Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-25
Heating
Operative Text
A. General requirements. Residential buildings intended for occupancy between the 15th day of September and the 31st day of May of the following year shall be provided with heating equipment as required by the Property Maintenance Code of New York State. B. Smoke control. Fuel-burning heat-producing equipment shall be installed and maintained so that the emission or discharge into the atmosphere of smoke, dust, particles, odors or other products of combustion will not create a nuisance or be detrimental to the health, comfort, safety or property of any person. C. Warm-air heating. Ducts and other air-handling equipment used for heating shall conform to the requirements of such equipment used for ventilating purposes. D. Prohibited locations for heat-producing equipment. Fuel-burning water heaters shall not be located in sleeping rooms, bathrooms or toilet rooms. E. Fuel supply connection. Fuel-burning equipment shall be permanently fastened and connected in place. The fuel supply connection to such equipment shall be made with pipe or tubing of solid metal. F. Installation and clearance. (1) Where heat-producing equipment is installed on or adjacent to combustible materials, the location, insulation, clearance and control of the equipment shall be such that the temperature on the surface of the combustible materials will not exceed a safe temperature. (2) Where electric heating is used, such equipment shall be enclosed and protected to the fullest extent practicable so that any persons, especially children, shall be protected from burns from the heating elements, electric shock and other hazards. (3) If hot-water pipes not used for heating purposes are so located that they are accessible to any persons, especially children, they shall be covered with an appropriate insulating material to provide protection from burns. G. Air supply. (1) Direct-fired heat-producing equipment and the enclosure in which it is located shall be provided with a supply of air adequate both for complete combustion at the rated gross output of the equipment and for the ventilation of the enclosure to prevent the accumulation of heat. (2) Rooms containing fuel-burning equipment shall have such air supply provided by means of one or more openings to the exterior or by means of fixed openings to interior spaces which open to the exterior. H. Removal of products of combustion. (1) Equipment for burning solid or liquid fuel shall be connected to suitable chimneys or flues and shall not be connected to gas vents. Unvented heaters burning liquid fuel shall be prohibited. (2) Fuel-burning space heaters located in sleeping rooms or rooms normally kept closed shall be connected to a suitable chimney, flue or gas vent. (3) Gas-fired equipment shall be connected to a suitable chimney, flue or gas vent when the discharge of products of combustion into the space where the equipment is installed would be a hazard. I. Safety devices. (1) Equipment capable of developing hazardous pressures or temperatures shall be provided with means to relieve safely such pressures and temperatures. (2) Controls for the safe operation of automatically operated heat-producing equipment shall be provided to function as follows: (a) When failure or interruption of flame or ignition occurs, the fuel supply shall be cut off. (b) When a predetermined temperature or pressure is exceeded, the input of additional heat shall be prevented or reduced to a safe rate. (c) When the water level in a steam boiler drops below a predetermined level, the fuel supply shall be cut off. (d) When failure or interruption of the pilot light or the main burner of liquefied petroleum gas equipment occurs, the fuel supply to each pilot light and burner shall be cut off. J. Heating of garages. Fuel-burning equipment for garages servicing multiple dwellings shall be located in heater rooms, except that equipment burning gas or liquid fuel located in the vehicle storage space shall be permitted in stories at or above grade where elevated so as not to be exposed to possible accumulation of flammable gases.
Section 210-25 of Ithaca's Code of Ordinances establishes comprehensive standards for heating systems in residential buildings occupied between September 15 and May 31. The provision covers equipment installation, fuel connections, smoke and combustion emissions, clearances from combustible materials, air supply, venting of combustion byproducts, and safety controls. It also restricts where certain fuel-burning equipment may be placed—for example, prohibiting fuel-burning water heaters in sleeping rooms, bathrooms, or toilet rooms—and sets specific requirements for garages in multi-dwelling buildings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to § 210-25 generally ensure that all heating equipment is permanently fastened, connected via solid-metal fuel lines, and properly vented to an appropriate chimney, flue, or gas vent. Compliant operators keep fuel-burning appliances out of prohibited spaces such as sleeping rooms and bathrooms, maintain adequate air-supply openings for combustion equipment, and install required safety controls—such as automatic fuel shut-offs and pressure-relief devices—on all applicable systems. Routine inspection and maintenance of ducts, clearances from combustible materials, and protective enclosures for electric heating elements are also characteristic of operations that align with this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 210-25, tenants in Ithaca residential buildings have a right to heating equipment that meets New York State Property Maintenance Code standards and is safely installed, vented, and maintained throughout the heating season. If a tenant observes conditions that appear to violate this section—such as unvented heaters, improperly located water heaters, or malfunctioning safety controls—they may report concerns to the City of Ithaca's code enforcement office, which has authority to inspect and require corrections. Tenant-rights organizations in the Ithaca area can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what local complaint processes are available.
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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