Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-26
Chimneys, flues and gas vents
Operative Text
A. General requirements. (1) Chimneys, flues, gas vents and their supports shall be installed and maintained so as to be structurally safe, durable, smoketight, noncombustible and capable of withstanding the action of flue gases without softening, cracking, corroding or spalling. (2) Such facilities shall effectively convey the products of combustion to the outer air. (3) Masonry chimneys, except approved prefabricated chimneys, shall have noncombustible foundations. (4) Flue linings shall be capable of withstanding the action of flue gas without softening, cracking, corroding or spalling at the temperature to which they will be subjected. (5) Openings for smoke pipes or gas vent connections shall be provided with a means for easy connection without restriction of the flue. (6) No flue shall have smoke pipe or gas vent connections in more than one story of a building. (7) Fuel-burning equipment and fireplaces located in different tenancies shall not be connected to the same flue. B. Firesafety. Chimneys, flues and gas vents shall be installed and maintained so that, under conditions of use, the temperature of any combustible material adjacent thereto, insulated therefrom or in contact therewith does not exceed a safe temperature. C. Spark arresters. A chimney or flue connected to an incinerator and a chimney or flue which may emit sparks shall be provided with a spark arrester of noncombustible construction. Spark arresters shall have sufficient total clear area to permit unrestricted passage of flue gases. Openings in spark arresters shall be of such size as to prevent passage of embers and to minimize clogging by soot.
Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-26 establishes standards for chimneys, flues, and gas vents in residential and other buildings. These systems must be structurally sound, smoketight, and capable of safely carrying combustion byproducts to the outside, while keeping nearby combustible materials at safe temperatures. The provision also prohibits connecting fuel-burning equipment from different tenancies to the same flue, and requires spark arresters on chimneys connected to incinerators or those that may emit sparks.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ch. 210 § 210-26, compliant property operators generally ensure that all chimneys, flues, and gas vents are regularly inspected and maintained to remain structurally sound, smoketight, and free of cracks, corrosion, or spalling. Operators take care that each tenancy's fuel-burning equipment and fireplaces are connected to separate flues, and that any chimney serving an incinerator or capable of emitting sparks is fitted with a properly sized, noncombustible spark arrester. Masonry chimneys are supported by noncombustible foundations, and flue linings are verified to withstand the temperatures they will encounter in normal operation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ch. 210 § 210-26 gives tenants a basis to raise concerns if chimneys, flues, or gas vents in their building appear damaged, improperly shared between units, or lacking required spark arresters, as these conditions may constitute code violations. Tenants who observe such issues can document them and report the conditions to the City of Ithaca's code enforcement office, which is responsible for overseeing compliance with these standards. Tenant-rights organizations in the Ithaca area can also help residents understand what remedies or complaint processes may be available to them.
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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