Jamestown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 215 § 215-34
Chimneys, flues and gas vents
Operative Text
A. General requirements. (1) Chimneys, flues, gas vents and their supports shall be installed and maintained so as to be structurally safe, durable, smoketight, noncombustible and capable of withstanding the action of flue gases without softening, cracking, corroding or spalling. (2) Such facilities shall effectively convey the products of combustion to the outer air in accordance with generally accepted standards. (3) Masonry chimneys, except approved prefabricated chimneys, shall have noncombustible foundations. (4) Flue linings shall be capable of withstanding the action of flue gas without softening, cracking,corroding or spalling at the temperature to which they will be subjected. Openings for smoke pipes or gas vent connections shall be provided with means for easy connection without restriction of flue. (5) No flue shall have smoke pipe or gas vent connections in more than one story of a building. (6) Fuel-burning equipment and fireplaces located in different tenancies shall not be connected to the same flue. B. Fire-safety. Chimneys, flues and gas vents shall be installed and maintained so that under conditions of use, the temperature of any combustible material adjacent thereto, insulated therefrom or in contact therewith does not exceed 175º F. C. Spark arrestors. A chimney or flue connected to an incinerator and a chimney or flue which may permit sparks shall be provided with a spark arrestor of noncombustible construction. Spark arrestors shall have sufficient total clear area to permit the unrestricted passage of flue gases. Openings in spark arrestors shall be of such size as to prevent the passage of embers and to minimize clogging by soot.
Section 215-34 of the Jamestown Code of Ordinances establishes structural, safety, and fire-prevention standards for chimneys, flues, and gas vents in residential and other buildings. The rule requires that these systems be built and kept in a condition that safely channels combustion byproducts to the outside, resists heat damage, and does not allow adjacent combustible materials to exceed 175°F. It also prohibits connecting fuel-burning equipment or fireplaces from different tenancies to the same flue, and requires spark arrestors on chimneys connected to incinerators or those that may emit sparks.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 215-34, compliant property operators in Jamestown generally ensure that all chimneys, flues, and gas vents are structurally sound, smoketight, and noncombustible, and that they are inspected and maintained on a regular basis. Operators typically verify that no single flue serves fuel-burning equipment or fireplaces from more than one tenancy, and that flue connections are limited to a single story per building. Where incinerators or spark-emitting chimneys are present, property managers generally confirm that properly sized, noncombustible spark arrestors are in place and kept clear of soot buildup.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 215-34 gives tenants in Jamestown a basis to raise concerns if chimneys, flues, or gas vents in their building appear damaged, improperly shared between units, or otherwise out of compliance with the code's structural and fire-safety standards. Tenants who observe issues such as visible cracking, smoke infiltration between units, or missing spark arrestors may consider reporting these conditions to the local code enforcement or housing authority. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how a violation of § 215-34 might be raised as part of a broader housing complaint or habitability concern.
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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