Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-118
Required plumbing fixtures in rooming houses
Operative Text
(a) In every rooming house, the following plumbing fixtures are required for each multiple of four sleeping rooms or fraction thereof: a toilet, a bathtub or shower and a lavatory. Bathtubs, showers and lavatories shall be properly connected to both hot- and cold-water lines. All fixtures shall be so located as to be accessible to the occupant of each rooming unit sharing the use of such facilities without going through a dwelling unit or rooming unit of another occupant. Where sleeping accommodations are arranged as a dormitory, the same plumbing fixtures are required for each multiple of 10 persons or fraction thereof. Where toilet rooms are provided for the exclusive use of males, urinals may be substituted for not more than 1/3 of the required number of toilets. (b) Required plumbing fixtures shall be installed in accordance with the Plumbing Code or other regulations of the city.
Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-118 establishes minimum plumbing fixture ratios for rooming houses. For every four sleeping rooms (or fraction thereof), the building must have at least one toilet, one bathtub or shower, and one lavatory, all connected to both hot and cold water. In dormitory-style arrangements, the same set of fixtures is required for every ten occupants or fraction thereof, and all fixtures must be reachable by any occupant without passing through another occupant's private space.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rooming houses subject to § 12-118 generally maintain a fixture count that keeps pace with the number of sleeping rooms or occupants — one toilet, one tub or shower, and one lavatory per four-room grouping, or per ten persons in dormitory settings. Compliant operators ensure every fixture is plumbed to both hot and cold water lines and positioned so that any resident can reach shared facilities without entering another occupant's unit. Installations are typically completed in conformance with the city's Plumbing Code and any other applicable city regulations, as required by § 12-118(b).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 12-118, residents of rooming houses in Poughkeepsie have a right to a minimum number of properly plumbed shared fixtures — a toilet, bathtub or shower, and lavatory — that are accessible without passing through another occupant's private space. If a rooming house appears to fall short of these ratios or if fixtures lack hot or cold water, tenants may consider documenting the conditions and reporting them to the appropriate city code enforcement or housing authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Poughkeepsie housing code can help residents understand what options may be available under 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 November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.