Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 151 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 151-70
Required facilities
Operative Text
A. Dwelling units. Every dwelling unit shall contain its own bathtub or shower, lavatory, water closet and kitchen sink which shall be maintained in a sanitary, safe working condition. The lavatory shall be placed in the same room as the water closet or located in close proximity to the door leading directly into the room in which such water closet is located. A kitchen sink shall not be used as a substitute for the required lavatory. B. Rooming houses. At least one water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower shall be supplied for each four rooming units. C. Hotels. Where private water closets, lavatories and baths are not provided, one water closet, one lavatory and one bathtub or shower having access from a public hallway shall be provided for each 10 occupants. D. Employees' facilities. (1) A minimum of one water closet, one lavatory and one drinking facility shall be available to employees. (2) Drinking facilities. Drinking facilities shall be a drinking fountain, water cooler, bottled water cooler or disposable cups next to a sink or water dispenser. Drinking facilities shall not be located in toilet rooms or bathrooms.
Section 151-70 of Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 151 establishes minimum sanitary facility requirements for different types of residential and lodging occupancies. Every dwelling unit must have its own bathtub or shower, lavatory, toilet, and kitchen sink, all kept in safe, sanitary working order, with the lavatory placed near the toilet room. Rooming houses must provide at least one toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower for every four rooming units, while hotels without private facilities must supply one of each per ten occupants, accessible from a public hallway. Workplaces covered by this section must also provide employees with at least one toilet, lavatory, and a compliant drinking facility located outside of any bathroom or toilet room.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of dwelling units, rooming houses, hotels, and workplaces in Amherst should ensure that all facilities required under § 151-70 are present, properly configured, and maintained in sanitary, safe working condition at all times. For dwelling units, this means each unit has its own dedicated toilet, lavatory, bathtub or shower, and kitchen sink — with the lavatory positioned in or immediately adjacent to the toilet room. Rooming house and hotel operators generally track their unit-to-fixture ratios to stay within the thresholds set by § 151-70, and employers verify that drinking facilities are available to staff in locations outside of restrooms.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 151-70 of Amherst's Code of Ordinances, tenants in dwelling units have a right to a unit equipped with its own functioning toilet, lavatory, bathtub or shower, and kitchen sink, all maintained in a sanitary and safe condition. If any of these required fixtures are missing, broken, or unsanitary, that condition may constitute a code violation that tenants can report to the appropriate Amherst code enforcement authority. Tenants may also wish to document deficiencies in writing and consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand the range of options available under § 151-70.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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