Pelham, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 54 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 54-147
Fire safety
Operative Text
A. Rooming houses shall conform with the fire safety requirements for all residential structures under the provisions of this code. B. Rooming houses constructed or put into operation after November 15, 1977, shall be required to have installed an approved smoke detection system covering all rooms and areas, connected to an automatic fire alarm with an audible alarm signal. In addition, all lobbies, corridors, storage and kitchen areas of such facilities shall be equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler system shall have a main sprinkler control valve which shall be electrically supervised so that a trouble alarm will sound when the valve is closed. C. All rooming houses which were in operation before November 15, 1977, shall provide either an approved smoke detection system covering all rooms and areas connected to an automatic fire alarm with an audible alarm signal or an approved automatic sprinkler system, covering all rooms and any additional areas as may be required by the Enforcement Officer. Such sprinkler system shall have a main sprinkler control valve which shall be electrically supervised so that a trouble alarm will sound when the valve is closed. D. In all rooming houses the following requirements must be met: (1) Extinguishers shall be installed in kitchens, boiler rooms, basements and hallways. (2) Folding drop ladders or attached vertical ladders are not acceptable as secondary means of egress. (3) A telephone shall be provided with emergency instructions posted nearby for fire and police. (4) Residents and staff shall be instructed at regular intervals in evacuation of the building.
Section 54-147 of Pelham's Code of Ordinances establishes fire safety requirements specifically for rooming houses, with rules that vary depending on whether the facility was built or put into operation before or after November 15, 1977. Newer rooming houses must have both an approved smoke detection system tied to an audible fire alarm and an automatic sprinkler system in lobbies, corridors, storage areas, and kitchens, with electrically supervised sprinkler control valves. Older rooming houses must have either a qualifying smoke detection system or a qualifying sprinkler system. All rooming houses, regardless of age, must maintain fire extinguishers in key areas, provide a telephone with posted emergency instructions, prohibit folding or drop ladders as secondary egress, and conduct regular evacuation drills for residents and staff.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rooming houses in Pelham should be aware that § 54-147 imposes distinct fire safety obligations based on the facility's operational history relative to November 15, 1977. Compliant operators of post-1977 facilities generally maintain both a smoke detection system connected to an audible alarm and a fully supervised automatic sprinkler system in all required areas, while operators of pre-1977 facilities maintain at least one of those systems as specified. Across all rooming houses, compliant operators keep fire extinguishers properly placed, post emergency instructions near a telephone, ensure secondary egress meets code standards, and schedule regular evacuation instruction sessions for residents and staff as required by § 54-147(D).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of rooming houses in Pelham are protected by the fire safety standards set out in § 54-147, which require their building to have functioning smoke detection, alarm, and/or sprinkler systems appropriate to the facility's age, along with fire extinguishers, a telephone with posted emergency instructions, and regular evacuation training. If a rooming house appears to lack these required safety features, tenants may consider documenting the conditions and reporting concerns to the local code enforcement or building department, which oversees compliance with provisions like § 54-147. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand what protections apply to their specific type of housing and what general options exist for raising safety concerns.
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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