Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 166-17
Minimum standards established
Operative Text
No person shall let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements: A. Lighting generally. Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. Whenever walls or other portions of structures face a window of any such room and such light-obstruction structures are located less than three feet from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, such a window shall not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors and shall not be included as contributing to the required minimum total window area. The total window area in every habitable room shall be at least 8% of the floor surface area of such room. B. Artificial lighting. (1) Where there is electric service available from power lines which run not more than 300 feet away from a dwelling, every habitable room of such dwelling shall contain at least one electric receptacle for every 20 linear feet (or major fraction) of the total distance around a room as measured horizontally along the wall at the floor line. Such receptacles shall, insofar as practicable, be spaced equal distances apart. (2) Each habitable room shall contain at least two separate wall-type electrical outlets or one such convenience outlet and one supplied ceiling-type electrical light fixture. Every water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room, furnace room and public hall and similar space shall be provided with artificial light adequate for the intended use of such room or space. Every such outlet, fixture or receptacle shall be properly installed and be maintained in good and safe working condition and shall be connected to the source of electric power in a safe manner. (a) Overcurrent protection. [1] Fuseholders for plug fuses of 30 amperes or less shall not be installed or used unless they are of the Type S with the adaptor inserted or of the Type S construction. Fuses or circuit breakers shall not exceed wire (conductor) capacity of the circuit. [2] There shall be at least one lighting circuit for each 500 square feet of floor space and at least one circuit for kitchen appliances which is separate from the lighting circuits. [3] In a multiple-occupancy building, each occupant shall have access to his or her disconnecting means and overcurrent protection at all times. C. Ventilation generally. Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight which can easily be opened or such other approved method which will adequately ventilate the room. D. Lighting and ventilation of bathrooms and water closets. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall comply with the light and ventilation requirements for habitable rooms contained in Subsections A and B of this § 166-17 , except that no window or skylight shall be required in bathrooms and water closets adequately equipped with a ventilation system approved by the enforcement officer and kept in operable condition. E. Self-closing devices or screens required during certain times. From May 1 to October 1, entrances to residential buildings shall be provided with self-closing-type screen doors. Windows and other openings used for ventilation shall be properly screened. F. Heating. The owner or operator shall furnish heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition and are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit to a temperature of at least 68º F. at a distance of three feet above floor level under ordinary minimum winter conditions. It shall be the duty of every person who shall have contracted to furnish heat for any building or portion thereof occupied as a home or place of residence of one or more persons to heat or furnish heat for every occupied room in such building or portion thereof so that the minimum temperature of 68º F. may be maintained at all times when the outer or street temperature falls below 50º F. Whenever the building is heated by means of a furnace, boiler or other apparatus under the control of the owner, agent or lessee of such building, such owner, agent or lessee, in the absence of a written contract or agreement to the contrary, shall be deemed to have contracted, undertaken or bound himself or herself to furnish heat in accordance with the provision of this subsection. G. Storm windows. If a tenant is responsible for the payment of heating bills, the owner or operator shall furnish storm windows or an appropriate equivalent from October 1 to May 1 of each calendar year.
Section 166-17 of the Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances establishes baseline physical standards that every rental dwelling or dwelling unit must meet before it can lawfully be occupied. These standards cover natural and artificial lighting, electrical outlets and overcurrent protection, ventilation, bathroom and water closet light and air requirements, seasonal screen doors and window screens, minimum heating temperatures, and storm windows when tenants pay their own heating bills. A dwelling that falls short of any of these requirements cannot legally be rented for residential occupancy under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 166-17, compliant rental operators generally ensure that every habitable room has windows or skylights meeting the 8% floor-area threshold, that electrical outlets and fixtures are properly installed and maintained, and that overcurrent protection meets the Type S fuse and circuit-capacity requirements described in the provision. Operators also maintain heating systems capable of reaching 68°F at three feet above floor level, install self-closing screen doors and window screens between May 1 and October 1, and provide storm windows or an equivalent from October 1 to May 1 when tenants are responsible for heating costs. Keeping dated maintenance records and inspection logs is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating ongoing compliance with the standards set out in this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 166-17 gives tenants the right to occupy a dwelling that meets specific minimums for lighting, ventilation, electrical safety, heat, and seasonal weatherproofing — and a landlord cannot lawfully rent a unit that fails these standards. If a unit appears to lack adequate natural light, functioning electrical outlets, sufficient heat, required screens, or storm windows owed under this provision, tenants may have grounds to raise those deficiencies as a housing-code violation with the local enforcement officer referenced in § 166-17. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the Johnson City code enforcement office, raising the violation as a defense in a housing proceeding, or contacting a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation