Cal. Civ. Code § 50
Entrance halls
Operative Text
§ 50. Entrance halls. Every entrance hall in every multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, shall be at least four feet in clear width from the entrance to the first stair, and beyond that shall be at least three feet eight inches in clear width. If such an entrance hall is the only entrance to more than one flight of stairs, the required width of such hall shall be increased in every part, for each such additional flight of stairs, by one-half the width required for one flight of stairs.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 50 establishes minimum width requirements for entrance halls in multiple dwellings built after April 18, 1929. The hall must be at least four feet wide from the building entrance up to the first staircase, and at least three feet eight inches wide beyond that point. When a single entrance hall serves more than one staircase, the required width increases proportionally — by half the single-flight requirement — for each additional staircase the hall must accommodate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 50, operators of post-1929 multiple dwellings generally ensure that entrance hall dimensions meet the prescribed minimums and are not reduced by renovations, fixtures, or obstructions. Compliant operators document the original construction specifications and verify that any alterations to the entrance hall preserve the required clearances, including the expanded widths where a hall serves multiple stairways. Routine inspections of common areas typically include confirming that nothing — such as mailboxes, signage, or stored items — encroaches on the legally required clear widths.
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 § 50 gives tenants in qualifying post-1929 buildings a basis to raise concerns when entrance hall widths appear narrower than the law requires. Tenants who believe their building's entrance hall does not meet the prescribed dimensions may report the condition to the New York City Department of Buildings or the relevant local housing authority, which has enforcement authority over multiple dwelling standards. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how a violation of § 50 might be documented or raised in a housing proceeding.
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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