Cal. Civ. Code § 190
Cellar stairs
Operative Text
§ 190. Cellar stairs. 1. Except as provided in paragraph g of subdivision three of section one hundred seventy-one, and except as otherwise provided in subdivision two hereof, every stair leading from a cellar to the floor above shall be constructed of incombustible materials, shall have closed risers, shall be completely enclosed with partitions of incombustible materials and shall be equipped at the bottom with a fireproof door and assembly with the door self-closing. 2. Every existing stair leading from a cellar to the floor above in a converted dwelling accepted or approved by the department on or before July first, nineteen hundred sixty shall be deemed in compliance with this section.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 190, staircases that connect a cellar to the floor above in multiple dwellings must be built from fire-resistant (incombustible) materials, feature closed risers, be fully enclosed by incombustible partitions, and have a self-closing fireproof door at the bottom. There is a limited exception: stairs in converted dwellings that were accepted or approved by the relevant department on or before July 1, 1960 are treated as already meeting these requirements. A separate carve-out also exists for certain stairs addressed elsewhere in the Multiple Dwelling Law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 190 generally ensure that any cellar-to-floor stairway is constructed entirely of incombustible materials, has closed risers, is enclosed within incombustible partitions, and is fitted with a self-closing fireproof door assembly at the base. Operators of converted dwellings that received departmental acceptance or approval on or before July 1, 1960 should confirm whether their property qualifies for the grandfathered compliance status the statute provides. Routine inspections and documentation of stair construction and door hardware help demonstrate ongoing compliance with this provision.
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 § 190 establishes fire-safety standards for cellar stairs in multiple dwellings, giving tenants a basis to raise concerns if a cellar stairway appears to lack incombustible construction, closed risers, proper enclosure, or a functioning self-closing fireproof door. Tenants who believe their building's cellar stairs do not meet these requirements may consider filing a complaint with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or the applicable local housing authority, or contacting a tenant-rights organization for general guidance. Documented observations about the condition of cellar stairs can be useful when pursuing any available enforcement or complaint process under this section.
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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