Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-85
Discontinuance of utilities
Operative Text
No owner, operator, landlord or occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required to be supplied by the provisions of this code to be removed or shut off from or discontinued for any occupied dwelling unit, except for necessary repairs, alterations or emergencies.
Section 210-85 of Ithaca's Code of Ordinances prohibits anyone with control over a dwelling—whether an owner, operator, landlord, or occupant—from cutting off or removing any service, facility, equipment, or utility that the code requires to be provided to an occupied unit. The only recognized exceptions are situations involving necessary repairs, alterations, or emergencies. This rule applies as long as the unit is occupied, regardless of any disputes between the parties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 210-85, compliant property operators maintain continuous provision of all code-required utilities and services to occupied units, interrupting them only when a genuine repair, alteration, or emergency makes a temporary shutoff unavoidable. Operators typically document the reason for any interruption, its expected duration, and the steps taken to restore service promptly. Cutting off utilities as a means of pressuring a tenant or resolving a dispute falls outside the narrow exceptions the section recognizes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 210-85 gives occupants of Ithaca dwellings a clear protection against having required utilities or services removed or shut off by any party in control of the property, except in limited circumstances involving repairs, alterations, or emergencies. If a service is discontinued outside those exceptions, tenants may report the condition to the City of Ithaca's Code Enforcement office, which administers Chapter 210. Tenant-rights organizations in the Ithaca area can also help residents understand what remedies and enforcement paths may be available under this provision.
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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