Rainwater harvesting is legal in The Bronx. NYC DEP actively encourages residential rain barrels through free giveaway events. Stored water is for non-potable outdoor use only.
New York has no statewide prohibition on rainwater capture. NYC DEP and GrowNYC have distributed tens of thousands of 55-gallon rain barrels free to homeowners. Barrels must be covered to prevent mosquitoes and drained before winter to avoid freezing damage. Larger cistern systems connected to plumbing require DOB plan approval and DOH oversight if used indoors. Green-infrastructure grants are available for qualifying properties through DEP.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Bronx County, NY
Open burning is prohibited in Bronx County under both NYC Fire Code FC 307 and 6 NYCRR Part 215. Burning leaves, brush, trash, or yard waste is illegal year-...
Bronx County, NY
Bronx County is not in a designated wildfire hazard zone. No WUI maps, Cal Fire-equivalent designations, or Chapter 7A-style construction rules apply in NYC.
Bronx County, NY
Bronx County follows NYC Fire Code (Title 29). Open flames and recreational fires are prohibited on terraces, balconies, roofs, and within 10 feet of combust...
Bronx County, NY
Backyard recreational fires are only allowed at 1-2 family homes with private yards, using approved portable fire pits under 3 feet wide. Apartment buildings...
Bronx County, NY
NYC Administrative Code 27-2045 requires working smoke alarms in every dwelling unit. Since 2019 all replacement alarms must be sealed 10-year battery or har...
Bronx County, NY
The Bronx is a dense urban borough with no wildland-urban interface, so there is no defensible space ordinance. Property owners must still maintain lots free...
See how Bronx County's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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