Mount Kisco, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 72 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 72-11
Public space
Operative Text
A. Height. Public space shall have a minimum height of seven feet six inches measured from finished floor to finished ceiling. B. Light and ventilation. (1) Public spaces shall be provided with artificial light. (2) In public stairs, stairways and passageways, artificial light shall be electric lighting available at all times so as to afford safe passage for occupants and users. Such lighting shall conform to the following: (a) A sufficient number of fixtures shall be provided so that the distance between fixtures is not more than 30 feet and so that no wall is more than 15 feet distant from a fixture. (b) Incandescent lighting shall be based on not less than 1/4 watt per square foot of floor area, except that each fixture shall have a lamp or lamps with a total of not less than 25 watts. (c) Fluorescent lighting shall be based on not less than 1/10 watt per square foot of floor area, except that each fixture shall have a lamp or lamps of a total of not less than 15 watts. (d) Where under these formulas the calculated wattage does not correspond to that of a standard lamp, the next larger size shall be used. (3) Public spaces shall be provided with either natural ventilation, conforming to the requirements for habitable space, or with mechanical ventilation.
Mount Kisco Code ch. 72 § 72-11 establishes minimum physical standards for public spaces in residential buildings, covering ceiling height, lighting, and ventilation. Public spaces must reach at least seven feet six inches from finished floor to finished ceiling, and must be equipped with artificial lighting that meets specific wattage and fixture-spacing requirements. Stairways and passageways require electric lighting available at all times, while ventilation must be either natural (meeting habitable-space standards) or mechanical.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Mount Kisco Code ch. 72 § 72-11 generally ensure that all public spaces—including lobbies, stairways, and passageways—meet the seven-foot-six-inch minimum ceiling height and maintain continuously available electric lighting in stairwells. Compliant operators verify that fixture spacing does not exceed 30 feet, that no wall is more than 15 feet from a fixture, and that wattage meets the incandescent or fluorescent minimums specified in the provision. Ventilation systems in public spaces are also kept in working order, whether natural or mechanical, to satisfy the requirements of § 72-11.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in buildings subject to Mount Kisco Code ch. 72 § 72-11 have an interest in public spaces—such as hallways and stairwells—that meet the minimum height, lighting, and ventilation standards set out in that provision. If lighting in a stairway is inadequate, fixtures are too far apart, or ventilation is absent, these conditions may constitute code violations that can be reported to the appropriate local code enforcement or building department in Mount Kisco. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local housing codes can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what general options exist when conditions appear to fall short of § 72-11's requirements.
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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