Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 121 § 121-52
Mechanical systems and equipment
Operative Text
A. Plumbing. (1) A mobile home shall contain a kitchen sink, flush-type water closet, bathtub or shower and lavatory. (2) A hot- and cold-water supply shall be provided at the kitchen sink, bathtub or shower and lavatory. Cold water shall be supplied to the water closet. (3) The plumbing system shall be designed and arranged so as to facilitate connecting to an approved exterior water supply and sewage disposal systems, provide adequate water supply to all plumbing fixtures and dispose of all liquid wastes therefrom. B. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning. (1) A mobile home shall contain space-heating equipment and water-heating equipment. (2) Areas allocated for installation of space-heating and water-heating equipment shall provide adequate clearance so that the surface of adjacent combustible materials will not exceed a safe temperature. Curtains and draperies shall not be used in such areas. (3) Space and water-heating units shall be of an approved type for installation in a mobile home. Fuel-burning water heaters and furnaces other than those having a sealed combustion space shall not be located in sleeping rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms. (4) Space-heating units shall have sufficient capacity to maintain a minimum inside temperature of 70° F., based on the average of the recorded annual minimum outside temperatures for the locality and shall be provided with manual or automatic temperature control devices. (5) Water-heating units shall have sufficient capacity to deliver at each hot-water outlet an ample supply of water at a minimum temperature range of 130° F. to 140° F., and such units shall be provided with safety devices arranged to relieve hazardous pressures and excessive temperatures. (6) Electric space- and water-heating equipment shall be of an approved type and shall have adequate circuit-protection devices. (7) Gas- and liquid-fuel-burning equipment shall be specifically designed for the type of fuel used. Flues and vents shall be suitable for the type of fuel used and shall be installed so that the surface of adjacent combustible material will not exceed a safe temperature. (8) Automatically operated heat-producing equipment using utility gas shall have a valve that will automatically shut off the flow of gas to the main burner when the pilot flame is extinguished. (9) Automatically operated heat-producing equipment using liquefied petroleum gas shall have a valve that will automatically shut off the flow of gas to the pilot light and main burner when the pilot light is extinguished. (10) Fuel-burning space and water-heating units shall be vented. Other fuel-burning equipment shall be vented where the discharge of products of combustion into the space where the equipment is installed would be unsafe. (11) Liquid-fuel-burning equipment shall be vented and shall be provided with means to prevent spilling of fuel. (12) Fuel storage containers and gas cylinders shall be mounted outside the mobile home or in a space that is vented to the outside and is vaportight to the inside. (13) Warm-air supply ducts and fittings shall be of noncombustible material. (14) Return-air ducts shall be of noncombustible material where exposed to temperatures which are unsafe for combustible materials. (15) Return-air grilles in doors and partitions shall be of a permanent nonclosable type. Openings for return air shall not be located in bathrooms, toilet rooms or kitchenettes. (16) Mechanical ventilation, where required, shall exhaust air at rates not less than the following: (a) For habitable space: two air changes per hour. (b) For bathrooms and toilet rooms: 25 cubic feet per minute. (c) For kitchenettes: 100 cubic feet per minute. (17) Air conditioning for habitable space provided in lieu of mechanical ventilation shall supply an amount of air not less than that set forth in Subsection B(16) , with at least 25% of the required quantity taken from the outside. C. Electrical. (1) A mobile home shall contain an electrical wiring system and service equipment. (2) Electrical wiring shall have adequate capacity for designed lighting and appliance equipment. Individual circuits shall contain overload protection devices. (3) At least one receptacle outlet shall be provided for each multiple of 12 linear feet of wall space or major fraction thereof in each habitable space and kitchenette. Bathrooms and toilet rooms shall have permanently installed lighting fixtures and switches located so as not to be an electrical hazard. (4) Exterior equipment shall be weatherproofed to ensure protection of equipment from the elements. Service equipment shall have means for quick disconnection from the source of supply. (5) Provision shall be made for grounding non-current-carrying metallic parts of the electrical system. Such grounding shall be common to one external supply point. Provision shall be made for exterior source grounding of electrical system. D. Cooking and refrigeration. (1) A mobile home shall contain cooking equipment and refrigeration equipment. (2) Electrical cooking and refrigeration equipment shall be of an approved type for installation in a mobile home and shall have adequate circuit-protection devices. (3) Gas-burning cooking and refrigeration equipment shall be of an approved type for mobile home installation, and connections to rigid pipe shall be made with approved flexible metal gas-appliance connectors.
Section 121-52 of Rensselaer's Code of Ordinances establishes minimum standards for the mechanical systems inside mobile homes, covering plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical wiring, cooking, and refrigeration equipment. The rule sets specific performance thresholds—such as minimum interior heating temperatures of 70°F and hot-water delivery between 130°F and 140°F—and requires that fuel-burning, electrical, and gas systems meet safety specifications designed to prevent fire, carbon monoxide hazards, and equipment failures. All systems must be designed to connect to approved external utilities and must include appropriate safety devices, venting, grounding, and overload protections.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of mobile home properties in Rensselaer should ensure that every unit subject to ch. 121 § 121-52 is equipped with fully functional plumbing fixtures supplied with both hot and cold water, space- and water-heating equipment meeting the stated temperature capacities, and a complete electrical system with overload protection and proper grounding. Compliant operators generally verify that all fuel-burning appliances are vented to the exterior, that automatic gas shutoff valves are in place, that fuel storage is mounted outside or in a vented, vaportight compartment, and that ductwork is constructed of noncombustible materials. Routine inspections of cooking equipment connections, weatherproofing of exterior electrical components, and confirmation that ventilation rates meet the minimums specified in § 121-52(B)(16) are practices associated with ongoing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in mobile homes covered by Rensselaer Code ch. 121 § 121-52 have a right to habitable mechanical systems that meet the code's minimum standards, including adequate heat, hot water, safe gas and electrical equipment, and proper ventilation. If a system falls short—for example, heating that cannot reach 70°F, missing safety shutoff valves, or unvented fuel-burning appliances—tenants may consider documenting the conditions and reporting them to the appropriate local code enforcement or housing authority in Rensselaer. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what remedies may be available, including raising a code violation as a defense in relevant 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 November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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