Pelham, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 54 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 54-110
Egress
Operative Text
A. A safe, continuous and unobstructed means of egress shall be provided from the interior of a residential building to the exterior at a street or to a yard, court or passageway leading to a public open area at grade level. B. All doors in the required means of egress shall be readily opened from the inside without the use of keys. C. Every dwelling unit and rooming unit shall have safe and unobstructed means of egress from the building. Such means of egress shall not lead through other dwelling units or rooming units or through bathrooms or water closet rooms. D. Every dwelling unit and rooming unit located in a multiple dwelling or a rooming house shall have at least two (2) means of egress; such means shall be remote from each other. This shall also apply to a dwelling unit in a two-family house which is located entirely above the second floor. E. Exits that cannot be cut off in case of fire shall be regarded as a minimum essential. These exits shall be such that, where necessary, they can safely be used by children, the infirm, aged and physically handicapped. F. Multiple dwellings and buildings in which rooms are let to three (3) or more persons shall, in addition, have exits that comply with the requirements of the Multiple Residence Law . G. All required fire escapes shall be maintained in good working condition and shall be structurally sound. H. All exit signs shall be maintained illuminated and visible at all times. I. The owner or his agent shall notify the occupant of the passageway to all required exits.
Section 54-110 of Pelham's Code of Ordinances establishes requirements for safe egress in residential buildings. Every dwelling and rooming unit must have a clear, unobstructed path to the outside that does not pass through other units or bathrooms, and most units in multi-family or rooming-house settings must have at least two exits that are physically separated from each other. Interior exit doors must open from the inside without a key, fire escapes must be kept structurally sound, exit signs must remain lit and visible, and owners must inform occupants of the routes to all required exits.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 54-110, compliant residential property operators in Pelham generally ensure that all egress paths remain clear and unobstructed at all times, that interior exit doors function without keys from the inside, and that fire escapes are regularly inspected and maintained in structurally sound condition. Operators of multiple dwellings or buildings where rooms are let to three or more persons also verify that exits meet the additional requirements of the Multiple Residence Law. Owners or their agents are expected to proactively communicate the location of all required exit routes to each occupant, and to keep exit signs illuminated and visible continuously.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 54-110 gives residential occupants in Pelham the right to safe, unobstructed egress from their dwelling or rooming unit, including at least two remote exits in most multi-family or rooming-house settings. If egress paths are blocked, exit doors require keys to open from the inside, fire escapes are in disrepair, or exit signs are dark or obscured, these conditions may constitute code violations that can be reported to the local code enforcement or building department. Tenants who believe their building does not comply with § 54-110 may also consult a tenant-rights organization to understand available options, including raising the violation in relevant housing proceedings.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation