Port Jervis, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 319 § 319-9
Firesafety
Operative Text
A. Location. No dwelling unit or rooming unit shall be located within a building containing any establishment handling, dispensing or storing flammable liquids in any manner which constitutes a danger to the lives of the occupants. B. Egress. Every dwelling unit and every rooming unit shall have safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level. C. Exits, etc., to be clear. Every hallway, stairway, corridor, exit, fire escape door and other means of egress shall be kept clear at all times. D. Use of storage rooms. Storage rooms and storage lockers shall not be used for storage of junk, rubbish or waste. E. Storage under stairways. Closets or storage beneath stairways are prohibited in any multifamily dwelling or any rooming house. F. Egress from multifamily dwellings. There shall be at least two means of egress available from each story of every multifamily dwelling and of every rooming house if the dwelling is four or more stories in height or is three stories in height and has at least five habitable rooms on the third story. A basement used as a dwelling unit shall not count as a story for the purpose of this section. G. Course of exit facilities. Exit facilities from dwellings or dwelling units shall lead to a public thoroughfare either directly or through a court or yard, and passage to such exits shall not lead through any other dwelling or dwelling unit. H. Cooking equipment standards. No owner, operator or occupant shall furnish or use any cooking equipment which does not comply with these standards. I. Construction, installation and maintenance of cooking equipment. Every piece of cooking equipment shall be so constructed and installed that it will function safely and effectively and shall be maintained in sound working condition. J. Portable cooking equipment. Portable cooking equipment employing gasoline as fuel for cooking is prohibited. K. Connections to flues and supply lines. All heating, cooking and water-heating equipment burning solid fuels shall be rigidly connected to a chimney or flue, and such heating equipment burning liquid or gaseous fuels shall be connected to a supply line with rigid pipe or with approved flexible metal hose line approved by either the American Gas Association or the Underwriters' Laboratories and, where required, to a chimney, flue or vent. L. Heating equipment. Heating equipment shall be installed in a manner which will avoid the dangerous concentration of fumes and gases. Unvented portable space heaters burning liquid or gaseous fuels shall be prohibited. Heating equipment shall not be forced to operate beyond the safe capacity for which it was designed. M. Fuel storage. Fuels shall be stored in accordance with generally accepted practice and in a manner which will minimize the danger of fire. No fuel oil, gasoline or highly flammable fuel shall be stored within any structure used for human habitation except in a manner approved by the New York State Building Code and the Fire Department of the City.
Section 319-9 of the Port Jervis Code of Ordinances establishes a comprehensive set of fire-safety requirements for dwelling units and rooming units. The provision covers a wide range of conditions, including the prohibition of residential units near flammable-liquid hazards, requirements for clear and unobstructed egress paths, restrictions on storage under stairways and in storage rooms, standards for cooking and heating equipment, and rules governing fuel storage within habitable structures. Buildings of four or more stories, or three-story buildings with at least five habitable rooms on the third floor, must provide at least two means of egress from each story.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Port Jervis Code ch. 319 § 319-9 generally ensure that all hallways, stairways, corridors, fire escapes, and exits remain clear at all times and that no storage is placed beneath stairways in multifamily dwellings or rooming houses. Compliant operators verify that all cooking and heating equipment meets installation and maintenance standards, that portable gasoline-fueled cooking equipment is absent from the property, and that fuel storage complies with both the New York State Building Code and the City Fire Department's requirements. Operators of taller multifamily buildings also confirm that the required number of egress routes are available from each story as specified in § 319-9(F).
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 § 319-9, tenants have a right to live in a dwelling where egress paths are kept clear, equipment is safely installed and maintained, and the building meets applicable fire-safety standards. If a tenant observes blocked exits, prohibited storage under stairways, unsafe cooking or heating equipment, or improper fuel storage, these conditions may constitute violations of § 319-9 that can be reported to the City of Port Jervis's code enforcement or building department. Tenants may also wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand how documented violations could be raised in relevant housing proceedings.
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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