Cal. Civ. Code § 5:10-27.4
Specifications for window guards
Operative Text
(a) Window guards shall be so constructed as to reject the passage of a solid four-inch sphere at every space and interval. (b) Window guards shall bear a 150 pound load at center span when extended to maximum width or shall meet the performance tests of ASTM F2006-00 or ASTM F2090-01a, incorporated herein by reference. (c) Window guards shall be constructed of metal or of other material of comparable strength and durability and shall allow for the passage of natural light and ventilation, as required by N.J.A.C. 5:10-16. (d) Window guards shall be designed, constructed and installed so as to serve their intended protective purpose without any risk of collapse, breakage, spreading of the bars or other malfunction. (e) Window guards shall protect the full openable area of each lower window. Installation of rigid metal stops in the upper tracks of a lower window, or other attempts to limit the ability to raise the lower window, shall not be an acceptable method of satisfying the requirements of this section. (f) Window guards shall be securely fastened in order to bear the required load. (g) All window guards shall be so designed and installed as to ensure that any space between the lowest section of the top horizontal bar of the window guard and the bottom of the upper sash is less than four inches. (h) Screws used to mount window guards shall be: 1. Minimum size No. 10 and long enough to penetrate one inch into a wooden window frame; or 2. Of an adequate type, size and length to be securely fastened to a metal window frame. (i) The coating of window guards shall be unleaded. (j) Window guards shall be installed only in sound (non-rotting) mountings or tracks. (k) Window guards installed prior to November 20, 1995 shall be accepted as being in conformity with this subchapter if they were designed and installed in accordance with the rules and specifications established by the New York City Department of Health and if such installation is not in violation of (e) or (g) above or of N.J.A.C. 5:10-27.2. Window guards installed on or after November 20, 1995 that are so constructed as to reject the passage of a solid four-inch sphere at every space and interval and are otherwise designed and installed in accordance with the rules and specifications established by the New York City Department of Health, ASTM F2006-00 or ASTM F2090-01a, and not in violation of (e) or (g) above or of N.J.A.C. 5:10-27.2, shall be accepted as being in conformity with this subchapter.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-27.4 sets out detailed physical and structural standards that window guards must meet in covered residential buildings in New Jersey. Among other requirements, guards must block any opening larger than four inches, bear a 150-pound center-span load, be made of metal or comparably strong material, allow light and ventilation, and be coated with unleaded paint. The rule also specifies acceptable screw sizes, mounting conditions, and installation methods, and it establishes a grandfather provision for guards installed before November 20, 1995 that met New York City Department of Health specifications.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.J.A.C. § 5:10-27.4 generally ensure that every window guard they install or maintain meets the full set of physical specifications in the rule—including the four-inch sphere rejection standard, the 150-pound load requirement, and the unleaded coating requirement. Compliant operators use properly sized screws (at minimum No. 10, penetrating at least one inch into wood frames), install guards only in sound, non-rotting mountings, and avoid substituting rigid stops in upper tracks as a workaround. Operators with guards installed before November 20, 1995 should verify whether those guards qualify under the grandfather provision in subsection (k) and confirm they do not violate subsections (e) or (g).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.J.A.C. § 5:10-27.4, tenants in covered buildings have a right to window guards that meet specific safety standards, including blocking openings larger than four inches, covering the full openable area of lower windows, and being structurally sound enough to bear a 150-pound load. If a window guard appears damaged, improperly installed, or replaced with a workaround such as a rigid stop in the upper track, tenants can document the condition and raise the issue with their local housing code enforcement office or the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand whether a specific installation appears to fall short of the standards set out in this section and what complaint or defense options may be available.
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 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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