N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2055
Certification of competency (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
a. Except as provided in subdivision b of this section, the owner who is required to employ a janitor shall certify in writing to the department that such owner's janitor is competent to perform janitorial services required to be performed by this article in a competent fashion and is capable of operating the incinerator and the furnace, boiler and other machinery that provides central heat and hot water. The owner shall submit a new certificate of the janitor's competency to the department no later than sixty days after hiring a new janitor. b. No such certification shall be required concerning a janitor who has satisfactorily completed a course of not less than fifteen hours given or approved by the department of buildings in the basic skills required for the performance of janitorial services. Such course should include, but need not be limited to, instruction on operation of the central heating plant; replacement of the smoke pipe from the furnace to the chimney; and the making of necessary minor repairs, such as replacement of washers and water faucets. Courses approved by the department of buildings may be offered by a school, association, labor union or other public agency. c. This section shall become effective on June thirteenth, nineteen hundred sixty-eight.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2055, building owners who are required to employ a janitor must formally certify to the city that their janitor is competent to carry out required janitorial duties, including operating incinerators, furnaces, boilers, and other central heat and hot water machinery. This certification requirement is waived if the janitor has completed a qualifying course of at least fifteen hours—covering basic skills such as heating plant operation and minor repairs—given or approved by the Department of Buildings. The rule has been in effect since June 13, 1968, and a new certification must be filed within sixty days whenever a new janitor is hired.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under §§ 27-2001 and 27-2055, compliant building owners who must employ a janitor generally maintain a written certification on file with the department attesting to that janitor's competency, or retain documentation showing the janitor has completed an approved fifteen-hour training course. When a new janitor is brought on, operators typically submit a fresh certification to the department within the sixty-day window. Keeping records of approved course completions can streamline this process, since a qualified certificate from the Department of Buildings eliminates the need for owner-submitted competency certifications.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2055 establish that tenants in buildings required to have a janitor are entitled to janitorial services performed by someone whose competency has been formally certified or verified through an approved training program. If janitorial services appear inadequate—particularly regarding heating, hot water, or building maintenance—tenants may have grounds to raise a violation of this provision when engaging with city housing agencies or tenant-rights organizations. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or consulting a local tenant-rights organization familiar with these requirements.
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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