Cal. Civ. Code § 81
Receptacles for waste matter
Operative Text
§ 81. Receptacles for waste matter. 1. The owner of every multiple dwelling shall provide proper and suitable conveniences or receptacles for ashes, rubbish, garbage, refuse and other waste matter and shall arrange for the removal of such waste matter daily. 2. No person shall place ashes, garbage, rubbish, filth, urine or fecal matter in any place in a multiple dwelling other than the place provided therefor, or keep any such matter in his apartment or upon his premises such length of time as to create a nuisance as defined in section three hundred nine.
New York Multiple Dwelling Law § 81 establishes a two-part waste management framework for apartment buildings. First, building owners are responsible for supplying appropriate containers for ashes, rubbish, garbage, refuse, and other waste, and must arrange for that waste to be removed on a daily basis. Second, the law prohibits anyone in the building from depositing waste materials—including ashes, garbage, rubbish, filth, urine, or fecal matter—anywhere other than the designated receptacles, and from storing such matter long enough that it becomes a nuisance as defined elsewhere in the statute.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 81, compliant building operators generally ensure that adequate, properly maintained waste receptacles are available and clearly designated for residents' use throughout the property. They also arrange for daily waste removal service so that accumulated refuse does not linger on the premises. Operators typically document their waste removal schedules and receptacle maintenance as part of routine building management records.
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 § 81 gives tenants the right to expect that their building will have proper waste receptacles and daily removal service arranged by the owner. If receptacles are absent, inadequate, or waste is not being removed, tenants may have grounds to raise a violation through New York City's 311 system, a local housing court proceeding, or by contacting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Multiple Dwelling Law complaints. Tenants also have responsibilities under § 81—waste must be placed only in the designated receptacles and not stored in a way that creates a nuisance, which could otherwise expose a tenant to a complaint or legal action.
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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