NYC HEAT LAW
68 during the day. 62 at night.
From October 1 to May 31, those are the minimums your building owner owes you. Here's the rule, how to report a violation, and how to read a building's heat record before you sign.
What the law actually requires
Heat season runs October 1 through May 31. The daytime rule depends on the weather; the overnight rule does not.
Day — 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
68°F
Required whenever it's below 55°F outside.
Night — 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
62°F
Required regardless of the outdoor temperature.
Hot water — all year, all day
120°F
No seasonal exception. It applies in August too.
Source: NYC Housing Maintenance Code § 27-2029. A building that misses these can be cited as an immediately hazardous violation.
If your apartment is cold right now
Write down the time and the temperature
Date, time of day, and the reading on a thermometer inside the apartment. A log of dated readings is worth more than a description.
Call 311 every time it happens
One call is an incident. A pattern of dated calls against the same address is what an inspector and a judge actually look at.
Check what's already on the building
If neighbors have been calling for years, the record shows it — and it tells you whether this is a broken boiler or a habit.
Common questions
What is the NYC heat law?
Between October 1 and May 31, building owners must keep apartments at 68°F during the day whenever it's below 55°F outside, and at 62°F at night no matter the outdoor temperature. Hot water must run at 120°F all year, 24 hours a day.
When is heat season in NYC?
Heat season runs October 1 through May 31. Outside those dates there is no minimum indoor temperature requirement, but the hot water rule still applies every day of the year.
What temperature is my landlord required to keep my apartment?
Daytime, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.: 68°F, required only when the outdoor temperature falls below 55°F. Overnight, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.: 62°F, required regardless of what it is outside.
How do I report no heat in my NYC apartment?
Call 311 or file online. The call creates a dated record attached to your building address, and repeated calls are what trigger an inspection. Tell your building owner or managing agent too, but the 311 record is the part that survives.
Can I check a building's heat record before I sign a lease?
Yes. Search the address on Brix. Every heat and hot water complaint filed against the building shows up with its date and whether it closed, alongside open violations and the registered owner.
Find out before October.
Every heat and hot water complaint on the building, with dates — plus open violations and who's registered as the owner.