized. (6) The alarm shall be clearly audible in adjacent sleeping spaces with intervening doors closed.
Section 215-33 of the Cohoes Code of Ordinances establishes fire protection requirements for multiple dwellings, covering both portable fire extinguishers and smoke detecting alarm devices. Oil burners connected to boilers, furnaces, or central hot water heaters must be equipped with an approved hand fire extinguisher or two sand-filled pails, and those extinguishers must be kept in their designated locations and ready for immediate use. Additionally, at least one single-station smoke detecting alarm device—approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.—must be placed adjacent to sleeping areas in rented units, positioned on or near the ceiling, and must be audible in those sleeping spaces even with intervening doors closed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings in Cohoes should be familiar with ch. 215 § 215-33, which sets out specific equipment and maintenance standards for fire protection. Compliant property managers ensure that each oil burner location has an approved hand extinguisher or sand pails on hand and that all portable extinguishers remain in their designated spots and in operable condition at all times. For smoke alarms, compliant operators install UL-approved single-station smoke detecting alarm devices adjacent to sleeping areas in every rented unit, verify that alarms are ceiling-mounted, free from structural defects, and audible through closed doors, and maintain them on a regular basis to prevent false alarms or nuisance conditions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Cohoes Code of Ordinances ch. 215 § 215-33, tenants in rented dwelling units, apartments, or tenements have a right to a functioning, UL-approved single-station smoke detecting alarm device placed adjacent to their sleeping spaces and audible through closed doors. If a smoke alarm is missing, improperly located, malfunctioning, or creating a nuisance, or if required fire extinguisher equipment is absent from an oil burner area, these conditions may constitute a violation of this provision. Tenants who believe their unit does not meet these standards may consider documenting the conditions, notifying their landlord in writing, contacting the appropriate Cohoes municipal code enforcement office, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on 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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