Can a NYC apartment have only a shower?

New York City Requirements

NYC Administrative Code

• 27-901(l) — Required plumbing fixtures for dwelling units:
  Every dwelling unit in buildings classified in occupancy groups J-2 and J-3 (residential apartments) must have at least:
  • one water closet,
  • one lavatory,
  • one kitchen-type sink, and
  • one bathtub or shower.
    → This means a shower alone satisfies the requirement; a bathtub is not

NYC Building Code (for accessible units)

• 2.2 (Type B+NYC dwelling unit toilet and bathing rooms) —
  In an accessible dwelling unit bathing room, the fixtures must include at least one lavatory, one water closet, and either a bathtub or shower.
  → Again, no requirement for a bathtub if a shower is provided.

1 RCNY Rules (DOB fixture requirements)

• 1 RCNY §1101-01(b) —
  A bathroom must have a lavatory, a water closet, and either a bathtub or a shower.
  → Reinforces the NYC requirement that a shower qualifies as the required bathing fixture.

New York State Requirements

New York Multiple Residence Law

• Multiple Residence Law §171(4) —
  “Every apartment arranged for permanent occupancy shall contain a bath or shower accessible…”
  → The statute uses bath or shower, so a shower alone complies.

New York Multiple Dwelling Law

• Multiple Dwelling Law §76 (general sanitation) —
  Requires appropriate bath accommodations in dwellings, but does not specify that a bathtub must be provided separate from a shower.

Summary of Relevant Sections

Key Takeaway

Both NYC law (Administrative & Building Codes) and New York State law explicitly allow a shower in place of a bathtub as the required bathing fixture in a dwelling unit — a bathtub is not legally required if a compliant shower is provided