Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-145
Required space in sleeping rooms
Operative Text
(a) In every dwelling unit of two or more habitable rooms, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall have a minimum gross floor area of at least 70 square feet, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall have a minimum gross floor area of 50 square feet per occupant thereof. In the case of children under six years of age, the requirement shall be 35 square feet per child for two or more children. Every room used for sleeping purposes shall have a minimum width of seven feet. (b) Kitchens shall not be used for sleeping purposes. (c) Every habitable room shall have a minimum ceiling height of seven feet over 50% of the floor area. A minimum ceiling height of six feet six inches over 50% of the floor area shall be permitted if a smoke detector is installed, in accordance with generally accepted standards, in the habitable room. The floor area where the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing minimum gross floor area.
Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-145 establishes minimum space standards for sleeping rooms in dwelling units with two or more habitable rooms. A room used by a single sleeper must have at least 70 square feet of gross floor area, while rooms shared by multiple occupants require at least 50 square feet per person, with a reduced allowance of 35 square feet per child under six when two or more such children share a room. Kitchens are prohibited from serving as sleeping spaces, every sleeping room must be at least seven feet wide, and habitable rooms generally must have a ceiling height of at least seven feet over half the floor area—though six feet six inches is permitted over that same portion if a smoke detector is properly installed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties in Poughkeepsie should ensure that sleeping rooms in multi-room dwelling units meet the floor-area and width minimums set out in ch. 12 § 12-145 before any occupant moves in. Compliant operators verify that no kitchen is designated or used as a sleeping area, and they confirm that ceiling heights in habitable rooms meet the seven-foot standard—or the six-foot-six alternative backed by a properly installed smoke detector—over at least half the floor area. Keeping documentation of room dimensions and smoke detector installations can support a showing of compliance during inspections.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-145, tenants have a right to sleeping accommodations that meet minimum size, width, and ceiling-height standards, and they cannot lawfully be required to sleep in a kitchen. If a sleeping room appears to fall short of these standards—for example, if it seems too small for the number of occupants or has inadequate ceiling height without a required smoke detector—tenants may consider documenting the conditions and reaching out to Poughkeepsie's local housing or code enforcement office to request an inspection. Tenant-rights organizations can also help explain what options may be available when a unit does not appear to meet the requirements of § 12-145.
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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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