Spring Valley, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 147 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 147-22
Habitable space
Operative Text
A. Size. (1) Habitable space shall have a minimum ceiling height of seven (7) feet six (6) inches over fifty percent (50%) of the floor area; and the floor area where the ceiling height is less than five (5) feet shall not be considered in computing floor area. (2) A dwelling unit shall contain at least one habitable room having a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) square feet of floor area and a minimum horizontal dimension of ten (10) feet. (3) Kitchens shall have a minimum of sixty (60) square feet of floor area, and other habitable space shall contain not less than eighty (80) square feet of floor area and shall have a minimum horizontal dimension of seven (7) feet. (4) Every alcove less than sixty (60) square feet in area, except a cooking space or foyer, shall be deemed to be part of a habitable room. The area of the opening in the dividing partition between the alcove and the room shall be at least eighty percent (80%) of the wall area of such partition, measured on the alcove side, but not less than forty (40) square feet. The depth of such alcove shall not exceed one-half ( 1/2) its width. The floor area of the alcove shall be added to the floor area of the room in determining light and ventilation requirements for the room. An alcove with an area of sixty (60) square feet or more, but less than the required area of a habitable room, shall be separately lighted and ventilated, as required for habitable space. B. Basement. Basements shall not be deemed habitable space where required windows are located only on one (1) wall and the depth of the basement space exceeds four (4) times its clear height. C. Light and ventilation. (1) Habitable space shall be provided with natural light through one (1) or more windows, skylights, transparent or translucent panels or any combination thereof that face directly on legal open spaces at least six (6) inches above the adjoining finished grade or are above a roof. The amount of light shall be equivalent to that transmitted through clear glass equal in area to ten percent (10%) of the floor area of the habitable space. (2) Habitable space shall be provided with artificial light. (3) Habitable space shall be provided with natural ventilation through openable parts of windows or other openings in exterior walls that face legal open spaces above the adjoining finished grade or above a roof or through openable parts of skylights, providing total clear ventilation area equal to not less than five percent (5%) of the total floor area of each habitable space. (4) Habitable space may also be provided with mechanical ventilation, in addition to natural ventilation. D. Miscellaneous requirements. (1) Dwelling units shall be separate from each other and from other spaces outside the dwelling unit. (2) Lodging units shall be separate from each other and from other spaces outside the lodging units. (3) A communal kitchen or dining room in a lodging house shall be accessible to the occupants sharing such kitchen or dining room without going through a dwelling unit or lodging unit of another occupant.
Section 147-22 of Spring Valley, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 147 establishes minimum physical standards for spaces classified as habitable. These standards cover ceiling heights, floor area dimensions, natural and artificial light, ventilation, and the separation of dwelling and lodging units from one another. Alcoves, basements, and kitchens are each subject to specific rules that determine whether and how their square footage counts toward habitable space calculations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential properties in Spring Valley must ensure that every dwelling unit meets the dimensional and environmental thresholds set out in § 147-22, including a minimum ceiling height of seven feet six inches over at least half the floor area, at least 150 square feet in the primary habitable room, and natural light equivalent to 10% of each room's floor area. Kitchens must meet their own 60-square-foot minimum, and all habitable rooms must have natural ventilation openings totaling at least 5% of the floor area. Compliant operators also keep dwelling and lodging units physically separated from each other and from non-residential spaces, and verify that basement spaces meet the depth-to-height ratio before marketing them as habitable.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Spring Valley can look to § 147-22 to understand the baseline conditions their unit is legally required to meet, including adequate ceiling height, room size, natural light, and ventilation. If a rented space appears to fall short of these standards—for example, a basement room that lacks proper windows or a kitchen smaller than the required minimum—that potential violation may be relevant when raising habitability concerns with a local code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Spring Valley or Rockland County housing codes can help residents understand what documentation or complaint processes may be available to them.
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.
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