Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-24

Plumbing

In Force
Verified 11/7/2026 · Next check 2/5/2027
Mount VernonHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-24
A. Maintenance. (1) Plumbing systems shall be maintained in sanitary and serviceable condition. (2) Plumbing systems shall be maintained so as not to weaken structural members nor cause damage or deterioration to any part of the building through fixture usage. B. Water supply. (1) Potable water from an approved source shall be available at all times in residential buildings. The domestic water supply system of the building shall be connected to such approved source and shall not be subject to contamination. When supplied from a public source, the potable water supply system shall not be connected to private or unsafe water supplies. (2) Water supply systems shall be installed and maintained so as to provide at all times a supply of water to plumbing fixtures, devices and appurtenances in sufficient volume and at pressures adequate to enable them to function satisfactorily and without undue noise under all normal conditions of use. (3) Water supply systems shall be installed and maintained so that water used for purposes of cooling or heating shall not be reintroduced into the domestic water supply system nor be distributed through such equipment to plumbing fixtures. (4) Hot-water supply systems shall be provided with safety devices arranged to relieve hazardous pressures and excessive temperatures. C. Sewage drainage system. (1) Plumbing fixtures shall be drained to a sewage drainage system, and such system shall be connected to a public sewer or to an adequate and approved system of sewage disposal. (2) Where a public sewer is not available, a system shall be provided to receive and dispose of sewage without health hazard or nuisance, provided that said system is authorized by local ordinances or codes. (3) Sewage or other waste which may be deleterious to surface or subsurface waters shall not be discharged into the ground or into a waterway unless it has first been rendered harmless through subjection to treatment in conformity with generally accepted standards. (4) Substances which will clog the pipes, produce explosive mixtures, destroy the pipes or their joints or interfere unduly with the sewage disposal process shall not be discharged into the building drainage system unless it is provided with approved devices suitable for intercepting such substances. (5) Each fixture directly connected to the sewage drainage system shall be equipped with a water seal trap. (6) Adequate cleanouts shall be provided and maintained so that the pipes may be readily cleaned. (7) The drainage system and its attendant vent piping shall be maintained so as to provide adequate circulation of air in all pipes in order that siphonage, aspiration or pressure will not cause a loss of trap seal under ordinary conditions of use. (8) Each vent terminal to the outer air shall be installed and maintained so as to minimize the possibilities of clogging, frost closure, the return of foul air to the building or the creation of a nuisance to adjacent premises. (9) Drains provided for fixtures, devices, appliances or apparatus containing food, water, sterile goods or similar materials shall be equipped with air breaks adequate to prevent contamination of such contents from any possible backup of sewage through the direct or indirect drainage piping. D. Storm drainage. (1) Roofs and paved areas, including yards and courts, shall be drained. Storm drainage shall be conveyed to an adequate and approved system of stormwater disposal where available. Storm drains shall be discharged in such manner that water will not flow onto sidewalks. (2) Where a drainage system may be subject to backwater, suitable provision shall be made to prevent its overflow into the building. (3) Leaders and gutters, if used, shall be constructed of noncombustible material, except that wood leaders and gutters may be used for buildings not more than three stories high. E. Plumbing facilities. (1) Buildings and portions thereof shall be provided with plumbing systems designed to dispose of the sewage from all fixtures and to furnish cold water to every water closet and urinal and hot and cold water to every sink, lavatory, bathtub and shower required therein. In multiple dwellings, hot water shall be furnished at a temperature range of 130 F° to 140 F° from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. (2) There shall be provided within each dwelling unit plumbing fixtures consisting of at least: (a) One kitchen sink; (b) One water closet; (c) One bathtub or shower; and (d) One lavatory. (3) Where multiple dwellings contain sleeping accommodations arranged as individual rooms or suites, there shall be provided plumbing fixtures consisting of at least one water closet and lavatory for each five individuals and one bathtub or shower per 10 individuals. (4) Where multiple dwellings contain sleeping accommodations arranged as a dormitory, there shall be provided and located adjacent thereto plumbing fixtures consisting of at least one water closet and lavatory for each multiple of five persons so accommodated and one bathtub or shower per 10 individuals. (5) Privies, privy vaults and outhouses shall be prohibited on residential premises. F. Plumbing fixtures. (1) Plumbing fixtures shall be made of smooth nonabsorbent material and shall be free from concealed fouling surfaces. (2) Plumbing fixtures shall be so spaced as to be reasonably accessible for their intended use. (3) Plumbing fixtures shall be located in spaces that are accessible, lighted and ventilated. G. Swimming pools. (1) Water supply used for filling or for cleaning of the pool shall be clean. Water supply shall be protected against potential pollution from all sources, including cross-connection and backflow. (2) Drains shall be provided so that the pool can be safely and adequately drained. Drains shall be provided in floors surrounding the swimming pool and arranged so that water from such areas will drain without entering the pool. (3) Filtering, sterilizing and auxiliary equipment, where required, shall be adequate to maintain the sanitary quality of water during each period the pool is in use. Equipment containing gases or disinfectants capable of giving off irritating, toxic or flammable fumes shall be located in ventilated rooms. (4) The installation shall be arranged and maintained to prevent dirt, sand or other foreign matter from entering the bathing area. H. Water supply tanks. (1) Water supply tanks shall be installed and maintained so as to be watertight, verminproof, resistant to corrosion and capable of withstanding the working pressures under normal operation. (2) Supports for tanks shall be of noncombustible construction. (3) Tanks and their supports shall not be used to support equipment or structures other than for tank use, except where specially designed for such other use. (4) Means for emptying water supply tanks shall be provided and maintained in proper working condition. (5) Potable water supply tanks for domestic supply and standpipe or automatic sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained to furnish water in sufficient quantity and pressure for such systems.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 149-24 of Mount Vernon's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 149, establishes comprehensive standards for plumbing systems in residential buildings. The provision requires that plumbing infrastructure—including water supply, sewage drainage, storm drainage, fixtures, swimming pools, and water supply tanks—be installed and maintained in safe, sanitary, and fully functional condition at all times. It sets minimum fixture requirements for dwelling units, mandates potable water availability from approved sources, and prohibits practices that could contaminate water supplies or damage building structures.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 7, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Mount Vernon Code § 149-24, compliant property operators routinely inspect and maintain all plumbing systems to ensure they remain sanitary, structurally sound, and free from contamination risks. Operators of multiple dwellings ensure that hot water is delivered at 130°F to 140°F between 6:00 a.m. and midnight, and that each dwelling unit contains at minimum a kitchen sink, water closet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory. Responsible managers also verify that sewage drainage, storm drainage, vent piping, and water supply tanks meet the specific installation and maintenance standards outlined throughout § 149-24.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Section 149-24 of the Mount Vernon Code gives residential tenants the right to plumbing systems that are sanitary, properly pressured, and free from contamination, along with a minimum set of fixtures in each dwelling unit. If a landlord fails to maintain these standards—such as by allowing inadequate water pressure, contaminated supply, or missing required fixtures—tenants may have grounds to raise those deficiencies as a housing code violation. Tenants experiencing plumbing deficiencies can consider contacting Mount Vernon's local code enforcement or housing authority, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options under § 149-24.

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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Related Rules

§ 244.260
Compliance required
§ 14.567
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE
§ 244.340
Sewer and water connections

Source Information

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Fetched:Nov 7, 2026, 06:21 AM UTC