As New York City temperatures start to cool off, dropping as low as into the 40s at night, "heat season" is underway. The phrase refers to the time period between October 1 and May 31, when the city enforces minimum temperature requirements for residential buildings.
This year's heat season comes on the heels of a particularly brutal winter that included nine straight days of below-freezing temperatures, and in the wake of a series of rental ripoff hearings where tenants across the boroughs frequently expressed concerns about heat. As a result of the hearings, the Mamdani administration has changed the policy for how heat complaints are addressed. Where the Department of Housing Preservation and Development previously consolidated multiple heat complaints from a building into one complaint, which meant that a single complaint could be closed out without confirming that the heat was back on throughout the building, every heat complaint will now be investigated individually.
In this article:
This article provides an overview of the obligations that residential building owners must meet during heat season, covering not only indoor temperatures but also hot water accessibility and exterior maintenance.
Building Temperatures
During the New York City heat season, it's essential for all residential building owners to maintain specific indoor temperatures. When daytime outdoor temperatures drop below 55 degrees, the interior must be kept at a minimum of 68 degrees. Overnight, regardless of outdoor conditions, the indoor temperature should not fall below 62 degrees.
These regulations were originally implemented to safeguard New Yorkers during the city's chilliest months. While well-intentioned, they can inadvertently lead to overheated apartments. Maintaining a consistent temperature throughout an entire building, especially considering variations in floor levels, and the older nature of the city's housing stock presents challenges. To prevent units from dropping below 62 degrees overnight, building superintendents often raise the heat to sweltering temperatures, as fines may be imposed for insufficient heating but not for overheating. This practice can leave occupants on higher floors uncomfortably warm, even in the depths of winter, leading to the opening of windows and wasted energy.
These regulations were originally implemented to safeguard New Yorkers during the city's chilliest months. While well-intentioned, they can inadvertently lead to overheated apartments. Maintaining a consistent temperature throughout an entire building, especially considering variations in floor levels, and the older nature of the city's housing stock presents challenges. To prevent units from dropping below 62 degrees overnight, building superintendents often raise the heat to sweltering temperatures, as fines may be imposed for insufficient heating but not for overheating. This practice can leave occupants on higher floors uncomfortably warm, even in the depths of winter, leading to the opening of windows and wasted energy.
Image via NYC Department of Housing and Preservation
Water Temperatures
In addition to the heat regulations that apply during heat season, year-round, owners must provide their tenants with access to hot water at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s right—if you constantly find yourself enduring cold showers or lukewarm faucet temperatures, you have the legal right to complain and to have the problem fixed in a timely manner.
Other Heat Season Obligations
During heat season, property owners must adhere not only to building temperature regulations but also address various seasonal obligations, including leaf, ice, and snow management. It's important to note that these responsibilities apply to both multi-family building owners and private townhouse owners.
Leaf Removal: Technically, owners don’t have to clear leaves in New York City, so one shouldn’t expect to receive a summons if a few leaves are scattered on the sidewalk outside their building. But the moment those pretty leaves become mixed with trash and other debris, property owners are responsible for their removal since they will then constitute “debris” rather than “organic waste.” To be on the safe side, it’s advisable to remove leaves on a regular basis.
The best place to dispose of them is in a composting bin. Compost separation is now mandatory in all five boroughs, and bins may also be found in public parks and curbsides.
Ice and Snow Removal: While leaf removal is voluntary, ice and snow removal are not—failure to comply will lead to hefty fines. As per NYC Administrative Code, whether you’re an “owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person having charge of any lot or building,” the snow and ice on all adjacent sidewalks is your responsibility.
Also, don’t procrastinate. The city even regulates how long you can sit inside before you go to tackle the ice and snow on the sidelines surrounding your building.
• If it stops snowing between 7:00 a.m. and 4:49 p.m., you must clear the sidewalks within 4 hours;
• If it stops snowing between 5 p.m. and 8:59 p.m., you must clear the sidewalks within 14 hours.
• If it stops snowing between 9 p.m. and 6:59 a.m., you must clear the sidewalks by 11 a.m. the next day.
Finally, don’t just push the snow onto the street! Covering a crosswalk, for example, is also a violation. Also, watch out for fire hydrants—you’re also responsible for ensuring they are visible and accessible to emergency crews. For more information, review the Department of Sanitation’s complete guidelines.
Central Air and Heat in Older Buildings
Much of the city’s prewar housing stock still runs on a central boiler that sends steam or hot water to radiators in every apartment. That one-size-fits-all setup is why residents on upper floors often end up cracking windows in January: the super controls the building’s temperature, and individual apartments have little say.
Central air doesn’t always solve that. In many older buildings, central air was added during a renovation as a cooling-only system, while heat still comes from the original radiators. Listings that mention “central air conditioning” don’t necessarily mean the system heats, and many co-op boards allow central air only with approval, so it may not be installed at all.
The homes with the most control tend to have full HVAC systems or heat pumps that both heat and cool, often with individual thermostats in each room or zone. With Local Law 97 pushing buildings to cut emissions, these electric systems are showing up more often in renovated prewar apartments. Buyers who want true year-round climate control should ask the listing agent directly whether the system handles heat, how it’s billed, and whether radiators remain in service.
Central air doesn’t always solve that. In many older buildings, central air was added during a renovation as a cooling-only system, while heat still comes from the original radiators. Listings that mention “central air conditioning” don’t necessarily mean the system heats, and many co-op boards allow central air only with approval, so it may not be installed at all.
The homes with the most control tend to have full HVAC systems or heat pumps that both heat and cool, often with individual thermostats in each room or zone. With Local Law 97 pushing buildings to cut emissions, these electric systems are showing up more often in renovated prewar apartments. Buyers who want true year-round climate control should ask the listing agent directly whether the system handles heat, how it’s billed, and whether radiators remain in service.
Support for Building Owners
Owners can find out everything they need to know about heat season and their obligations on the NYC Housing and Preservation site. If you’re an owner struggling to pay your bills and keep your heat at the regulated level, you may be eligible for help. For more information, explore the Home Energy Assistance Program.
Support for Tenants
If you are a tenant without heat or hot water, the first step is to contact your owner or management company. If no one responds or the owner or manager doesn’t fix the problem, contact 311 to launch a complaint. The next steps in the process are outlined here. To find out if there is already an open complaint in your building or to check on the status of your own complaint, visit HPDONLINE.
Moreover, if finances are a concern, there is no need to suffer and shiver in silence. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul expanded access to the state's Energy Affordability Program that aims to cut utility costs to be at or below six percent of a household's income. Income thresholds and further information may be found here.
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Contributing Writer
Cait Etherington
Cait Etherington has over twenty years of experience working as a journalist and communications consultant. Her articles and reviews have been published in newspapers and magazines across the United States and internationally. An experienced financial writer, Cait is committed to exposing the human side of stories about contemporary business, banking and workplace relations. She also enjoys writing about trends, lifestyles and real estate in New York City where she lives with her family in a cozy apartment on the twentieth floor of a Manhattan high rise.
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