N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2041
Peepholes (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
In every dwelling the owner shall provide and maintain a peephole in the entrance door of each dwelling unit. Such peephole shall be located, as prescribed by the department, in such a place that the person in each dwelling unit may view from the inside any person immediately outside the entrance door. However, such peephole need not be installed in any tenant-occupied one- or two-family home where it is possible to see from the inside any person immediately outside the entrance door. This section shall not apply to hotels, apartment hotels, college or school dormitories, or owner-occupied dwelling units in one- and two-family homes.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 et seq. § 27-2041, building owners in New York City are required to install and keep in working order a peephole in the entrance door of each dwelling unit, positioned so that occupants can see anyone standing immediately outside. The rule carves out exceptions for tenant-occupied one- or two-family homes where visibility is already possible without a peephole, as well as for hotels, apartment hotels, dormitories, and owner-occupied one- and two-family homes. The provision establishes a baseline security feature that landlords must provide as part of maintaining a habitable dwelling.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Compliance with N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 et seq. § 27-2041 generally means that operators of covered residential buildings install a department-approved peephole in each dwelling unit's entrance door and keep it functional throughout the tenancy. Owners should confirm whether their property type falls within one of the statutory exemptions—such as hotels or owner-occupied one- and two-family homes—before concluding the requirement does not apply. Routine building inspections are an opportunity to verify that existing peepholes remain properly positioned and in good repair.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 et seq. § 27-2041 gives tenants in covered dwellings the right to a functioning peephole in their entrance door, installed and maintained by the owner. If a peephole is missing or broken, tenants may report the condition to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which oversees housing maintenance standards, or raise the violation in a housing court proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations in New York City can provide general information about how to document the condition and what remedies may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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