NYC Heat and Hot Water Rules: Temperatures, Dates and Fines
New York City’s heat season runs October 1 to May 31: 68°F by day when it is below 55°F outside, 62°F at night, hot water at 120°F all year.
By Seayora Editorial Team · Published · Facts checked · 2 min read
Short answer: From October 1 to May 31, New York City landlords must keep apartments at least 68°F 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. regardless of the weather. Hot water must be at least 120°F all year. Heat and hot water violations carry daily penalties of $250 to $500, and $500 to $1,000 for repeat violations.
Key takeaways
- The daytime rule depends on the outdoor temperature; the overnight rule does not.
- Hot water at a constant minimum of 120°F applies every day of the year.
- HPD charges a $200 inspection fee after the first two heat violations in a season.
- If an owner does not restore service, HPD’s Emergency Repair Program can do it and bill the owner.
What temperatures does the law require?
| Time | Outdoor temperature | Minimum indoor temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Below 55°F | 68°F |
| 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. | Any | 62°F |
| All year, any time | Any | Hot water at 120°F |
These are the rules HPD enforces under the Housing Maintenance Code (HPD heat and hot water). An inspector records the outdoor temperature at every inspection, so a daytime violation can only be issued when it is below 55°F outside.
What are the penalties?
- $250 to $500 per day for each initial heat or hot water violation.
- $500 to $1,000 per day for each later violation at the same building in the same or next heat season.
- A $200 inspection fee for every inspection after the first two in a season that finds a heat violation, billed through the Department of Finance.
- An owner may certify correction within 24 hours of the violation and pay $250 within 10 days to resolve a first violation without going to Housing Court.
If service is not restored, HPD’s Emergency Repair Program can hire a contractor and bill the owner, plus fees, where the indoor temperature was below 64°F during the day or 58°F at night.
How common are heat complaints?
Very. HPD reported 344,437 heat complaints in the 2025–26 heat season as of May 31, 2026, up from 282,606 the season before, with the busiest single day on February 8, 2026 at 6,144 complaints. Tenants can complain anonymously through 311.
How can an owner stay ahead of it?
- Service the boiler and test the system in September, before the season starts.
- Track repair requests by building, so a pattern of no-heat calls is visible early.
- Answer a no-heat report the same day and keep a record of when service was restored.
- Keep the HPD registration current, so complaint notices reach the right person.
Frequently asked questions
When does heat season start in New York City?
October 1, and it runs through May 31.
Is the landlord required to provide heat if it is 60°F outside during the day?
The daytime rule applies only when it is below 55°F outside. At night, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., the apartment must be at least 62°F whatever the outdoor temperature.
What temperature must hot water be?
At least 120°F, constantly, all year.
Sources
- Heat and Hot Water Information, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
How Seayora helps
Maintenance requests: Residents report a no-heat condition from their phone, and the request is tracked with times until it is resolved.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes often, so check the current rule for your property and talk to an attorney before acting on a dispute.
How we write and check these guides: editorial standards.
Related on Seayora
- NYC Landlord Compliance Calendar: Annual Deadlines and Notices — Guide. The yearly obligations of a New York City landlord in one calendar: lead and window guard notices, registration, bedbug filings, heat season and more.
- Compliance Alerts & Required Filings — Feature. Seayora watches your properties for new violations and works out which recurring filings each building owes, turns both into a dated checklist, and emails you when something new appears. Live violation data for New York City; rule-based filing obligations across the NYC metro.
- NYC Compliance Tracking — Feature. Track New York City property compliance requirements and deadlines alongside the rest of your portfolio operations.
- NYC’s Tenant Data Privacy Act: Rules for Key Fobs and Smart Locks — Guide. What NYC Local Law 63 requires of buildings with keyless entry: consent, the data that may be collected, 90-day deletion, no tracking and a privacy policy.
- HOA and Condo Fines: Notice, Cure and Hearing Rules by State — Guide. Before an association can fine an owner: Florida’s 14-day notice and committee hearing, California’s $100 cap and cure right, and Texas’s certified-mail notice.
- Good Cause Eviction in New York City — coverage, the local rent standard and the notice — Documentation. Which of your NYC units the Good Cause Eviction law covers, the exemptions and how each is decided, the highest presumptively reasonable rent increase, and the § 231-c notice every lease and renewal must carry.