Schenectady, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 167 § 167-26
Exits
Operative Text
A. Safe, continuous and unobstructed exit shall be provided from the interior of the building to the exterior at street or grade level. B. Exits shall be arranged, constructed, proportioned and maintained so that occupants may escape safely from the building in case of emergency. C. In one- and two-family dwellings, in addition to the primary exit from each story, there shall be provided at least one emergency exit from each story. Such emergency exit shall be a door or window opening on the exterior and shall have at least four square feet of openable area with a minimum dimension of 18 inches. D. In multiple dwellings, exits shall conform to the requirements of the Multiple Residence Law and of the New York State Building Construction Code applicable to multiple dwellings. E. Fire escapes which serve as a second means of egress shall be of noncombustible construction and maintained free of encumbrances. F. Access to fire escapes shall be through openable unobstructed windows or doors. Window or door devices that prevent such access shall be prohibited.
Schenectady, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 167 § 167-26 establishes requirements for exits in residential buildings. Every building must provide a safe, continuous, and unobstructed path from the interior to the exterior at street or grade level, and exits must be designed and maintained so occupants can escape in an emergency. One- and two-family dwellings must have at least one emergency exit per story—a door or window with at least four square feet of openable area and a minimum 18-inch dimension—while multiple dwellings must meet state-level standards. Fire escapes used as secondary egress must be made of noncombustible materials, kept clear of obstructions, and accessible through openable, unobstructed windows or doors.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 167-26, compliant operators of one- and two-family dwellings routinely verify that each story has both a primary exit and at least one qualifying emergency exit—a door or window with at least four square feet of openable area and no dimension smaller than 18 inches. Operators of multiple dwellings ensure their exit configurations satisfy both the Multiple Residence Law and the applicable New York State Building Construction Code. Across all property types, fire escapes serving as secondary egress are kept free of encumbrances, constructed of noncombustible materials, and accessible through windows or doors that open freely without obstruction; devices that block fire escape access are prohibited under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 167-26 of Schenectady's Code of Ordinances gives occupants the right to safe, unobstructed exits from their building, including emergency exits from every story in one- and two-family dwellings and properly maintained fire escapes in all building types. If a window, door, or fire escape is blocked, locked, or otherwise inaccessible in a way that may violate this provision, tenants generally have the option of reporting the condition to Schenectady's code enforcement or housing inspection office. Tenants may also wish to document the condition in writing and consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand what remedies or complaint processes may be available under § 167-26.
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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