Cal. Civ. Code § 80
Cleanliness
Operative Text
§ 80. Cleanliness. 1. The owner shall keep all and every part of a multiple dwelling, the lot on which it is situated, and the roofs, yards, courts, passages, areas or alleys appurtenant thereto, clean and free from vermin, dirt, filth, garbage or other thing or matter dangerous to life or health. 2. The owner of every multiple dwelling or part thereof shall thoroughly cleanse and keep clean at all times, to the satisfaction of the department, every public or service part thereof, including every room, passage, stair, floor, window, door, wall, ceiling, water-closet or toilet compartment, cesspool, drain, hall and cellar in such public or service part. 3. All carpets and rugs which are permitted in any public part of a multiple dwelling shall be taken up and cleaned by the owner at least once a year or as much oftener as the department shall deem necessary. 4. The interior surfaces of walls throughout every part of every multiple dwelling, whether in public or in tenant-occupied parts, shall be painted or papered and the ceilings kalsomined or painted by the owner. The walls and ceilings shall be rekalsomined, repapered or repainted by the owner whenever necessary to keep the said surfaces in a sanitary condition. No wall paper shall be placed upon such a wall or ceiling surface unless all existing wall paper shall be first removed therefrom and such wall or ceiling thoroughly cleaned and repaired. 5. Any tenant shall be punishable as provided in section three hundred four for the existence of conditions in violation of the provisions of this chapter within his apartment to the extent that such conditions are caused by him, by members of his family or by his guests, and are under his control; but this provision shall not be construed to relieve the owner of any liability or duty under this section, except where a violation is caused and continued solely by the tenant or those under his control. 6. Every dwelling erected after January first, nineteen hundred forty-seven, shall be so constructed as to be rat-proof. The agency of a city authorized by law to make rules supplemental to laws regulating construction, maintenance, use and area of buildings shall have the power to make rules and regulations to supplement the requirements of this subdivision.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 80 places broad cleanliness obligations on the owners of multiple dwellings, covering the building itself, its lot, rooftops, yards, and all common or service areas — requiring these spaces to be kept free of vermin, filth, garbage, and anything hazardous to health. Owners must also maintain interior wall and ceiling surfaces through painting, papering, or kalsomining, and must clean carpets in common areas at least annually. Tenants can be held responsible for unsanitary conditions they, their household members, or their guests create and control, but that responsibility does not eliminate the owner's underlying duties unless the tenant is the sole cause of the violation. Buildings constructed after January 1, 1947 must also be built to be rat-proof.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 80, compliant building operators maintain a documented routine for inspecting and cleaning all common and service areas — including stairs, halls, cellars, drains, and water-closet compartments — to the satisfaction of the relevant city department. Operators generally schedule annual carpet cleaning in public areas, track the condition of wall and ceiling surfaces, and repaint or repaper those surfaces whenever sanitary conditions require it, removing all existing wallpaper before applying new material. Buildings built after January 1, 1947 are also subject to rat-proofing construction standards under § 80(6), and operators typically keep records of pest-control measures to demonstrate ongoing compliance.
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 § 80 gives tenants a basis to expect that their building's common areas, lot, and service spaces will be kept clean and free of vermin and health hazards by the owner. If an owner fails to meet these standards, tenants may report conditions to the local housing or buildings department, raise a § 80 violation as a defense in housing court proceedings, or seek guidance from a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office. While § 80(5) does hold tenants accountable for conditions they or their guests cause and control, that provision does not remove the owner's responsibility unless the tenant is entirely and solely responsible for the violation.
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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