I thought it was illegal to install a new gas store that did not have an electrical ignition switch. A friend just had a new gas stove installed, by the building owner, and it had a gas pilot light. Again, is that legal in New York City? Thanks for your help.

Yes, two reasons being that they're very inexpensive and many older kitchens in apartment buildings, (and homes) do not have electrical outlets behind them.

On a side note; I'm surprised they haven't come up with some sort of a safety feature that prevents a cooktop burner from turning on if the pilot is not lit, (similar to a gas water heater), but that would probably require four individual pilots w/ thermocouples, plus one for the oven and different style gas controls...safety = more $$$$.

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This slow drip will waste 7+ gallons of water per day.

Were still hooking up the small 24" non-pilot stoves around hear...I thought when they ran out of stock and the new electronic units came threw that was it but I'm still seeing the pilot units.

Of course it is. The elecronic ignition is an "energy saving" device, but not all stoves have them, especially the low budget ones.

Most ovens do have a "safety" unit of some kind that prevents gas flow if the pilot is not lit.

you have to lit the pilot to heat the thermocouple which opens the gas the flow if it cools or soots up and wont heat up it closes the gas supply. They have to be just right or no gas