Massena, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 186 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 186-15
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. 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: (a) Natural ventilation as required for habitable space, except that such openable areas shall be not less than 11/2 square feet for bathrooms or toilet rooms and not less than three square feet for kitchenettes. (b) 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 equipment, 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.
Section 186-15 of Massena's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 186, establishes minimum physical standards for nonhabitable spaces in residential dwellings. It sets a seven-foot minimum ceiling height for nonhabitable areas (excluding crawl spaces and attics) in multiple dwellings, and specifies where and how toilet rooms and bathrooms must be located, accessed, and finished. The provision also mandates adequate artificial lighting in kitchenettes, bathrooms, laundry rooms, stairways, and similar spaces, and requires ventilation—either natural or mechanical—meeting defined minimums for airflow and opening size.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings subject to § 186-15 generally ensure that nonhabitable spaces meet the seven-foot ceiling height requirement and that bathrooms and toilet rooms are positioned within or directly accessible from dwelling units without routing occupants through other sleeping rooms. Compliant properties provide moisture-resistant flooring in bathrooms and toilet rooms of one- and two-family dwellings, and maintain artificial lighting appropriate to each room's use, including stairways. Ventilation systems—whether natural openings of the required square footage or mechanical exhaust fans meeting the cubic-feet-per-minute thresholds stated in § 186-15—are kept functional, and equipment rooms in multiple dwellings are vented directly to outside air without recirculation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 186-15, tenants in multiple dwellings have a right to bathroom and toilet facilities that are accessible from their unit without passing through another sleeping room, and to spaces that meet the lighting and ventilation standards described in the provision. If a bathroom lacks proper ventilation, a stairway is inadequately lit, or a nonhabitable space falls short of the ceiling height requirement, these conditions may constitute code violations that can be reported to the local code enforcement authority in Massena. Tenants experiencing such conditions may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization to understand what documentation to gather and what local complaint processes are available under Chapter 186.
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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