Cal. Civ. Code § 179
Privacy
Operative Text
§ 179. Privacy. In every apartment of three or more rooms in every class A converted dwelling there shall be access to every living room without passing through any bedroom, and to at least one water-closet compartment within the apartment from every bedroom without passing through any other bedroom.
New York Multiple Dwelling Law § 179 establishes layout requirements for apartments of three or more rooms in Class A converted dwellings. Specifically, the rule requires that every living room be reachable without having to walk through a bedroom, and that at least one bathroom or water-closet compartment be accessible from every bedroom without passing through another bedroom. These requirements are aimed at ensuring a basic level of privacy and functional separation within residential units.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 179, operators of Class A converted dwellings must ensure that any apartment with three or more rooms meets specific circulation requirements: living rooms must have independent access that does not route through a bedroom, and at least one water-closet compartment must be reachable from each bedroom without crossing through another bedroom. Compliant operators typically review floor plans during conversion or renovation to confirm these pathways exist before units are occupied. Maintaining documentation of the layout, such as architectural drawings, can help demonstrate conformance with § 179 during inspections or code reviews.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 179 gives tenants in qualifying Class A converted dwellings the right to an apartment layout that provides private circulation — meaning a living room accessible without going through a bedroom, and bathroom access from each bedroom that does not require passing through another bedroom. If a tenant believes their unit's layout does not meet these requirements, they may consider raising the issue with their local housing or building code enforcement agency, or contacting a tenant-rights organization familiar with New York multiple dwelling law. A violation of § 179 may also be relevant as a defense or counterclaim in certain housing proceedings.
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.