Cal. Civ. Code § 5:28-1.4
Facilities
Operative Text
(a) Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink of nonabsorbent impervious material, at least one flush type water closet, a lavatory, and a bathtub or shower, available only for the use of occupants of that dwelling unit. (b) Every lodging house shall be provided with a minimum of one flush type water closet, lavatory, and a bathtub or shower for every eight persons or part thereof. (c) Every water closet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower for each dwelling unit or lodging house shall be accessible from within the building without passing through any part of any other dwelling unit or lodging unit and in a lodging house shall be located no farther than one floor above or below the lodging units served. Such water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower shall be contained in a room or rooms which are separated from all other rooms by walls, doors, or partitions that afford privacy. (d) Every plumbing fixture shall be connected to water and sewer systems approved by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and/or the local health agency, and shall be maintained in good working condition. (e) Every kitchen sink, lavatory, and bathtub or shower required by this chapter shall be connected to both hot and cold water lines. (f) Every dwelling shall have water heating facilities which are installed and maintained in good and safe working condition, connected with the hot water lines required under the provisions of (e) above, and capable of delivering water at a minimum temperature of not less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit and at a maximum temperature of not more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit at all times in accordance with anticipated need.
N.J.A.C. § 5:28-1.4 establishes minimum sanitary facility requirements for residential dwellings and lodging houses in New Jersey. Each dwelling unit must have its own private kitchen sink, toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower made of nonabsorbent materials, all connected to approved water and sewer systems. Lodging houses must provide shared facilities at a ratio of at least one toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower per eight occupants, with those facilities accessible without passing through another unit and located within one floor of the rooms they serve. All plumbing must supply both hot and cold water, with water heating equipment capable of delivering water between 120°F and 140°F at all times.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.J.A.C. § 5:28-1.4, compliant operators of dwelling units ensure that each unit contains its own private, nonabsorbent kitchen sink, toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower — none of which are shared with other units. Operators of lodging houses maintain the required ratio of shared facilities and confirm those facilities are accessible from common areas without requiring passage through any other unit, and are located no more than one floor away from the lodging rooms they serve. Property managers routinely verify that all plumbing fixtures are connected to New Jersey DEP- and/or locally approved water and sewer systems, maintained in good working order, supplied with both hot and cold water, and that water heating equipment consistently delivers water within the 120°F–140°F range.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.A.C. § 5:28-1.4 gives occupants of dwelling units the right to exclusive use of a private kitchen sink, toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower, all properly plumbed with hot and cold water and maintained in working condition. Tenants in lodging houses are entitled to accessible shared facilities meeting the one-per-eight-persons minimum, located within one floor of their room and reachable without passing through another unit. If these standards are not met — for example, if hot water is unavailable, fixtures are broken, or facilities are improperly shared — tenants may consider filing a complaint with the local health agency or municipal code enforcement office, raising the violation in any relevant housing proceeding, or contacting a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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