Home Maintenance Checklist by Season
A season-by-season home maintenance checklist for NYC houses and apartments: heating prep, detectors, gutters, pipes and the DSNY sidewalk snow deadlines.
6 min read · Updated
The simplest home maintenance plan is a short list for each season: get heating and safety devices ready in fall, protect pipes and clear snow in winter, deal with water and the outside of the house in spring, and look after cooling and the yard in summer. Below is that list for New York City homes, with the city rules that actually carry deadlines or fines, such as the sidewalk snow rules.
Each season has a checklist you can tick off. Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can come back next season. Items marked “house” apply to owners of a house or a two- to four-family building; the rest also work for co-op and condo apartments.
At a glance
- NYC heat season
- Oct 1 – May 31
- 68°F by day (if outside < 55°F), 62°F at night
- Snow stops 7am–4:59pm
- Clear in 4 hours
- DSNY rule for sidewalks
- Snow stops 9pm–6:59am
- Clear by 11am
- Path at least 4 feet wide
- Detectors
- Test monthly
- HPD guidance
- Sidewalk fines
- $100 – $250
- Rising with repeat offenses
Fall: get ready for heat season
In NYC, buildings with tenants must provide heat from October 1 through May 31. If you own a house, that is also the right window to be sure your own system is ready before the first cold night. Owners of buildings with six or more families must also have low-pressure boilers inspected every calendar year; buildings with five or fewer families are exempt from that DOB filing, but a yearly service is still worth doing.
Fall checklist (September – November)
0/9Winter: snow, ice and frozen pipes
If you own a house or building, you must clear the sidewalk in front of it. The deadline depends on when the snow stops falling, according to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY):
| Snow stops falling between | Sidewalk must be cleared |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM and 4:59 PM | Within 4 hours |
| 5:00 PM and 8:59 PM | Within 14 hours |
| 9:00 PM and 6:59 AM | By 11:00 AM |
Winter checklist (December – February)
0/7Spring: water, roof and the outside
Spring is for finding the damage winter did. Water is the most expensive problem in most homes, so start with the roof, gutters, basement and anything that drains. Also look at the sidewalk: NYC property owners must repair the sidewalk next to their property and can be liable for injuries caused by defects. See who fixes the sidewalk in NYC.
Spring checklist (March – May)
0/8Summer: cooling, storms and the exterior
Summer checklist (June – August)
0/8Apartment owners: what’s yours and what’s the building’s
In a co-op or condo, the building generally handles the boiler, roof, facade and sidewalk, and you handle what is inside your unit. The proprietary lease or condo bylaws set the exact line, especially for windows, through-wall AC sleeves and plumbing inside walls. Your share of building work shows up in maintenance or as an assessment.
| Item | House owner | Co-op / condo owner |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler or central heating | You | Building |
| Smoke and CO detectors in the unit | You | Usually you, check building rules |
| Sidewalk snow and repairs | You | Building |
| Roof, facade, gutters | You | Building |
| Appliances, fixtures, interior finishes | You | You |
| Pipes inside walls | You | Depends on the lease or bylaws |
Budget for it
Set aside money every month instead of waiting for a repair. Our calculator compares the common rules of thumb with a sinking-fund plan for big items like the roof, heating system, water heater and appliances. Read how much to budget for home maintenance for the reasoning, and keep an emergency fund for the surprises.
How much should I budget for home maintenance?
Open full calculator →Edit the components below with your home’s actual ages and replacement quotes. Costs shown are placeholders.
$6,690 a year, based on your component plan.
Rules of thumb are rough guides, not standards. The component plan is usually more accurate for your home.
Component replacement timeline
| Component | Replace cost | Age (yrs) | Expected life | Replace ~ | Save / month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InterNACHI: 7–15 | 2029 | $167 | ||||
| InterNACHI: 9 | 2029 | $25 | ||||
| InterNACHI: 6–12 | 2030 | $42 | ||||
| InterNACHI: 7–10 | 2031 | $83 | ||||
| InterNACHI: 9–13 | 2033 | $21 | ||||
| InterNACHI: 15–25 | 2036 | $50 | ||||
| InterNACHI: 30 | 2044 | $69 |
DSNY snow laws page: snow stopping 7:00 AM-4:59 PM clear within 4 hours; 5:00-8:59 PM within 14 hours; 9:00 PM-6:59 AM by 11:00 AM; path at least four feet wide; do not push snow into the street; clear around hydrants and at ramps/curb cuts; fines $100 / $150 / $250. HPD heat page: Oct 1-May 31 heat season, 68°F day when outside below 55°F, 62°F at night, hot water 120°F year-round. HPD detectors page: test smoke, CO and gas detectors at least monthly, replace batteries at least twice a year (tenant guidance), replace at end of manufacturer useful life; CO detectors required in multiple dwellings and non-owner-occupied 1-2 family homes with fossil-fuel devices. DOB boiler page: annual inspection required for low-pressure boilers in residential buildings with 6+ families; buildings with 5 or fewer families exempt; reports in DOB NOW within 45 days. DEP: owners are responsible for the water service line; Leak Forgiveness requires repair within 120 days. DOT: owners repair adjoining sidewalks and can be liable for injuries. General upkeep items (filters, gutters, dryer vents) are standard practice and carry no numeric claims. Independent re-check 2026-10-12: DSNY snow laws, HPD detectors, DOB boiler, DEP Leak Forgiveness and DOT sidewalk pages reopened. Fixed: Leak Forgiveness lets you apply within 120 days by mail or as a My DEP Account high-bill dispute (not only in writing); detector item now matches HPD advice (test monthly, batteries at least twice a year, gas detectors included); radiator item distinguishes hot-water bleeding from steam air vents.
Sources
- Snow & Ice Removal Laws · NYC Department of Sanitation (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Snow Response · NYC Department of Sanitation (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Heat and hot water information · NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Smoke, carbon monoxide and natural gas detectors · NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Low-pressure boiler requirements · NYC Department of Buildings (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Leak Forgiveness Program · NYC Department of Environmental Protection (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Sidewalks: introduction · NYC Department of Transportation (accessed October 12, 2026)
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency or a professional before you act.