Cal. Civ. Code § 14
Application of chapter to uncompleted dwellings
Operative Text
§ 14. Application of chapter to uncompleted dwellings. 1. The provisions of this chapter relating to multiple dwellings erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, shall not apply to any multiple dwelling for which plans were on file with the department or a permit to commence building was issued by the department before August ninth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, and the entire building shall have been completed according to the plans filed with the department, subject to any lawful subsequent amendment thereto, before July first, nineteen hundred forty-seven. 2. No provisions of any part of this section shall be deemed to prohibit the amendment of any plans filed and approved before April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, if such amendment would have been lawful before such date, or if such amendment complies with the requirements of this chapter for alterations to buildings of like class and kind existing before April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine. 3. A permit to commence building issued by the department before April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, based upon plans filed and approved for a multiple dwelling described in subdivision one, shall be deemed to be in compliance with section three hundred. 4. The provisions of this chapter relating to multiple dwellings erected and occupied as such before April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, shall apply to the dwellings described in this section; except, however, that unless otherwise expressly required in article three nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require any change in the plans or occupancy of any such dwelling if it be fireproof and the plans therefore when filed were in compliance with the provisions of all local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable thereto and in effect on April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, or were subsequently amended to comply with such provisions.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 14 establishes which set of Multiple Dwelling Law standards applies to buildings that were in the planning or construction pipeline around 1929. A multiple dwelling for which plans were filed or a building permit was issued before August 9, 1929, and that was fully completed before July 1, 1947, is generally governed by the older pre-April 18, 1929 standards rather than the newer post-1929 requirements. The section also preserves the ability to amend those earlier-filed plans under certain conditions, and clarifies that fireproof buildings whose original plans complied with all applicable local laws as of April 18, 1929 are not automatically required to change their plans or occupancy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and owners of older New York multiple dwellings should be aware that N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 14 determines which era of code requirements governs their building based on when plans were filed, when a permit was issued, and when construction was completed. A compliant operator of a building in this transitional category typically maintains documentation of the original filing dates, permit issuance, and completion records to demonstrate which regulatory framework applies. When contemplating alterations or plan amendments to such a building, operators generally confirm whether the proposed changes satisfy the amendment standards outlined in § 14 or the alteration requirements applicable to buildings of the same class and kind predating April 18, 1929.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in older New York multiple dwellings built around the late 1920s and early 1940s may find that N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 14 affects which building standards their landlord is required to meet. Understanding whether a building falls under the pre- or post-1929 regulatory framework can be relevant when evaluating habitability concerns or code-compliance questions, and tenants can raise questions about applicable standards with a local rent board, housing court, or a tenant-rights organization. If a dispute arises over whether a building's conditions meet the correct legal standard under § 14, tenants have general enforcement paths available, including filing complaints with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or raising the issue in a housing proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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