Cal. Civ. Code § 134
Cellar entrance
Operative Text
§ 134. Cellar entrance. There shall be a direct entrance to the cellar, or to the lowest story if there be no cellar, from the outside of every multiple dwelling, except that any stair leading to such cellar or lowest story may be located inside the dwelling provided it is enclosed in fireproof walls and fireproof doors and assemblies, with the doors self-closing, at both the level of such cellar or lowest story and that of the story above.
New York Multiple Residence Law § 134 requires that every multiple dwelling have a direct entrance to its cellar — or to its lowest story if there is no cellar — accessible from the outside of the building. An exception exists when the stairway leading to that cellar or lowest story is placed inside the building, but only if it is enclosed by fireproof walls and fireproof self-closing doors and assemblies at both the cellar or lowest-story level and the floor immediately above. The rule is designed to ensure that the lowest occupied or usable level of a multiple dwelling can be reached safely, with fire-containment measures in place when the access point is interior rather than exterior.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 134, compliant building operators generally ensure that the cellar or lowest story of their multiple dwelling has a code-conforming entrance reachable from outside the structure. When an interior stairway is used instead, operators typically verify that the enclosure consists of fireproof walls and self-closing fireproof doors and assemblies installed at both the cellar or lowest-story level and the story directly above. Routine inspections of those self-closing door mechanisms and fireproof assemblies are a common part of maintaining compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 134 establishes a structural safety standard that benefits occupants of multiple dwellings by requiring proper, fire-protected access to the cellar or lowest story. If a tenant believes this requirement is not being met — for example, because interior stairway enclosures lack proper fireproof doors or self-closing mechanisms — general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the local housing or building department or raising the condition with a tenant-rights organization familiar with New York multiple residence law. Tenants may also find it useful to document the condition in writing and consult resources such as a local rent board or legal aid office to understand how § 134 may apply to their building.
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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