N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2031
Supply of hot water; when required (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
Except as otherwise provided in this article, every bath, shower, washbasin and sink in any dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling or tenant-occupied one-family or two-family dwelling shall be supplied at all times between the hours of six a.m. and midnight with hot water at a constant minimum temperature of one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit from a central source of supply constructed in accordance with the provisions of the building code and the regulations of the department, provided however that baths and showers equipped with balanced-pressure mixing valves, thermostatic mixing valves or combination pressure balancing/thermostatic valves may produce a discharge temperature less than one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit but in no event less than one hundred ten degrees Fahrenheit. Gas or electric water heaters may, if approved by the department, be utilized in lieu of a central source of supply of hot water if such heaters: (1) are lawfully in use on July fourteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-seven; or (2) are approved by the appropriate city agencies having jurisdiction and are installed in a structure or building erected, converted, substantially rehabilitated, or completely vacated after July fourteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-seven.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2031, every bath, shower, washbasin, and sink in a multiple dwelling or tenant-occupied one- or two-family home must have hot water available at a minimum of 120°F from 6 a.m. to midnight, supplied from a central source. An exception applies where mixing valves are installed, in which case the discharge temperature may be lower but must remain at or above 110°F. Individual gas or electric water heaters may substitute for a central supply only if they were lawfully in use before July 14, 1967, or have been approved by the relevant city agencies for newer or substantially rehabilitated buildings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2031 generally maintain a central hot water system capable of delivering water at a constant minimum of 120°F to all fixtures during the required hours of 6 a.m. to midnight. Compliant operators keep records of any department-approved mixing valves or alternative heating equipment, ensuring those systems still meet the 110°F floor where applicable. Where individual gas or electric water heaters are used in lieu of a central supply, operators typically confirm that such units either predate July 14, 1967, or carry documented approval from the appropriate city agencies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2031, tenants in covered dwellings have a right to hot water at a minimum of 120°F at every bath, shower, washbasin, and sink between 6 a.m. and midnight. If hot water is consistently unavailable or falls below the required temperature thresholds, tenants may file a complaint with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which enforces housing maintenance standards. Tenants may also wish to document the issue with dated records and consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand available remedies, including the possibility of raising a housing code violation as a defense in certain proceedings.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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