Rule guide · Building operations

Heat season, explained.

From October 1 through May 31, every NYC landlord with tenants must keep apartments at legal temperatures, and hot water flows year-round. Heat complaints are the single most common 311 call in winter, and each one can bring an HPD inspector to your boiler room.

What it costs to skip: $250–$500 per day for an initial heat or hot water violation, and $500–$1,000 per day for a repeat violation at the same building in the same season (Admin. Code § 27-2115(k)). Days add up fast. Penalty amounts vary by offense and can change; confirm the current figures with HPD.

Applies toAny building with tenants

Heat seasonOctober 1 – May 31

Daytime (6am–10pm)68°F inside when it's below 55°F outside

Night (10pm–6am)62°F inside, regardless of outdoor temperature

Hot water120°F at the tap, year-round

The lawNYC Admin. Code §§ 27-2028–2029 · § 27-2115(k)

How violations actually happen

A tenant calls 311. HPD attempts an inspection; if the reading is below the legal minimum, that's an immediately hazardous class C violation, and the daily penalty clock runs until you restore heat and certify it. Repeat complaints also put your building on HPD's radar for the season.

Protecting yourself before October

Service the boiler in late summer, not the first cold week, when every heating company in the city is buried.
Keep fuel deliveries ahead of the forecast if you're on oil.
Fix tenant-reported heat issues the same day and keep records: the response time is your defense.
If the building is owner-occupied with tenants, the rules still apply to the tenants' apartments.

See every rule that applies to your building

Sources: HPD, Heat and Hot Water · Admin. Code §§ 27-2028–2029, 27-2115(k). Reviewed July 5, 2026. This guide organizes public requirements in plain English; it is not legal advice, and No Fines is not affiliated with the City of New York. Confirm specifics with the agency before your deadline.