N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2033
Access to boiler room (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
a. The owner of every multiple dwelling shall have the area, where the building's heating system is located, readily accessible to members of the department to make inspection pursuant to this chapter. In the event such area is kept under lock, a key shall be kept on the premises at all times with such person as the owner shall designate; however, if there is a person residing on the premises who performs janitorial services, such person shall hold the key. The owner shall post a notice in a form approved by the department naming such designated person and his or her location. b. Multiple dwellings owned and operated by the New York city housing authority shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 27-2033, owners of multiple dwellings must keep the area housing the building's heating system readily accessible to city inspectors. If the heating area is locked, a key must remain on the premises at all times with a designated person — typically the on-site janitor if one lives there — and a department-approved notice must be posted identifying that person and their location. Buildings owned and operated by the New York City Housing Authority are exempt from these requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 27-2033, compliant building owners ensure that the boiler or heating system area is never inaccessible to Department of Housing Preservation and Development inspectors. If the space is kept locked, owners designate a key-holder — prioritizing any resident who performs janitorial services — and keep a department-approved notice posted that names that person and their location on the premises. Owners of multiple dwellings generally review their key-holder designations whenever staffing changes to ensure the posted notice remains accurate.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 27-2033 of the N.Y.C. Admin. Code establishes that building owners, not tenants, bear the responsibility for maintaining inspector access to the heating system area. Tenants who observe that no key-holder notice is posted, or that inspectors have been denied access to the boiler room, may report this condition to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with the Housing Maintenance Code can help residents understand what options are generally available when an owner appears to be out of compliance with this provision.
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.
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