Hornell, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 178 § 178-24
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 system shall not be connected to private or unsafe water supplies. (2) Water supply systems shall be installed and maintained so as to provide at all times a supply of water to plumbing fixtures, devices and 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 pressure 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 health hazard or nuisance. (3) Sewage or other waste which may be deleterious to surface or subsurface waters shall not be discharged into 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) Adequate cleanouts shall be provided and maintained so that the pipes may be readily cleaned. (7) The drainage system and its attendant vent piping shall be maintained so as to provide adequate circulation of air in all pipes in order that siphonage, aspiration or pressure will not cause a loss of trap seal under ordinary conditions of use. (8) 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. (9) 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. Storm drainage. (1) Roofs and paved areas, including yards and courts, shall be drained. Storm drainage shall be conveyed to an adequate and approved system of stormwater disposal where available. Storm drains shall be discharged in such manner that water will not flow onto sidewalks. (2) Where a drainage system may be subject to backwater, suitable provision shall be made to prevent its overflow into the building. (3) Leaders and gutters, if used, shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, except that wood leaders and gutters may be used for buildings not more than three stories high. E. Plumbing facilities. (1) Buildings and portions thereof shall be provided with plumbing systems and 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 a 130° F. to 140° F. from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. (2) There shall be provided within each dwelling unit plumbing fixtures consisting of at least one kitchen sink, one water closet, one bathtub or shower and one lavatory. (3) 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 one water closet, one bathtub or shower and one lavatory. (4) 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 one water closet, one bathtub or shower and 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 in residential premises. F. 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 so spaced as to be reasonably accessible for their intended use. (3) Plumbing fixtures shall be located in spaces that are accessible, lighted and ventilated. G. Swimming pools. (1) Water supply used for filling or for the cleaning of the pool shall be clean. Water supply shall be protected against potential pollution from all sources, including cross-connection and backflow. (2) Drains shall be provided so that the pool can be safely and adequately drained. Drains shall be provided in floors surrounding the swimming pool and arranged so that water from such areas will drain without entering the pool. (3) Filtering, sterilizing and auxiliary equipment, where required, shall be adequate to maintain the sanitary quality of water during each period the pool is in use. Equipment containing gases or disinfectants capable of giving off irritating, toxic or flammable fumes shall be located in ventilated rooms. (4) The installation shall be arranged and maintained to prevent dirt, sand or other foreign matter from entering the bathing area. H. Water supply tanks. (1) Water supply tanks shall be installed and maintained so as to be watertight, verminproof, rodentproof, resistant to corrosion and capable of withstanding the working pressures under normal operation. (2) Supports for tanks shall be of noncombustible construction. (3) Tanks and their supports shall not be used to support equipment or structures other than for tank use, except where specifically designed for such other use. (4) Means for emptying water supply tanks shall be provided and maintained in proper working condition. (5) Potable water supply tanks for domestic supply and standpipe or automatic sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained to furnish water in sufficient quantity and pressure for such systems.
Section 178-24 of Hornell's Code of Ordinances establishes comprehensive standards for plumbing systems in residential buildings, covering everything from water supply and sewage drainage to storm drainage, fixtures, swimming pools, and water supply tanks. The rule requires that potable water be continuously available from an approved, uncontaminated source, that sewage be properly routed to an approved disposal system, and that all plumbing fixtures meet minimum sanitary and structural standards. Hot water in multiple dwellings must be supplied at 130°F to 140°F between 6:00 a.m. and midnight, and each dwelling unit must contain at minimum a kitchen sink, water closet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 178-24, compliant residential property operators in Hornell generally ensure that all plumbing systems are kept in sanitary, serviceable condition and do not compromise the structural integrity of the building. Operators of multiple dwellings typically verify that hot water is delivered within the 130°F–140°F range during the required hours, that each unit contains the minimum required fixtures, and that sewage and storm drainage systems are connected to approved disposal systems. Routine inspections of water supply tanks, vent piping, trap seals, cleanouts, and safety relief devices on hot-water systems are part of the ongoing maintenance practices associated with compliance under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 178-24 gives residential tenants in Hornell the right to expect continuously available potable water, properly functioning sewage and drainage systems, and a minimum set of plumbing fixtures—including a kitchen sink, water closet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory—within their dwelling unit. Tenants in multiple dwellings are also entitled to hot water at 130°F to 140°F from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. If plumbing conditions fall short of these standards, tenants may consider documenting the deficiency, notifying the landlord in writing, and reaching out to Hornell's local code enforcement office or a tenant-rights organization to learn about available complaint and enforcement paths under § 178-24.
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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