Troy, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 176 § 176-27
Rooming houses
Operative Text
Every person who operates a rooming house, or who occupies or lets to another for occupancy any rooming unit in any rooming house, shall comply with the provisions of every section of this chapter, except as provided in the following sections. A. Water closet, hand lavatory, and bath facilities. At least one water closet, lavatory sink, and bathtub or shower, properly connected to an approved water and sewer system and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each four rooms within a rooming house wherever said facilities are shared. All such facilities shall be located within the residence building served and shall be directly accessible from a common hallway or passageway and shall be not more than one story from any of the persons sharing such facilities. Every lavatory sink and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot and cold water at all times. Such required facilities shall not be located in a cellar. B. Minimum floor area for sleeping purposes. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by two or more persons shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor area for such occupant thereof. C. Bed linen and towels. The operator of every rooming house shall supply bed linen and towels therein at least once each week and prior to the letting of any room to another occupant. The operator shall be responsible for the maintenance of all supplied bedding in a clean and sanitary manner. D. Shades, drapes, etc. Every window of every rooming unit shall be supplied with shades, drawn drapes, or other devices or material which, when properly used, will afford privacy to the occupant of the rooming unit. E. Sanitary conditions. The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors, and ceilings, and for the sanitary maintenance of every other part of the rooming house; and he/she shall be further responsible for the sanitary maintenance of the entire premises where the entire structure or building within which the rooming house is contained is leased or occupied by the operator. F. Sanitary facilities. Every water closet, flush urinal, lavatory sink and bathtub or shower required by Subsection A shall be located within the rooming house and within a room or rooms which: (1) Afford privacy and are separate from the habitable rooms; and (2) Are accessible from a common hall and without going outside the rooming house or through any other room therein.
Troy, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 176 § 176-27 establishes comprehensive minimum standards for rooming houses, covering shared bathroom facilities, sleeping room sizes, linen service, window privacy coverings, and sanitary upkeep. The rule requires at least one toilet, sink, and bathtub or shower for every four rooms, with those facilities accessible from a common hallway and no more than one floor away from the occupants who share them. Sleeping rooms must meet minimum square footage thresholds, and operators are responsible for maintaining cleanliness throughout the entire premises.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rooming houses in Troy are expected to stay in full compliance with ch. 176 § 176-27 by ensuring shared bathrooms are properly plumbed, in working order, and accessible from common hallways without requiring passage through private rooms. Compliant operators generally provide fresh bed linen and towels at least weekly and before any new occupant moves in, maintain all walls, floors, and ceilings in a sanitary condition, and equip every window with shades, drapes, or comparable privacy coverings. Keeping records of linen changes, maintenance inspections, and facility conditions can help demonstrate ongoing compliance with the ordinance's requirements.
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 Troy are entitled to the protections set out in ch. 176 § 176-27, including access to functioning shared bathroom facilities within a reasonable distance, adequately sized sleeping rooms, clean linens supplied regularly, and windows fitted with privacy coverings. If these conditions are not being met, tenants may consider documenting the deficiencies and reporting them to the appropriate Troy municipal code enforcement or housing authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with New York housing law can help residents understand the range of options available, such as filing a complaint or raising a code violation as a defense in a housing proceeding.
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.