Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 166-47
Maintenance and use of plumbing fixtures
Operative Text
Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep all plumbing fixtures therein in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the proper use and operation thereof. This liability on the part of the occupant shall not relieve the owner of the responsibility of remedying any defect, nor of any other liability imposed upon the owner by law, but it shall subject the occupant to the penalties of this chapter upon proper proof of any willful or malicious act he or she has performed.
Under Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 § 166-47, occupants of dwelling units are required to keep plumbing fixtures clean and sanitary and to use them with reasonable care. Importantly, this obligation does not eliminate the property owner's separate duty to fix defects or comply with other legal responsibilities. If an occupant is found to have willfully or maliciously damaged plumbing fixtures, that occupant may face the penalties established elsewhere in Chapter 166.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 166-47, an occupant's responsibility for plumbing care does not transfer the owner's underlying maintenance obligations — compliant property operators continue to address plumbing defects and remedy code violations regardless of how a fixture came to be damaged. Owners who discover willful or malicious damage by an occupant may pursue the chapter's penalty provisions, but that avenue does not substitute for making necessary repairs. Documenting the condition of plumbing fixtures at move-in and throughout tenancy is a practice commonly associated with managing these overlapping responsibilities.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 166-47 of Johnson City's housing code makes clear that tenants are expected to keep plumbing fixtures clean and to use them properly, but it explicitly preserves the owner's duty to fix defects — meaning an owner cannot point to this provision as a reason to avoid making repairs. Penalties under Chapter 166 apply to occupants only upon proof of willful or malicious conduct, not ordinary wear or accidental damage. Tenants who believe an owner is improperly withholding repairs may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or the relevant municipal code enforcement office to understand 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.
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