N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2060
Lighting and ventilation of living rooms in new law tenements (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
a. Required windows. Every living room in a new law tenement shall have a window opening on: (1) A street, or (2) A lawful yard or court. b. Size of windows. (1) The total area of all windows in the room shall be at least one-tenth the floor area of such room. (2) Every required window shall be at least twelve square feet. (3) At least one-half of every required window shall open. (4) The top of one required window in a room shall be at least seven feet six inches above the floor. c. Through ventilation. (1) Every part of a dwelling unit of three rooms or less shall be either within eighteen feet of a street or yard or have a window opening upon a lawful court. (2) If the window of any room opens on an inner court with a width of less than ten feet between the exterior wall of the dwelling and the lot line, there shall be a sash window connecting such room to an adjoining room within the dwelling unit. The sash window shall have at least ten square feet of glazed area, one-half of which shall open. d. Dining space. A dining space shall have at least one window: (1) That complies with the provisions of subdivision a; and (2) That has an area not less than one-eighth the floor area of such dining space.
Section 27-2060 of the N.Y.C. Administrative Code establishes minimum standards for natural light and ventilation in living rooms located in new law tenements. Every such room must have at least one window opening onto a street, yard, or lawful court, and that window must meet specific size, openability, and height requirements. Rooms in smaller dwelling units must also be positioned or connected so that fresh air can circulate through the space, and dining spaces carry their own separate window-area requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of new law tenements must ensure that every living room complies with the window and ventilation standards set out in N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 27-2060, including confirming that required windows meet the one-tenth floor-area ratio, the twelve-square-foot minimum, and the seven-foot-six-inch height threshold. In dwelling units of three rooms or fewer, each room must either sit within eighteen feet of a street or yard or open onto a lawful court; inner courts narrower than ten feet trigger an additional sash-window requirement between adjoining rooms. Dining spaces require their own compliant window sized to at least one-eighth of the dining space's floor area, so these areas should be evaluated separately during inspections or renovation planning.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in new law tenements have a right to habitable living spaces that meet the natural light and ventilation minimums established under N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 27-2060, including properly sized, operable windows and adequate through-ventilation. If a living room or dining space lacks a compliant window—or if a required sash window connecting rooms is absent or blocked—that condition may constitute a housing code violation. Tenants who believe their unit falls short of these standards can document the conditions, raise the issue with their landlord in writing, file a complaint with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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