Jamestown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 215 § 215-31
Plumbing
Operative Text
A. General requirements. (1) 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 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 other water supplies. (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. All water pipes shall be securely fastened to structural parts of dwellings to prevent vibration. (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 pressures and temperatures in excess of system design. 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 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) Approved cleanouts shall be provided and maintained so that the pipes may be readily cleaned. (7) The drainage system and its attendant vent pipe shall be vented. (8) Each vent terminal to the outer air shall be installed and maintained in accordance with Chapter B, Article 9, of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code to eliminate clogging, 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 foods or similar materials shall be equipped with air breaks adequate to prevent contamination of such contents from any possible backup of sewer 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 approved system of stormwater disposal where available. Storm drains shall be discharged in such a manner that water will not flow onto sidewalks or adjoining properties. (2) Where a drainage system may be subject to backwater, 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 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. (2) Water-heating facilities. Every dwelling unit shall be supplied with water-heating facilities which are installed in an approved manner, properly maintained and properly connected with hot-water lines to the fixtures required to be supplied with hot water under this subsection. (a) Water-heating facilities shall be approved to accommodate the occupancy for which it was designed and capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit water to be drawn at a temperature of not less than 130º F. or 55º C. Under no circumstances shall its capacity be less than 30 gallons per hour. (b) 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. (c) Where multiple dwellings contain sleeping accommodations arranged as individual rooms, 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. (d) Where multiple dwellings contain sleeping accommodations arranged as a dormitory, for each multiple of 15 persons or fraction thereof there shall be provided plumbing fixtures consisting of at least one water closet, one bathtub or shower and one lavatory. (e) Urinals may be substituted in men's toilet rooms for not more than 1/3 of the required number of water closets. (f) Privies, privy vaults and outhouses shall be prohibited on 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) The water supply used for filling or for cleaning pools shall be from a potable source. The water supply shall be protected against potential pollution from all sources, including cross-connection and backflow. (2) Approved drains shall be provided to allow for complete draining of the pool. 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 of sufficient design and capacity 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 operations. (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 specially designed for such other use. (4) Means for emptying water supply tanks shall be provided and maintained in 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 which the system was designed.
Section 215-31 of the Jamestown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances establishes comprehensive standards for plumbing systems in buildings, covering water supply, sewage drainage, 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 components be installed and maintained to prevent structural damage, contamination, and health hazards. Hot water must be deliverable at no less than 130°F, and each dwelling unit must include a minimum set of plumbing fixtures such as a kitchen sink, water closet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to § 215-31 of Jamestown's Code of Ordinances generally ensure that all plumbing systems—including water supply lines, drainage, venting, and fixtures—are kept in good repair and free from conditions that could cause contamination, structural damage, or health hazards. Compliant operators maintain water-heating equipment capable of delivering water at or above 130°F with a minimum capacity of 30 gallons per hour, and verify that each dwelling unit contains the required minimum fixtures. Operators also routinely inspect storm drainage, leaders, gutters, and sewage systems to confirm proper function and compliance with the approved disposal connections required under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 215-31 of the Jamestown Code of Ordinances, tenants are entitled to continuously available potable water, functioning sewage and storm drainage systems, and water-heating facilities that deliver hot water at no less than 130°F. If plumbing systems are deficient—such as contaminated water supply, inadequate hot water, missing required fixtures, or improper drainage—tenants may have grounds to report conditions to the appropriate local code enforcement or housing authority. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents of Jamestown understand how to document plumbing deficiencies and what options may be available, including raising a code violation as part of a housing complaint.
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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