NYC Heat Season: A Practical Guide for Bronx & Manhattan Landlords
NYC heat season rules (Oct 1 - May 31), the required indoor temperatures, and how building owners can avoid no-heat violations with maintenance and fast repairs.
The rules in brief
NYC heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. Between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., if the outdoor temperature falls below 55°F, the indoor temperature must be at least 68°F. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the indoor temperature must be at least 62°F regardless of the outdoor temperature. Hot water must be provided year-round at a minimum of 120°F at the tap. Always check NYC HPD for the current rules.
How owners get into trouble
- No annual boiler maintenance, leading to mid-winter failure
- Low-water cutoffs or controls that fail and are not caught
- Steam systems that heat some apartments and not others
- Slow response to tenant complaints
A no-heat plan for building owners
- Service the boiler before October 1 every year.
- Keep a contact list: your plumber or heating contractor, fuel supplier and super.
- Log complaints and response times.
- Balance steam systems so far apartments heat. This also cuts fuel costs.
- Plan replacements in the off-season, not in January.
Westchester landlords
Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and other Westchester municipalities enforce their own property maintenance and housing codes, which generally require adequate heat in rental units. Check your city or village code.
In Yonkers, Westchester and the Bronx
Many of our customers own two- to six-family buildings in the Bronx and in Yonkers and Mount Vernon. The building types are similar on both sides of the city line, but the rules differ: NYC heat season law and HPD enforcement apply in the Bronx and Manhattan, while Yonkers and other Westchester cities enforce their own property maintenance codes. Either way, preventive maintenance before October 1 is the cheapest insurance against violations and emergency calls.
