Cal. Civ. Code § 51-C
Rights of tenants to install and maintain locks in certain entrance doors
Operative Text
§ 51-c. Rights of tenants to install and maintain locks in certain entrance doors. Every tenant of a multiple dwelling, except a tenant of a multiple dwelling under the supervision and control of a municipal housing authority, occupied by him, except as a hotel or motel, or college or school dormitory, shall have the right to install and maintain or cause to be installed and maintained in the entrance door of his particular housing unit in such multiple dwelling, a lock, separate and apart from any lock installed and maintained by the owner of such multiple dwelling, not more than three inches in circumference, as an ordinary incident to his tenancy, provided that a duplicate key to such lock shall be supplied to the landlord or his agent upon his request; and every provision of any lease hereafter made or entered into which reserves or provides for the payment by such tenant of any additional rent, bonus, fee or other charge or any other thing of value for the right or privilege of installing and/or maintaining any such lock, shall be deemed to be void as against public policy and wholly unenforceable.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 51-C, tenants living in most multiple dwellings have the right to install and keep their own lock on their unit's entrance door, separate from any lock the owner provides, as long as the lock's circumference does not exceed three inches and a duplicate key is given to the landlord upon request. The provision applies broadly but carves out units in municipal housing authority buildings, hotels, motels, and college or school dormitories. Any lease clause that charges extra rent, fees, or other consideration for this lock right is declared void as against public policy and cannot be enforced.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 51-C, compliant operators of covered multiple dwellings generally recognize a tenant's right to add a qualifying lock without imposing surcharges, additional rent, or fees for doing so. Operators typically request a duplicate key when a tenant installs such a lock, which the statute expressly permits, and they refrain from including lease provisions that condition or monetize this right. Reviewing existing lease templates to remove any clauses that purport to charge for lock installation or maintenance is a common compliance practice under this section.
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 § 51-C gives tenants in most multiple dwellings the right to install their own lock on their unit's entrance door without paying extra for the privilege, provided the lock meets the size requirement and a duplicate key is furnished to the landlord on request. If a landlord attempts to enforce a lease clause charging fees or additional rent for this right, that clause is considered void under this provision and generally cannot be used against a tenant. Tenants who believe this right is being violated may consider raising the provision as a defense in a housing proceeding, filing a complaint with a relevant local housing agency, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about enforcement 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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