Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-21
Toilet rooms and bathrooms
Operative Text
A. In every private dwelling, apartment house and multiple residence, there shall be a separate water closet for each family. Each such water closet shall be placed in a room completely separated from every other water closet; such room shall be not less than three feet wide and shall be enclosed with partitions which shall extend to the ceiling. No drip trays shall be permitted in connection with any water closet nor shall a water closet fixture be enclosed. B. Toilet rooms and bathrooms shall have provisions for privacy. C. Toilet rooms and bathrooms for dwelling units in multiple dwellings shall be located within the dwelling units and shall be accessible from any sleeping room without passing through any other sleeping room. D. Unless located within dwelling units or directly connected with sleeping rooms, toilet rooms and bathrooms in multiple dwellings shall be provided in each story containing habitable space and shall be accessible thereto. E. Toilet rooms for employees in multiple dwellings shall be in separate room for each sex where there are five or more employees, shall be readily accessible to such employees and shall not open directly into any public kitchen or other public space used for the cooking or preparation of food. F. In one- and two-family dwellings, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be provided with floors of moisture-resistant material. G. In multiple dwellings, floors of bathrooms, toilet rooms and similar spaces shall be waterproof; such waterproofing shall extend six inches or more above floors except at doors, so that floors can be flushed or washed without leaking. Walls shall be constructed or covered with a moisture-resistant material. H. All shower enclosures shall have waterproof floors and water-resistant walls. I. No water closet shall be placed out of doors.
Albany Code § 231-21 establishes detailed physical and locational standards for toilet rooms and bathrooms in all residential dwellings. Each family unit must have its own water closet in a fully enclosed, separate room at least three feet wide, and bathrooms must be designed to ensure privacy. In multiple dwellings, bathrooms must be located within individual dwelling units and accessible from sleeping rooms without passing through another sleeping room, while floors and walls must meet specific moisture-resistance or waterproofing requirements depending on the building type.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential properties in Albany must ensure compliance with § 231-21 by providing each family with a dedicated, fully enclosed water closet that meets the minimum three-foot width requirement and extends partitions to the ceiling. In multiple dwellings, bathrooms must be situated inside each dwelling unit with direct accessibility from sleeping areas, and floors must be fully waterproofed with waterproofing extending at least six inches up the walls. Properties with five or more employees must also maintain sex-segregated employee toilet rooms that are readily accessible and not directly connected to food preparation areas.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Albany Code § 231-21, tenants in residential dwellings are entitled to a private, fully enclosed water closet and, in multiple dwellings, a bathroom located within their own unit that can be reached from a sleeping room without passing through another sleeping room. If a bathroom lacks proper privacy provisions, waterproofing, or accessible placement as described in § 231-21, this may constitute a housing code violation that can be raised with local housing or code enforcement authorities. Tenants who believe their unit does not meet these standards may consider documenting the conditions and reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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