Evans, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 158-49
Light in common halls and stairways
Operative Text
Every common hall and common stairway located in a structure used for human habitation and which is used primarily for ingress and egress in connection with two or more dwelling units or rooming units shall be supplied with a proper amount of natural light or lighting facilities controllable by the occupants of the structure and available at all times.
Evans, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 § 158-49 establishes that shared hallways and stairwells in residential buildings serving two or more dwelling or rooming units must have adequate lighting—whether natural or artificial—that residents can control and access at any time. The rule applies to any common area used primarily for entering and exiting the building. Neither darkness nor inaccessible light switches satisfies the standard.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Evans Code § 158-49, operators of residential properties with two or more units are generally expected to ensure that every shared hallway and stairwell has sufficient natural or artificial lighting, with controls accessible to occupants around the clock. Compliant property managers routinely inspect common areas to confirm that light fixtures are functional, switches are reachable, and no outages leave shared passages unlit. Keeping maintenance logs and responding promptly to lighting failures are practices consistent with meeting this standard.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Evans Code § 158-49 gives residents of multi-unit buildings a right to adequately lit common hallways and stairwells with lighting controls available to them at all times. If shared passages in a building are persistently dark or lighting controls are inaccessible, that condition may constitute a violation of this provision, and tenants can document the issue and report it to the appropriate local code enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations in the Evans area can help residents understand what options are generally available when a landlord does not address lighting deficiencies.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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