Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-31
Fuel oil
Operative Text
A. General requirements. Fuel oil shall be received, stored and conveyed by means of fixed, liquidtight equipment. B. Storage tanks. (1) Tanks shall be provided with means for venting. (2) Tanks shall be installed and maintained so as not to be a hazard to the premises served or the surrounding property. C. Piping. (1) Automatically operated boilers and furnaces using fuel oil shall be provided with remote control to stop the flow of oil during fire or other emergency. (2) Filling, emptying and venting of tanks shall be by means of fixed piping. Pipes to underground tanks shall be pitched toward tanks. Terminals of fill and vent pipes shall be located outside buildings at a safe distance from building openings.
Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-31 establishes standards for how fuel oil is handled on residential and other premises. It requires that fuel oil be received, stored, and moved only through fixed, liquid-tight equipment, and that storage tanks be properly vented and safely installed. Piping connected to underground tanks must be pitched toward the tank, and fill and vent pipe terminals must be placed outside buildings at a safe distance from openings; boilers and furnaces that operate automatically must also have a remote shutoff to stop oil flow in an emergency.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who maintain fuel oil systems should ensure that all equipment covered under ch. 210 § 210-31 — including tanks, piping, and boilers or furnaces — meets the fixed, liquid-tight, and properly vented standards described in the ordinance. Compliant operators typically verify that underground tank piping is correctly pitched, that fill and vent pipe terminals are positioned safely outside the building, and that any automatically operated boiler or furnace has a functioning remote oil-flow shutoff. Routine inspections and maintenance records help demonstrate ongoing compliance with these requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-31, tenants have an interest in knowing that fuel oil systems in their building are safely installed and maintained, since improperly vented tanks or missing emergency shutoffs can pose fire and safety hazards. If a tenant observes conditions that appear to violate these fuel oil standards — such as visible leaks, improperly located piping terminals, or a missing emergency shutoff — they may consider reporting the concern to the City of Ithaca's code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local housing codes can help explain what documentation to gather and what options may be 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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