Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-52
Plumbing
Operative Text
(a) General requirements: (1) Plumbing systems shall be maintained in sanitary and serviceable condition, and installed and maintained in accordance with the plumbing standards of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. (2) Plumbing systems shall be maintained so as not to weaken structural members nor cause damage or deterioration to any part of the building through fixture usage. (b) Water supply: (1) Potable water from an approved source shall be available at all times in occupied buildings. The domestic water supply system of the building shall be connected to such approved source, and shall not be subject to contamination. When supplied from a public source, the potable water supply system shall not be connected to private or unsafe water supplies. (2) Water supply systems shall be installed and maintained so as to provide at all times a supply of water to plumbing fixtures, devices and appurtenances in sufficient volume and at pressures adequate to enable them to function satisfactorily and without undue noise under all normal conditions of use. (3) Water supply systems shall be installed and maintained so that water used for purposes of cooling, heating or fire suppression systems shall not be reintroduced into the domestic water supply system or be distributed through such equipment to plumbing fixtures. (c) Sewage drainage systems: (1) Plumbing fixtures shall be drained directly into a sewage drainage system and such system shall be connected to a public sewer or to an adequate and approved system of sewage disposal. (2) Where a public sewer is not available, a system shall be provided to receive and dispose of sewage without health hazard or nuisance. (3) Sewage or other waste shall not be discharged into the ground or into a waterway unless it has first been rendered harmless through subjection to treatment or to natural processes in conformity with generally accepted standards. (4) Substances which will clog the pipes, produce explosive mixtures, destroy the pipes or their joints or interfere unduly with the sewage disposal process, shall not be discharged into the building drainage system unless it is provided with approved devices suitable for intercepting such substances. (5) Each fixture directly connected to the sewage drainage system shall be equipped with a water seal trap. (6) Adequate cleanouts shall be provided and maintained so that the pipes may be readily cleaned. (7) The drainage system and its attendant vent piping shall be maintained so as to provide adequate circulation of air in all pipes in order that siphonage, aspiration or pressure will not cause a loss of trap seal under ordinary conditions of use. (8) Each vent terminal to the outer air shall be installed and maintained so as to minimize the possibilities of clogging, frost closure, the return of foul air to the building, the creating of a nuisance to adjacent premises. (9) Drains provided for fixtures, devices, appliances or apparatus containing food, water, sterile goods or similar materials, shall be equipped with air breaks, adequate to prevent contamination of such contents from any possible backup of sewage through the direct or indirect drainage piping. (d) Storm drainage: (1) Roofs and paved areas, including yards and courts, shall be properly drained. Storm drainage shall be conveyed to an adequate and approved system of storm water disposal where available. Storm drains shall be discharged in such manner that water will not flow onto sidewalks or adjacent properties. (2) Where a drainage system may be subject to backwater, suitable provision shall be made to prevent its overflow into the building. (3) Leaders and gutters, if used, shall be constructed of noncombustible material, except that plastic or wood leaders and gutters may be used for buildings not more than three (3) stories high. (e) Plumbing facilities: (1) Buildings shall be provided with plumbing systems designed to dispose of the sewage from all fixtures and to furnish cold water to every water closet and urinal, and hot and cold water to every sink, lavatory, bathtub and shower required therein. Water heating facilities shall be properly installed, maintained, and capable of providing an adequate volume (not less than two and five-tenths (2.5) gpm) of water to be drawn at every required fixture at a temperature of not less than one hundred ten (110) degrees Fahrenheit. (2) There shall be provided within each dwelling unit, plumbing fixtures consisting of at least: One kitchen sink One water closet One bathtub or shower, and One lavatory (3) Where multiple dwellings contain sleeping accommodations arranged as individual rooms or suites, for each multiple of four (4) sleeping rooms or fraction thereof, there shall be provided plumbing fixtures consisting of at least: One water closet One bathtub or shower, and One lavatory (4) Where multiple dwellings contain sleeping accommodations arranged as a dormitory, for each multiple of fifteen (15) persons or fraction thereof so accommodated there shall be provided and located adjacent thereto, plumbing fixtures consisting of at least: One water closet One bathtub or shower, and One lavatory (5) Urinals may be substituted in men's toilet rooms for not more than one-third (⅓) of the required number of water closets. (6) Toilet facilities shall be accessible within employee working areas. The path of travel to the facilities shall not exceed a travel distance of five hundred (500) feet or traverse more than one (1) flight of stairs, except where more restrictive requirements are applicable as the result of the facilities having been constructed or undergone a change of occupancy after January 1, 1981, or where required by the Americans With Disabilities Act. (7) Privies, privy vaults and outhouses shall be prohibited on premises which are included in the scope of this Code. (f) Plumbing fixtures: (1) Plumbing fixtures shall be made of smooth nonabsorbent material and shall be free from concealed fouling surfaces. (2) Plumbing fixtures shall be so spaced as to be reasonably accessible for their intended use. (3) Plumbing fixtures shall be located in spaces that are accessible, lighted and ventilated. (g) Swimming Pools: (See also 27-72 (k)) (1) Water supply used for filling or for cleaning of the pool shall be clean. Water supply shall be protected against potential pollution from all sources, including cross-connection and backflow. (2) Drains shall be provided so that the pool can be safely and adequately drained. Drains shall be provided in floors surrounding the swimming pool, and arranged so that water from such areas will drain without entering the pool. (3) Filtering, sterilizing and auxiliary equipment, where required, shall be adequate to maintain the sanitary quality of water during such period the pool is in use. Equipment containing gases or disinfectants capable of giving off irritating, toxic, or flammable fumes shall be located in ventilated rooms. (4) The installation shall be arranged and maintained to prevent dirt, sand or other foreign matter from entering the bathing area. (h) Water supply tanks: (1) Water supply tanks shall be installed and maintained so as to be watertight, verminproof, rodentproof, resistant to corrosion, and capable of withstanding the working pressures under normal operation. (2) Supports for tanks shall be of noncombustible construction. (3) Tanks and their supports shall not be used to support equipment or structures other than for tank use, except where specially designed for such other use. (4) Means for emptying water supply tanks shall be provided and maintained in proper working condition. (5) Potable water supply tanks for domestic supply and standpipe or automatic sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained to furnish water in sufficient quantity and pressure for such systems.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 6 § 27-52 establishes comprehensive standards for plumbing systems in occupied buildings, covering everything from water supply and sewage drainage to storm drainage, swimming pools, and water supply tanks. The rule requires that potable water be continuously available from an approved, uncontaminated source, that sewage be properly directed to approved disposal systems, and that all plumbing fixtures meet specific material and accessibility standards. Buildings must also supply both hot and cold running water at minimum specified temperatures and flow rates, and each dwelling unit must contain at least a kitchen sink, water closet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 6 § 27-52 generally keep plumbing systems in continuous sanitary and serviceable condition, ensuring water pressure, temperature (at least 110°F), and flow rates (at least 2.5 gpm) meet the provision's minimums at all required fixtures. Compliant operators verify that each dwelling unit contains the four required plumbing fixtures—kitchen sink, water closet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory—and that sewage drainage connects to an approved public or private disposal system. Routine inspections of vent piping, trap seals, cleanouts, storm drainage components, and any swimming pool or water supply tank equipment are consistent with maintaining compliance under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 6 § 27-52, tenants in occupied buildings are entitled to a continuous supply of potable water, functioning sewage drainage, and the minimum required plumbing fixtures within their dwelling unit, including hot water at no less than 110°F. If plumbing systems are not maintained in sanitary and serviceable condition—for example, if water pressure is inadequate, hot water is unavailable, or drainage is defective—this provision may be relevant to a housing code complaint filed with the City of Syracuse's code enforcement office. Tenants may also wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand how a violation of § 27-52 could be raised in response to housing conditions or other 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 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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