Cal. Civ. Code § 36
Windows and skylights for public halls and stairs
Operative Text
§ 36. Windows and skylights for public halls and stairs. 1. In every multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, one at least of the required windows provided to light each public hall or part thereof shall be at least two feet six inches wide and five feet high. Every required window in such a hall shall open upon a street, court, yard or space above a setback. On the top story of such a dwelling a ventilating skylight of the same dimensions shall be accepted in lieu of a window for that story. 2. In every multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, there shall be in the roof, directly over each required stair, fire-stair and fire-tower, a ventilating skylight provided with ventilators having a minimum opening of forty square inches or with fixed or movable louvres. The roof of every such skylight shall be glazed with plain glass and equipped with suitable wire screens above and below. The glazed area of every such skylight shall be at least twenty square feet, except that in a class A dwelling or section thereof two stories or less in height and occupied by not more than two families on each story and in dwellings three stories in height erected pursuant to plans filed with the department on or after May first, nineteen hundred fifty-nine and occupied by not more than one family on each story, the glazed area of such a skylight need be only nine square feet. In lieu of a skylight a window of the same area as prescribed in subdivision one may be provided. If such a window is used in lieu of a skylight, fixed louvres having a minimum opening of forty square inches shall also be installed in or directly adjacent to such window. 3. When any stair, fire-stair or fire-tower in such a dwelling terminates at the level of a setback of an outer wall and such setback consists of a terrace at least four feet in width, measured between the inside of the parapet wall and the wall of the building, and at least ten feet in length, measured parallel to the wall of the building, there may be provided in lieu of such a skylight a fireproof door and assembly with the door self-closing giving access from such stair, fire-stair or fire-tower to such terrace. Such door shall have a panel at least five square feet in area glazed with wire glass and shall be equipped with fixed or movable louvres with an opening of at least forty square inches.
New York Multiple Dwelling Law § 36 establishes minimum standards for natural light and ventilation in the common hallways and stairwells of multiple dwellings built after April 18, 1929. At least one window serving each public hall must meet specific size minimums and must open onto an exterior space such as a street, yard, or court. Over each required stair, fire-stair, and fire-tower, the roof must include a ventilating skylight of prescribed dimensions, though the law permits certain substitutions—such as a qualifying window with fixed louvres, or in some setback situations, a glazed fireproof door assembly—under defined conditions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings constructed after April 18, 1929 generally ensure that public hall windows and stair skylights conform to the dimensional and ventilation requirements set out in N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 36. Compliant buildings typically have hall windows of at least two feet six inches wide by five feet high opening onto exterior spaces, and roof skylights over each stairway with at least twenty square feet of glazed area (or nine square feet in qualifying low-rise, low-density configurations), fitted with wire screens and ventilators meeting the forty-square-inch minimum opening. Where a permitted substitution is used—such as a window in lieu of a skylight, or a fireproof door assembly at a setback terrace—operators generally confirm that all accompanying requirements, including louvre openings and glazing specifications, are also satisfied.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in New dwellings built after April 18, 1929 are protected by N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 36, which requires that common hallways and stairwells receive adequate natural light and ventilation through properly sized and positioned windows, skylights, or approved alternatives. If a public hall or stairwell appears to lack the required windows or skylight, or if existing fixtures seem to be blocked, improperly glazed, or missing required screens and ventilators, tenants may have grounds to raise these conditions as a housing maintenance concern. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the local housing or building department, raising the condition in a housing court proceeding, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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