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How to report no heat in NYC
Last updated: 2026-09-04
SidewalkSnitch is an independent civic tool. Not affiliated with the City of New York and not a government 311 service.
NYC heat season runs October 1 to May 31. Under NYC Admin Code §27-2029, the landlord must keep the apartment at least 68°F from 6 AM to 10 PM when the outdoor temperature is below 55°F, and at least 62°F from 10 PM to 6 AM whatever the outdoor temperature. Start at the 311 article Heat or Hot Water, and be ready to call 311 — HPD often requires a phone call to complete a heat complaint. Use this page to draft paste-ready text; we prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it.
How to file from this page
- Photograph a thermometer in the living area with the reading clearly visible, away from a window or a radiator.
- Tap Add photo of no-heat evidence. We draft paste-ready text.
- Tap Copy, then Open 311. Paste. Submit on the city's site.
- Keep your Service Request Number.
See it. Snap it. Fix it.
We prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it.
HPD may require a phone call
Heat and hot water are handled by HPD, and HPD often requires you to speak with a 311 agent by phone instead of finishing a web form. Treat the 311 article above as the start point, not as the whole filing. Keep your drafted text open, call 311, and read it out. Your complaint is on record only when the city gives you a Service Request Number.
More detail — the temperature rule, hot water, evidence, what HPD does
The legal temperatures
- Heat season. October 1 through May 31.
- Day, 6 AM to 10 PM. At least 68°F inside when the outdoor temperature is below 55°F.
- Night, 10 PM to 6 AM. At least 62°F inside.
- Hot water, all year. At least 120°F under NYC Admin Code §27-2031. This duty does not stop outside heat season.
Measure it properly
A reading the city can use must come from a normal living space. Follow these steps:
- Place the thermometer in the living area. Not on a windowsill, not on a radiator, and not in a draft from a door or a window.
- Wait for it to settle. Give it several minutes before you read it.
- Record the time. The legal minimum changes at 6 AM and 10 PM.
- Note the outdoor temperature. The daytime rule applies when it is below 55°F.
- Keep a log. Repeat readings across several days show a pattern, not one cold hour.
Tell the landlord first, then the city
Report the outage to the landlord or the building superintendent, and write down when you told them. HPD asks about that contact. Reporting to your landlord does not replace the 311 complaint — file both, because only the 311 complaint puts the condition on the city record.
What HPD does next
HPD can send an inspector to the apartment and issue a violation to the owner. Where an owner does not restore heat, HPD has an emergency repair path. Be reachable: an inspector who cannot get into the apartment cannot record the condition. File again for each new day without heat, because each day is its own failure.
A cold apartment can be dangerous
Call 911 for a medical emergency, and never heat a room with a gas oven or an open flame. If you smell gas or the boiler is damaged, leave and call 911. This guide is about reporting the condition. It is not legal advice and it is not a repair service.
No heat in your apartment?
Photograph the thermometer reading in the living area, with the date and time noted.
See it. Snap it. Fix it. We prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it.
Join the friends & family waitlistPhone number required. F&F access only — not a public neighborhood launch.
Friends & family waitlist — phone number required. Public neighborhood launch is not open yet.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature must my apartment be in NYC?
During heat season, from 6 AM to 10 PM the apartment must be at least 68°F when the outdoor temperature is below 55°F. From 10 PM to 6 AM it must be at least 62°F, whatever the outdoor temperature. That rule is NYC Admin Code §27-2029.
When is NYC heat season?
October 1 through May 31.
What about hot water?
Hot water is a year-round duty, not a heat-season one. NYC Admin Code §27-2031 requires hot water at a minimum of 120°F all year. An extended outage is an HPD violation.
Can I finish a no-heat complaint online?
Not always. HPD often requires you to speak with a 311 agent by phone for a heat or hot water complaint. Start on the 311 Heat or Hot Water article, and be ready to call 311 to complete it. We tell you this plainly rather than promise an online-only path.
What should I record before I report?
Record the indoor temperature on a thermometer, the date, and the time. Photograph the thermometer reading. Note the outdoor temperature as well, because the daytime rule depends on it. Keep a log if the problem repeats across days.
Does this guide file the complaint for me?
No. This page drafts paste-ready text from your photo. You copy it and file with the city yourself, online or by phone. We prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it.
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