Garden City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 127 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 127-18
Nonhabitable space
Operative Text
A. Height. Nonhabitable space, except crawl spaces and attics, in multiple dwellings shall have a minimum height of seven feet measured from floor to ceiling. B. Toilet rooms and bathrooms. (1) Toilet rooms and bathrooms in one- and two-family dwellings shall have provisions for privacy. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) Toilet rooms for employees in multiple dwellings shall be in separate rooms 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. (5) In one- and two-family dwellings, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be provided with floors of moisture-resistant material. (6) In multiple dwellings, floors of bathrooms, toilet rooms and similar spaces shall be waterproof. C. Light and ventilation. (1) Kitchenettes, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be provided with artificial light appropriate for the use of such rooms. (2) Laundry rooms, furnace rooms and similar nonhabitable space shall be provided with artificial light appropriate for the intended use of such rooms. (3) Stairs shall be provided with artificial light to allow safe ascent or descent. (4) Kitchenettes, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be provided with ventilation in accordance with either of the following: natural ventilation as required for habitable space, except that such openable areas shall be not less than one and one-half (1/2) square feet for bathrooms or toilet rooms and not less than three square feet for kitchenettes, or mechanical ventilation exhausting not less than 25 cubic feet per minute for bathrooms and toilet rooms and not less than 100 cubic feet per minute for kitchenettes. (5) Spaces in multiple dwellings which contain central heat-producing, air-conditioning and other requirements shall be ventilated to the outer air, and air from these spaces shall not be recirculated to other parts of the building. (6) Ventilation shall be provided in unheated attics, spaces below flat roofs and crawl spaces. Location and net areas of ventilation openings shall be such as to minimize deterioration of structural members from condensation or other causes, in conformity with generally accepted standards.
Garden City Code ch. 127 § 127-18 establishes minimum physical standards for nonhabitable spaces in residential buildings. It sets a seven-foot minimum ceiling height for nonhabitable areas (excluding crawl spaces and attics), requires that bathrooms and toilet rooms meet specific privacy, accessibility, flooring, lighting, and ventilation requirements, and mandates that stairways have adequate artificial lighting. The provision also addresses ventilation for mechanical equipment spaces, attics, and crawl spaces to prevent structural deterioration from moisture.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings and one- and two-family homes in Garden City must ensure their properties conform to the detailed standards in ch. 127 § 127-18. Compliant operators generally verify that nonhabitable spaces meet the seven-foot ceiling minimum, that bathrooms and toilet rooms are properly located within or accessible from dwelling units, that floors in wet areas use moisture-resistant or waterproof materials, and that all required spaces have adequate artificial lighting and ventilation meeting the specified airflow rates. Buildings with five or more employees also require sex-segregated toilet facilities that do not open directly into food preparation areas.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Garden City Code ch. 127 § 127-18, tenants in multiple dwellings have a right to bathrooms and toilet rooms that are accessible from their unit without passing through another sleeping room, properly lit, ventilated, and equipped with waterproof flooring. If a rental unit appears to fall short of these standards—such as inadequate lighting on stairs, poor bathroom ventilation, or improper floor materials—tenants may document the conditions and report concerns to the appropriate local housing or code enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what options may be available when conditions appear to violate this provision.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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