Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-26
Public space
Operative Text
Public space shall meet the following requirements: A. Height. Public space shall have a minimum height of seven feet, six inches measured from the finished floor to the finished ceiling. B. Light and ventilation. (1) Public spaces shall be provided with artificial light. (2) In public stairs, stairways and passageways, artificial light shall be electric lighting available at all times so as to afford safe passage for occupants and users. Such lighting shall conform to the following: (a) A sufficient number of fixtures shall be provided so that the distance between fixtures is not more than 30 feet and so that no wall is more than 15 feet distant from a fixture. (b) Incandescent lighting shall be based on not less than 1/4 watt per square foot of floor area, except that each fixture shall have a lamp or lamps with a total of not less than 25 watts. (c) Fluorescent lighting shall be based on not less than 1/10 watt per square foot floor area, except that each fixture shall have a lamp or lamps of a total of not less than 15 watts. (d) Where under these formulas the calculated wattage does not correspond to that of a standard lamp, the next larger size shall be used. (3) Public spaces shall be provided with either natural ventilation, conforming to the requirements for habitable space or with mechanical ventilation.
Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-26 establishes minimum physical standards for public spaces in residential buildings. These spaces must have ceilings at least seven feet six inches high, must be supplied with artificial lighting (with specific wattage and fixture-spacing requirements for stairs, stairways, and passageways), and must have either natural or mechanical ventilation meeting the code's habitable-space standards. The lighting requirements distinguish between incandescent and fluorescent sources, setting minimum wattage-per-square-foot thresholds and absolute minimums per fixture.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of buildings subject to ch. 175 § 175-26 generally ensure that all public spaces maintain the required seven-foot-six-inch ceiling clearance and that stairways, passageways, and other public areas are continuously lit with electric fixtures spaced no more than 30 feet apart and no more than 15 feet from any wall. Compliant operators verify that incandescent fixtures meet the one-quarter watt per square foot minimum (with at least 25 watts per fixture) or that fluorescent fixtures meet the one-tenth watt per square foot minimum (with at least 15 watts per fixture), rounding up to the next standard lamp size when calculated wattage falls between standard sizes. Ventilation in public spaces is also maintained to meet either the natural-ventilation standards applicable to habitable space or an approved mechanical ventilation system under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-26, tenants have a right to public spaces—including stairways and passageways—that are adequately lit at all times and properly ventilated, with ceiling heights of at least seven feet six inches. If these conditions are not met, tenants may document the deficiency and report it to the appropriate local code enforcement or housing authority in Watervliet. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how a violation of § 175-26 might be raised in a housing proceeding or complaint process.
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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