Cal. Civ. Code § 20.13
Location
Operative Text
(a) Tenement houses. In tenement houses, each family shall be provided with
a water supply for its separate use.
(b) Lodging and boarding houses. In lodging and boarding houses, if the
rooms are not arranged in suites or groups provided with separate water supply
and if the water is distributed by means of pipes there shall be at least one stationary washstand for each six occupants or fraction of six occupants.
TOILET FACILITIESUnder 28 Pa. Code § 20.13, the rules for water access differ by building type. In tenement houses, every family unit must have its own dedicated water supply rather than sharing one with other families. In lodging and boarding houses where rooms are not grouped into suites with their own water supply and where water is delivered through pipes, the building must provide at least one stationary washstand for every six occupants or partial group of six.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of tenement houses covered by 28 Pa. Code § 20.13 are generally expected to ensure that each family has a water supply designated exclusively for its own use, not shared across units. Managers of lodging and boarding houses should assess whether rooms are arranged in suites with independent water access; where they are not and water is pipe-distributed, maintaining at least one stationary washstand per six occupants (or fraction thereof) is the standard the regulation establishes. Routine inspections of plumbing configurations and occupancy counts can help operators stay aligned with these requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
28 Pa. Code § 20.13 establishes minimum water-access standards that tenants in tenement houses, lodging houses, and boarding houses are entitled to under Pennsylvania law. Tenants in tenement houses have a right to a water supply for their family's exclusive use, while those in lodging or boarding houses without suite-level water access should have at least one stationary washstand available for every six occupants. Tenants who believe these standards are not being met may consider contacting local housing or health code enforcement authorities, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for information about 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 October 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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