Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-41
Means of egress
Operative Text
A safe, continuous and unobstructed means of egress shall be provided from the interior of a structure to a legal open space. (a) All doors in the required means of egress shall be readily operable from the inside without the use of a key, except as permitted in the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. (b) All means of egress shall be indicated with approved exit signs. (1) All exit signs shall be maintained in good repair. (2) All illuminated exit signs shall be illuminated at all times that the building is occupied. (c) The number of exits required for a building by the building code in effect at the time of the construction or most recent change of occupancy of said building shall be maintained and be available to the occupants of the building intended to exit therefrom. (d) The capacity of the exits serving a floor shall be sufficient for the occupant load thereof as determined by the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 5 § 27-41 establishes that every structure must maintain a safe, clear, and uninterrupted path from inside the building to a legal open space. All doors along that path must be openable from the inside without a key, except where state fire and building codes allow otherwise, and every exit must be marked with approved, well-maintained signs that remain lit whenever the building is occupied. The number and capacity of exits must match what was required when the building was constructed or last changed in occupancy, and must be sufficient to serve the number of people on each floor as determined by New York State standards.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential or mixed-use properties subject to Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 5 § 27-41 generally keep all egress pathways clear of obstructions at all times and ensure that exit doors can be opened from the inside without a key. Compliant operators routinely inspect exit signs to confirm they are in good repair and that illuminated signs remain lit during all periods of occupancy. Maintaining the original number of code-required exits and verifying that exit capacity matches the occupant load for each floor are also standard practices under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 5 § 27-41, tenants have a right to unobstructed, clearly marked exit paths that are accessible without a key from the inside. If exits are blocked, signs are broken or unlit, or the number of available exits appears reduced, tenants can document the conditions and report them to the City of Syracuse's code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations in the Syracuse area can also provide general information about how to raise egress violations as part of a broader housing complaint.
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 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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