Cal. Civ. Code § 5:10-4.2
Discontinuation of services
Operative Text
(a) No person shall intentionally cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required to be supplied pursuant to this chapter to be removed, shut off, or discontinued, or knowingly allow such condition to continue, when the condition affects any occupied unit, building, exterior space, or common area. 1. This section shall not be applicable to such temporary interruption as may be necessary when actual repairs or alterations are in process or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of services is caused by any public utility or public agency or is approved by the bureau. (b) In the event of any discontinuation of services, repairs shall be performed expeditiously to minimize inconvenience to occupants and, to the greatest extent possible, temporary or alternate service shall be provided until permanent service can be restored.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-4.2 prohibits any person from intentionally cutting off or allowing the interruption of required services, facilities, equipment, or utilities in occupied residential spaces. The rule covers all parts of a property, including individual units, common areas, and exterior spaces. Limited exceptions exist for genuine repair work in progress, true emergencies, or interruptions caused or approved by a public utility or the relevant bureau; in those cases, temporary or alternate service must still be provided as quickly as possible to minimize disruption to occupants.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.J.A.C. § 5:10-4.2, compliant property operators maintain continuous delivery of all required services and utilities to occupied units and common areas, and they do not allow known service interruptions to persist. When repairs or emergencies make a temporary interruption unavoidable, operators generally arrange alternative or temporary service for residents and complete the underlying repairs as quickly as practicable. Operators typically document the reason for any interruption, confirm it falls within a recognized exception, and obtain bureau approval where required before proceeding.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-4.2 gives occupants the right to continuous required services and utilities, and it prohibits landlords from intentionally cutting those services off or knowingly letting an interruption continue. If a service is discontinued without a valid exception, tenants may file a complaint with the New Jersey Bureau of Housing Inspection, which administers this chapter, or raise the violation through local housing enforcement channels. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what remedies may be available, including how a documented violation under this section might be relevant in other 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 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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