Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-25
Opening for emergency use in dwellings not more than three stories in height
Operative Text
A. At least one opening or secondary exit shall be provided at each floor level containing a habitable space or recreation room. B. Such openings shall include doors and openable parts of windows, located so as to provide ready access to legal open spaces. C. Such openings shall have a minimum area of five square feet, with a minimum dimension of 16 inches, with bottom of openings no higher than three feet above finished floor in all above-grade stories and no higher than four feet six inches where required in basement and cellar.
Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-25 establishes minimum requirements for emergency egress openings in residential buildings of three stories or fewer. Every floor that contains a habitable space or recreation room must have at least one qualifying opening—such as a door or operable window—that leads to a legal open space. These openings must meet specific size standards: a minimum area of five square feet, a minimum dimension of 16 inches, and a sill height no more than three feet above the finished floor in above-grade stories (or four feet six inches in basements and cellars).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of dwellings covered by Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-25 generally ensure that each occupied floor level has at least one compliant emergency egress opening—a door or operable window section—that provides direct access to a legal open space. Compliant operators verify that each such opening meets the five-square-foot area minimum, the 16-inch minimum dimension, and the applicable sill-height limits for above-grade and below-grade floors. Routine inspections of windows and doors help confirm that hardware remains functional and that no renovations have inadvertently reduced opening dimensions below code requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-25, tenants in buildings of three stories or fewer are entitled to at least one properly sized, accessible emergency egress opening on every floor level where they live or use a recreation room. If a window cannot be opened, a door is blocked, or an opening appears too small or too high off the floor to meet the code's standards, that may constitute a housing code violation. Tenants who believe their unit lacks a compliant egress opening can consider contacting Albany's local code enforcement or housing inspection office, or reaching out to a 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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