Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-29
Electrical
Operative Text
A. General requirements. (1) Electrical wiring and equipment shall be installed in conformity with generally accepted standards and maintained so as not to be a potential source of ignition of combustible material or a potential source of electrical hazard. (2) Electrical wiring and equipment shall be firmly secured to the surface on which it is mounted. (3) Electrical wiring and equipment installed in damp or wet locations or where exposed to explosive or flammable gases or to excessive temperatures shall be of a type approved for the purpose and location. (4) Electrical wiring and equipment shall be protected against excessive current by properly rated overcurrent devices. (5) Electrical wiring and equipment and the electric service entrance to each building shall be grounded or otherwise protected by insulation, isolation or guarding so as to minimize the danger of high voltage from lightning or other causes. (6) Electrical equipment which in ordinary operation produces arcs or sparks shall be enclosed unless separated and isolated from all combustible material. (7) Service equipment and overcurrent protection devices shall be installed and maintained in a readily accessible location. B. Artificial lighting. (1) Residential buildings and occupancies shall be wired for electricity, and lighting equipment shall be installed throughout to provide adequate illumination for the intended use of each space. Electrical wiring systems shall be connected to an adequate source of supply. (2) There shall be a switch or other means for controlling a light in each dwelling unit, near the point of entrance to such unit. (3) Every habitable room, every bathroom, every kitchen and every kitchenette having more than 70 square feet of floor area shall be provided with not less than one outlet, of wall, ceiling or base type, properly installed and connected to provide electric current for artificial lighting or other purpose. C. Exit and directional signs. (1) Exits in multiple dwellings shall be provided with exit and directional signs visible from the approach to the exits, except that such signs shall not be required in those portions of a building which contain dwelling units only or in which exit from sleeping rooms is directly to the outside. (2) Directional signs shall be provided at locations from which the exit doorway is not readily discernible. (3) Such signs shall be worded in plainly legible block letters, with the word EXIT for exit signs and the words TO EXIT with a suitable pointer or arrow indicating the direction of exit for directional signs. Letters for signs shall be conspicuous, readily discernible and at least six inches high, except that for internally illuminated signs the height of such letters shall be at least 4 1/2 inches. (4) Exit and directional signs shall be illuminated either externally or internally by electric lights and shall be kept illuminated at all times when the building is occupied.
Section 149-29 of Mount Vernon's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 149, establishes comprehensive electrical safety standards for residential buildings. The rule covers proper installation and maintenance of wiring and equipment, adequate artificial lighting in all habitable spaces, and the required presence of illuminated exit and directional signs in multiple dwellings. Equipment must be grounded, protected against overcurrent, and enclosed when it produces arcs or sparks, while exits must be clearly marked and lit whenever the building is occupied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential properties in Mount Vernon must ensure that all electrical wiring and equipment complies with the standards set out in Ch. 149 § 149-29, including proper grounding, overcurrent protection, and secure mounting. Every habitable room, bathroom, kitchen, and kitchenette over 70 square feet must have at least one electrical outlet, and a light switch must be placed near each dwelling unit's entrance. In multiple dwellings, compliant operators maintain illuminated exit and directional signs with block letters at least six inches high (or 4½ inches for internally illuminated signs) at all times the building is occupied.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Mount Vernon Code Ch. 149 § 149-29, tenants in residential buildings are entitled to properly installed and maintained electrical systems, adequate lighting outlets in all habitable rooms and bathrooms, and clearly marked, continuously illuminated exit signs in multiple dwellings. If electrical equipment appears unsafe, outlets are missing from required spaces, or exit signs are unlit or absent, these conditions may constitute violations of this provision. Tenants can document such conditions and report them to the appropriate local housing or code enforcement authority, or consult a 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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.