Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 166-39
Discontinuance of services, facilities and equipment
Operative Text
A. Discontinued service. No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required under this chapter to be removed from or shut off from or discontinued for any occupied dwelling, except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process or during temporary emergencies. B. Separate meters. No owner or operator shall cause to be rented any dwelling unit or rooming unit for which the occupant pays for all or part of his utilities unless said utility serves only the occupant's unit and is separately metered.
Section 166-39 of the Johnson City Code of Ordinances establishes two related protections for occupied dwellings. First, it prohibits owners, operators, and occupants from removing, shutting off, or discontinuing any service, facility, equipment, or utility that the chapter requires to be maintained — with narrow exceptions for temporary interruptions during active repairs, alterations, or genuine emergencies. Second, it bars owners and operators from renting any dwelling or rooming unit where the occupant pays for utilities unless those utilities serve only that occupant's unit and are measured by a separate meter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to § 166-39 of the Johnson City Code generally ensure that all required services, facilities, equipment, and utilities remain continuously available to occupied units, interrupting them only during active repair work or genuine emergencies. When a rental arrangement requires the occupant to pay any portion of utility costs, compliant operators confirm that the relevant utility line serves exclusively that unit and is individually metered before executing the lease. Maintaining documentation of meter configurations and any service interruptions — including their cause and duration — is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 166-39 of the Johnson City Code of Ordinances, tenants have a right to continuous access to all required services, facilities, equipment, and utilities, and landlords may not cut them off except during brief, legitimate repair or emergency situations. If a tenant is being charged for utilities that appear to serve more than one unit or are not separately metered, that arrangement may conflict with the separate-meter requirement in this section. Tenants who believe a landlord has violated § 166-39 may consider documenting the disruption or metering situation, contacting the Johnson City Code Enforcement office, 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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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