N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2028
Central heat or electric or gas heating system; when required (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
Except as otherwise provided in this article, every multiple dwelling and every tenant-occupied one or two-family dwelling shall be provided with heat from a central heating system constructed in accordance with the provisions of the building code and the regulations of the department. A system of gas or electric heating provided for each dwelling unit may, if approved by the department, be utilized in lieu of a central heating system if: (1) the system is lawfully in use on July fourteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-seven; or (2) the system is approved by the appropriate city agencies having jurisdiction and is installed in a structure or building erected, converted, substantially rehabilitated, or completely vacated, after July fourteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-seven.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2028, virtually all multiple dwellings and tenant-occupied one- or two-family dwellings in New York City must supply heat through a central heating system that meets building code standards. As an alternative, individual gas or electric heating units installed in each dwelling unit may be used instead of a central system, but only if the department approves the arrangement and the system either was lawfully operating before July 14, 1967, or was installed after that date in a structure that was newly erected, converted, substantially rehabilitated, or completely vacated with approval from the relevant city agencies. The rule establishes a default requirement of centralized heat while carving out a narrow, approval-dependent path for unit-level gas or electric systems.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2028 generally ensure that their buildings are equipped with a department-approved central heating system built to building code specifications. Operators who rely on individual gas or electric heating units in lieu of a central system typically maintain documentation showing either that the system was lawfully in use before July 14, 1967, or that it received approval from the appropriate city agencies at the time of construction, conversion, substantial rehabilitation, or complete vacancy. Keeping records of departmental approvals and ensuring any heating system remains in compliance with current regulations are practices commonly associated with meeting this provision's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in multiple dwellings or tenant-occupied one- or two-family dwellings in New York City have a right to heat supplied by a system that complies with §§ 27-2001 and 27-2028 of the N.Y.C. Administrative Code. If a building's heating arrangement does not appear to meet the central-system requirement or lacks the necessary departmental approval for an alternative gas or electric system, tenants may consider filing a complaint with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or consulting a tenant-rights organization to understand available options. Documenting heating conditions, such as dates and temperatures, is a step commonly taken by tenants who believe a heating-related violation may exist.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.