NYC heat season rules

Heat season in New York City runs from October 1 through May 31. Tenants filed 19,879 heat or hot water complaints to 311 about buildings on StreetSpy since October 1, 2026, as of October 26, 2026.

Look up any NYC building:

The temperatures

• From 6 am to 10 pm: at least 68°F inside whenever it is below 55°F outside.
• From 10 pm to 6 am: at least 62°F inside, whatever the temperature outside.
• Hot water: at least 120°F at the tap, every day of the year.

The heat rule is NYC Administrative Code § 27-2029 and the hot water rule is § 27-2031, both part of the Housing Maintenance Code. HPD treats a missing heat or hot water as a class C, immediately hazardous, violation.

When there is no heat

• Tell the building's super or managing agent, then file a complaint with 311 (call, app or online). HPD can inspect, issue a violation and, if the owner does not act, make the repair and bill the owner.
• Keep a log: the dates, times, the temperature inside and outside, and every call.
• If it continues, tenants can ask Housing Court to order repairs (an HP proceeding); NY Courts explains how.

Where complaints are

The heat page ranks buildings by heat and hot water complaints this season, per 10 units. Each neighborhood has its own list on its neighborhood page. A complaint is a tenant's report, not a finding by the city.

Step-by-step help is in our tenant rights guide.

Sources

• NYC 311 heat and hot water complaint
• NY Courts: starting an HP proceeding
• NYC 311 Service Requests (NYC Open Data)

Other guides: Is my building rent stabilized?, How to check a landlord in NYC, HPD violation classes, explained. Tenant rights guide. Figures from city records as of Oct 26, 2026.