NYC heat and hot water rules: temperatures and dates
NYC heat season runs Oct 1 to May 31: 68°F by day when it is below 55°F outside, 62°F at night, and 120°F hot water all year. How to log it and what owners pay.
5 min read · Updated
In New York City, landlords must provide heat from October 1 through May 31: at least 68°F indoors between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. whenever it is below 55°F outside, and at least 62°F between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. no matter the outdoor temperature. Hot water must be at least 120°F at the tap, every day of the year.
Below are the exact rules, how to measure and record temperatures so a complaint holds up, and what happens to an owner who doesn't comply.
NYC heat and hot water law
- Heat season
- October 1 – May 31
- Day (6 a.m.–10 p.m.)
- 68°F inside
- Required when it is below 55°F outside
- Night (10 p.m.–6 a.m.)
- 62°F inside
- Regardless of outdoor temperature
- Hot water
- 120°F at the tap, all year
- 110°F minimum at a tub or shower with an anti-scald valve (HCR FS-15)
- How to report
- 311, 311 Online, 311 app
- TTY (212) 504-4115
- First-violation penalty
- $250–$500 per day
- $500–$1,000 per day for later violations at the same building in the same or next heat season or calendar year
The temperature rules, side by side
| Time | Outdoor temperature | Indoor minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Below 55°F | 68°F |
| 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. | 55°F or warmer | No heat requirement |
| 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. | Any temperature | 62°F |
| All day, all year | — | Hot water 120°F |
Three things people often get wrong:
- The night rule has no outdoor trigger. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the apartment must be at least 62°F whatever the weather, so an inspector can write a violation on a mild night too.
- Daytime depends on the outdoor temperature. On a 58°F October afternoon the owner doesn't have to run the heat, even if your apartment is 64°F.
- Hot water is year-round. A hot water outage in July is just as much a violation as one in January.
Not sure whether a reading counts? Enter the time and both temperatures in the heat season temperature checker.
Who these rules cover
The HPD rules apply to residential rental buildings in New York City, whether your apartment is rent stabilized or market rate. Outside the city, different codes apply. HCR notes that the New York State Property Maintenance Code generally requires heat from September 15 through May 31 at 68°F and hot water of at least 110°F, and that local rules vary.
How to measure and log temperatures
An HPD inspector's reading is what produces a violation, but your own log shows a pattern, helps you time complaints, and can be evidence in Housing Court or an HCR case. The city's Tenant Support Unit publishes a free heat and hot water log with these columns, which is a good model:
- 1
Date and time
Write the exact time. The rule that applies depends on whether it is before or after 10 p.m. - 2
Outdoor temperature
Note the outdoor reading from a weather service at that time. It decides whether the daytime rule applies. - 3
Indoor temperature
Use a basic thermometer placed in a room you live in, away from windows, the stove, the radiator and direct sun. Take a photo showing the reading and a clock or phone time. - 4
Hot water
Run the tap a few minutes, then measure with a cooking thermometer. Record yes or no and the temperature. - 5
311 complaint number
Add the Service Request number for each complaint so you can match your log to HPD’s record. - 6
Witness
If a neighbor or visitor saw the conditions, write their name. The city’s log notes this may be useful in a court case.
What happens to a landlord who doesn't provide heat
Heat and hot water violations are Class C, immediately hazardous, and HPD lists their correction period as "immediately." According to HPD:
| Consequence | Amount or effect |
|---|---|
| Civil penalty, first heat or hot water violation | $250 to $500 per day |
| Civil penalty, later violations at the same building (same or next heat season or calendar year) | $500 to $1,000 per day |
| Inspection fee | $200 for each inspection after the first two that results in a heat violation in the same heat season (or a hot water violation in the same calendar year); billed by the Department of Finance and becomes a lien if unpaid |
| Payment in satisfaction (first violation only, if the notice says eligible) | Fix within 24 hours of the violation and file a Notice of Correction with a $250 payment within 10 days |
| Emergency Repair Program | HPD may hire a contractor to restore service and bill the owner; unpaid charges become a tax lien |
| HPD lawsuit | HPD can sue in Housing Court; check the Litigation tab on HPD Online |
Rent-stabilized and rent-controlled tenants have an extra option: HCR can order a rent reduction when required heat or hot water isn't maintained. You file form HHW-1 for your apartment (or RA-84 for a building-wide complaint), and it must include a city agency report finding the lack of heat or hot water. If HCR finds the owner failed to provide heat or hot water, the owner can't collect further rent increases until service is restored. You can't get an HCR reduction and another abatement or rent credit for the same condition at the same time.
Every tenant also has the warranty of habitability, which lets a court reduce rent for the time you went without heat or hot water, and can bring an HP action in Housing Court to force repairs.
Stay safe while it is cold
- Never heat your home with a gas stove, oven or charcoal grill.
- Kerosene and propane space heaters are illegal in NYC.
- Keep electric space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn, plug them straight into the wall, and turn them off when you leave or sleep.
- Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work. If a CO alarm sounds or you smell gas, get outside and call 911.
- If you can't afford heating bills you pay yourself, ask HRA about the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
Before you rent: check the building's heat history
Heat complaints repeat. A building with dozens of complaints every winter will probably be cold again. Look up any address on Roofy's building lookup to see its complaints and open violations, and read how to check a building's heat complaint history. For the citywide picture, see our 2025-26 heat complaint report.
If your apartment is cold right now, go to no heat or hot water: what to do for a step-by-step plan.
Re-verified 2026-10-12 on the HPD Heat and Hot Water page: Oct 1-May 31 season, 68°F day when below 55°F outside, 62°F night, 120°F hot water, 311/TTY, penalties ($250-$500 first; $500-$1,000 subsequent in same/next season or year), $200 inspection fee scope, $250 payment-in-satisfaction rules, safety and HEAP advice. Class C heat 'immediately' from the HPD report page. 110°F anti-scald rule, HHW-1/RA-84, no double benefit, and NYS PMC Sept 15 rule from HCR FS-15 (12/2022). ERP billing/lien from the HPD ERP page. Removed an unverified claim about the pre-2017 night rule; tightened penalty, fee and rent-reduction wording.
Sources
- Heat and Hot Water Information · NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Heat and Hot Water Log (Tenant Support Unit) · NYC Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Report a Quality or Safety Issue · NYC HPD (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Fact Sheet #15: Heat and Hot Water · NYS Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Emergency Repair Program (ERP) · NYC HPD (accessed October 12, 2026)
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency or a professional before you act.