Port Jervis, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 319 § 319-5
Lighting, ventilation and electricity
Operative Text
A. Habitable rooms. Every habitable room shall have a window or skylight opening directly to the outside. The total area of such window or skylight shall not be less than 8% of the floor area of such room. All windows and skylights shall be enclosed with glass and shall be provided with suitable hardware and sash cords and made to open to the extent of 4% of the floor area. Every dwelling, habitable room and hall shall be equipped with a safe, artificial lighting service, and all electrical wiring, outlets and fixtures thereof shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of local municipal ordinances and statutes of this state. In the absence of natural ventilation, every habitable room shall be ventilated by approved mechanical means. B. Bathrooms and water closet compartments. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall have at least one window facing to the outdoors and having a minimum openable area of 4% of the floor area of such room except where there is supplied some other device approved by the enforcement officer as affording adequate ventilation. C. Electricity. Every dwelling shall be supplied with electricity. Within such dwelling: (1) Every habitable room shall contain at least two separate floor- or wall-type electric convenience outlets, or one such convenience outlet and one supplied ceiling-type electric light fixture. (2) Every water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room, furnace room and public hall shall contain at least one supplied ceiling- or wall-type electric light fixture. (3) Every outlet and fixture shall be properly installed and maintained in good and safe working condition.
Port Jervis Code ch. 319 § 319-5 establishes minimum standards for light, ventilation, and electricity in dwellings. Every habitable room must have a window or skylight covering at least 8% of the floor area and openable to at least 4% of the floor area, or approved mechanical ventilation where natural ventilation is absent. Bathrooms and water closet compartments require at least one operable outdoor-facing window or an approved alternative, and every dwelling must be supplied with electricity, with specific outlet and fixture minimums for each type of room.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental dwellings in Port Jervis are generally expected to ensure that every habitable room meets the window or skylight area thresholds set out in ch. 319 § 319-5, and that any room lacking natural ventilation is served by an approved mechanical system. Compliant landlords typically verify that bathrooms and water closet compartments have an operable outdoor window or an enforcement-officer-approved ventilation alternative. On the electrical side, maintaining at least two convenience outlets (or one outlet plus one ceiling fixture) in each habitable room, and at least one ceiling or wall fixture in bathrooms, laundry rooms, furnace rooms, and public halls, reflects the baseline the code establishes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Port Jervis Code ch. 319 § 319-5, tenants have a right to habitable rooms with adequate natural light and ventilation, functioning windows or skylights of the required size, and a properly supplied electrical system with the minimum number of outlets and fixtures. If a rental unit appears to fall short of these standards—such as having no operable window in a bathroom or fewer outlets than the code requires—tenants may consider documenting the conditions and raising the issue with the local code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand how a violation of § 319-5 might be raised as a defense or used to support a formal complaint.
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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