Cal. Civ. Code § 287
Alternative compliance
Operative Text
§ 287. Alternative compliance. In any case in which a local building code or this chapter provides an alternative means of meeting the fire and safety standards of article seven-B of this chapter, an owner of an interim multiple dwelling may, to the extent permitted by such local code or this chapter, elect to comply with the standards of such code or this chapter rather than with article seven-B. Such an election shall not affect an owner's obligations to meet the deadlines for compliance set forth in this article, and in such cases references herein to article seven-B shall be deemed to include any such local building code or the applicable provisions of this chapter.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 287 establishes that owners of interim multiple dwellings are not always locked into a single compliance pathway for fire and safety requirements. Where a local building code or another part of the Multiple Dwelling Law offers an alternative route to meeting the fire and safety standards of Article 7-B, an owner may choose that alternative route instead. Critically, exercising this option does not extend or alter any compliance deadlines that already apply under the article, and references to Article 7-B in the law are read to encompass whichever approved alternative path the owner has elected.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 287, operators of interim multiple dwellings who are aware of an alternative compliance pathway under a local building code or another provision of the Multiple Dwelling Law generally document their election of that pathway clearly and confirm it is expressly permitted by the applicable code or statute. Compliant operators treat the deadlines set out in the article as fixed regardless of which compliance route they select, ensuring that choosing an alternative does not create any assumption of additional time. Because the provision treats the elected alternative as a stand-in for Article 7-B references throughout the law, operators typically verify that all related obligations are being met under the chosen framework.
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 § 287 preserves tenants' fire and safety protections even when a building owner opts for an alternative compliance path instead of following Article 7-B directly, because the law treats the chosen alternative as equivalent to Article 7-B for all purposes. Tenants in interim multiple dwellings can check whether their building's compliance deadlines have been met regardless of which pathway the owner elected, since § 287 does not permit deadline extensions. Tenants who have concerns about whether fire and safety standards are actually being met may consider contacting the local housing or buildings department, raising the issue with a rent board if one has jurisdiction, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information.
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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