Cal. Civ. Code § 5:28-1.9
Egress
Operative Text
(a) Every dwelling, dwelling unit, or lodging unit shall have safe and unobstructed means of egress. Such means of egress shall not be through any other dwelling unit or part thereof and shall lead to a safe and open space at ground level accessible to a street. (b) A room used for sleeping purposes under the provisions of N.J.A.C. 5:28-1.11(d) shall be provided with a safe and unobstructed means of egress leading directly to an outside area accessible to a street. (c) There shall be not fewer than two independent exits remote from each other from every floor of a building greater than two stories in height having more than two dwelling and/or lodging units.
N.J.A.C. § 5:28-1.9 establishes that every dwelling, dwelling unit, or lodging unit must have a safe, clear path of egress that leads directly to an open space accessible to a street — never routing through another unit. Rooms used for sleeping purposes must have their own direct exit to an outside area. Buildings taller than two stories that contain more than two units are required to have at least two independent, well-separated exits on every floor.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.J.A.C. § 5:28-1.9, compliant property operators ensure that all egress pathways remain clear of obstructions at all times and that no exit route passes through another tenant's unit. Operators of multi-story buildings with more than two units verify that each floor is served by at least two independent exits positioned remote from each other. Sleeping rooms that qualify under N.J.A.C. 5:28-1.11(d) are maintained with a direct, unobstructed exit to an exterior area that connects to a street.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.A.C. § 5:28-1.9 gives occupants the right to safe, unobstructed exit paths from their unit and, where applicable, from any sleeping room — paths that must lead to open ground-level space accessible to a street. If egress routes are blocked, pass through another unit, or a multi-story building lacks the required number of independent exits, tenants may consider reporting the condition to the local housing or code enforcement office, which has authority to inspect and require corrections. Tenant-rights organizations can help occupants understand how to document conditions and what remedies may be available under New Jersey housing code.
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 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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