N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2068
Sanitary facilities in certain multiple dwellings erected after nineteen hundred twenty-nine (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
a. Fireproof multiple dwelling. In a fireproof multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, in which any living room opens directly upon a public hall without any intervening room, foyer or passage, or in which any suites of two living rooms open upon a foyer giving direct access to a public hall, there shall be one water closet for every three such living rooms on a story. Every such water closet shall be accessible to one or more such rooms without passage through a public hall or bedroom. In a class B multiple dwelling, where any such living room does not have access to a water closet without passage through a public hall or bedroom, there shall be at least one water closet for every such fifteen living rooms or fraction thereof, and every such living room shall have access to a water closet through a public hall. b. Fireproof class B dwelling. In a fireproof class B multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, in which every living room, excluding rooms occupied by management and maintenance personnel of the dwelling, opens directly to a public hall without passing through any other room, foyer or private hall, there shall be two water closets for the first twenty living rooms or fraction thereof, and one additional water closet for each additional fifteen living rooms or fraction thereof. Such water closets may be located in compartments or in general toilet rooms accessible from every living room on the floor. A urinal may be substituted for a water closet on any story where seventeen or more rooms are occupied exclusively by males, but not more than one-quarter of the required facilities may be urinals. c. Nonfireproof class B dwellings. In a nonfireproof class B multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, there shall be one water closet and washbasin for every seven living rooms. One such water closet compartment with washbasin shall be accessible to every room on each floor. d. Sanitary facilities for employees of tenants. If employees of the tenants occupy two or more rooms opening directly to the same public hall in a fireproof multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, there shall be one water closet for the first four rooms or fraction thereof and one additional water closet for each additional seven rooms or fraction thereof. Such facilities shall be accessible either directly from such rooms or through the public halls.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2068 establish minimum sanitary facility requirements for multiple dwellings built after April 18, 1929, varying by building type and classification. Fireproof multiple dwellings, fireproof Class B dwellings, and nonfireproof Class B dwellings each follow distinct ratios of water closets to living rooms, with specific rules about accessibility without passing through public halls or bedrooms. Additional provisions govern buildings where employees of tenants occupy rooms, and in some cases urinals may partially substitute for water closets when floors are occupied predominantly by males.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings covered by N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2068 generally maintain sanitary facilities in the ratios and configurations the provision specifies for their building's classification—fireproof, fireproof Class B, or nonfireproof Class B. Compliant operators ensure that water closets are accessible to residents without requiring passage through public halls or bedrooms where the code so requires, and that employee-occupied rooms are served by the correct number of facilities. Keeping records of the building's classification, construction date, and room counts helps demonstrate ongoing compliance with the applicable ratio requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in multiple dwellings built after April 18, 1929 have a right to sanitary facilities that meet the standards set out in N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2068, including proper ratios of water closets to living rooms and accessible placement of those facilities. If sanitary facilities appear inadequate or inaccessible in violation of these requirements, tenants may consider filing a complaint with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which oversees housing maintenance standards. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand whether their building's conditions fall short of the applicable standard for their dwelling type.
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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