Cal. Civ. Code § 163
Construction and arrangement
Operative Text
§ 163. Construction and arrangement. Garden-type maisonette dwelling projects may be erected on condition that they comply with the following provisions: 1. The dwelling units in such projects, together, or in their aggregate, do not exceed in superficial area thirty-five per centum of the area of the site or plot upon which such projects are erected. 2. The units in such projects do not exceed two stories in height. 3. Each section contains not more than two apartments in any unit. 4. Every one or two-family unit is separated from all other such units by an unpierced partition constructed of materials having a fire-resistive rating of at least one hour and such partition extends from the first floor above the basement or cellar of the dwelling to the top of the roof boards in such manner as to prevent the passage of fire, smoke or gases between units. 5. a. A project section shall not be constructed of units which, together, are of a greater area than three thousand square feet unless divided by unpierced fire walls of masonry or other materials having a fire-resistive rating of at least three hours. Such wall shall be continuous from the floor of the lowest level of the dwelling to the top of the roof boards and be fire-stopped at floors and roof in such manner as to prevent the passage of fire, smoke or gas between areas. b. Fire walls shall extend at least two feet above the level of the finished roof or, in lieu thereof, where there is a peaked or sloped roof, the ceiling of the attic of all units comprising such section shall be covered with gypsum plaster-boards three-eighths of an inch in thickness or with other materials having the same fire-resistive rating. 6. The facing of the exterior walls shall be of brick veneer not less than four inches in thickness or may be of one or a combination of other materials; and the interior facing of such walls shall be covered with one-half-inch thick plaster boards and three-eighths-inch thick sanded gypsum plaster or a combination of other materials which, when combined with the exterior materials shall have a fire-resistive rating of at least one hour. 7. Cellar ceilings throughout shall be covered with gypsum plaster boards three-eighths of an inch in thickness or with other materials having the same fire resistive rating. A heating plant located within a section shall be completely enclosed with incombustible materials having a fire resistive rating of at least three hours and all openings therefrom to other parts of the dwelling shall be equipped with fire-proof doors and assemblies with the doors self closing. 8. Concealed vertical and horizontal draft openings shall be fire-stopped with incombustible materials.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 163 sets out the physical and fire-safety standards that garden-type maisonette dwelling projects must meet to be lawfully erected. The rule caps how much of a site the dwelling units may cover, limits building height to two stories, and restricts the number of apartments per unit. It also mandates specific fire-resistive ratings for partition walls, fire walls, exterior and interior wall assemblies, cellar ceilings, heating plant enclosures, and concealed draft openings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and developers working with garden-type maisonette projects governed by N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 163 generally ensure that construction documents reflect the section's dimensional limits—including the 35% site-coverage cap and the two-story height ceiling—and that all fire-resistive assemblies meet the prescribed ratings. Compliant projects typically use materials and construction methods that satisfy the one-hour and three-hour fire-resistance thresholds for partitions, fire walls, and enclosures. Maintaining documentation of material specifications and fire ratings supports ongoing compliance verification.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of garden-type maisonette projects have an interest in knowing that N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 163 establishes baseline fire-safety construction standards for their buildings, including required fire-resistive walls and enclosed heating plants. If conditions suggest these standards were not met during construction, tenants can raise the issue with local housing or building code enforcement agencies. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what remedies or complaint processes 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 September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.