Cal. Civ. Code § 172
Plumbing and drainage
Operative Text
§ 172. Plumbing and drainage. All liquid or water-borne waste from plumbing fixtures shall be conveyed by a house drain and house sewer to a street sewer or to a combined street storm water main and sewer, unless no such sewers are available. Where neither kind of sewer is available, provision shall be made for disposing of such waste as may be permitted pursuant to article five of the public health law and as required by local law or ordinance.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 172, all liquid and water-borne waste from plumbing fixtures in a multiple residence must be routed through an internal drain and sewer line that connects to a public street sewer or combined storm-water sewer. If neither type of public sewer is accessible, the building must instead use an alternative waste-disposal method that complies with New York's Public Health Law and any applicable local laws or ordinances. The rule establishes a clear hierarchy: public sewer connection is the default, and alternative systems are only permissible when that option is genuinely unavailable.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple residences subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 172 generally ensure that all plumbing fixtures drain into a properly maintained house drain and house sewer that ties into the municipal sewer system. Where a public sewer connection is not available, compliant operators arrange for an alternative waste-disposal system that satisfies both Article 5 of the Public Health Law and any relevant local ordinances. Routine inspections of drainage infrastructure help confirm that connections remain intact and that no fixture is discharging waste outside the system required by § 172.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 172 establishes a right to live in a building where plumbing waste is properly conveyed away through a lawful drainage system, whether that is a public sewer connection or a compliant alternative. Tenants who observe signs of improper drainage—such as waste backing up, pooling, or being discharged in an unlawful manner—may have grounds to raise a violation of § 172 as part of a housing complaint. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the local housing or building department, contacting a tenant-rights organization, or raising the condition in a housing court 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 September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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