N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2002
Legislative declaration (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
It is hereby found that the enforcement of minimum standards of health and safety, fire protection, light and ventilation, cleanliness, repair and maintenance, and occupancy in dwellings is necessary to protect the people of the city against the consequences of urban blight. The sound enforcement of minimum housing standards is essential: 1. to preserve decent housing; 2. to prevent adequate or salvageable housing from deteriorating to the point where it can no longer be reclaimed; and 3. to bring about the basic decencies and minimal standards of healthful living in already deteriorated dwellings, which, although no longer salvageable, must serve as habitations until they can be replaced. In order to accomplish these purposes, and following a review of existing housing standards in the light of present needs, and a reexamination of methods of administration, including legal sanctions and remedies, to assure the effectiveness of enforcement, it is hereby found that the enactment of a comprehensive code of standards for decent housing maintenance, imposing duties and responsibilities for the preservation of the dwellings in the city upon owners and tenants, as well as on the municipality itself, enforceable by a broad range of legal, equitable and administrative powers, is appropriate for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the people of the city.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 et seq. § 27-2002 sets out the legislative rationale behind New York City's Housing Maintenance Code, declaring that enforcing minimum standards for health, safety, fire protection, light, ventilation, cleanliness, and repair is necessary to protect city residents from urban blight. The provision establishes that maintaining decent housing, preventing salvageable buildings from deteriorating beyond recovery, and improving already-deteriorated dwellings are all essential public goals. To achieve these aims, the law places duties on owners, tenants, and the city itself, backed by a broad range of legal, equitable, and administrative enforcement tools.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 et seq. § 27-2002 should understand that this provision frames the entire Housing Maintenance Code as a shared responsibility — one that explicitly places duties on owners to preserve dwellings and maintain minimum standards of health, safety, and repair. Compliant operators generally keep their buildings in a condition that meets or exceeds the code's baseline requirements for habitability, fire protection, light, and ventilation. Because the code authorizes a broad range of legal and administrative enforcement actions, documented maintenance practices and timely repairs are hallmarks of responsible property management under this framework.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 et seq. § 27-2002 affirms that tenants have a stake in the city's commitment to decent, safe, and sanitary housing, and that the law was designed with their protection in mind. Tenants who believe their dwelling falls below the minimum standards described in this legislative declaration — such as inadequate heat, light, ventilation, or unsafe conditions — may have grounds to file a complaint with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or raise housing code violations in a housing court proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand which enforcement paths are available under the broader Housing Maintenance Code that this provision introduces.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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