Cal. Civ. Code § 135

Frame buildings

In Force
Verified 9/13/2026 · Next check 9/20/2026
effective 9/22/2014New YorkInspections, Registration & Licensing

Operative Text

Cal. Civ. Code § 135
  § 135. Frame buildings. It shall be unlawful to erect a frame multiple
dwelling exceeding two stories in height.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

New York Multiple Residence Law § 135 establishes a height restriction on a specific category of residential construction: frame multiple dwellings may not be built exceeding two stories. This rule applies at the point of erection, meaning the prohibition is triggered when a new building is constructed. The provision reflects a longstanding policy choice to limit the height of wood-frame multi-family structures, likely rooted in fire safety and structural concerns.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 13, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 135, property owners and developers planning to build a multiple dwelling using frame construction must ensure the structure does not exceed two stories in height. Compliant operators working on new construction projects typically confirm this limitation early in the design and permitting process. Builders and property managers who oversee construction of multi-family housing generally work with architects and local building departments to verify that proposed frame structures conform to this restriction before breaking ground.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 135 sets a clear legal limit on how tall a frame multiple dwelling may be when constructed, which can be relevant to tenants living in buildings that may have been built in violation of applicable law. Tenants who have concerns about whether their building was lawfully erected under this provision may consider raising the matter with their local building or housing department, or contacting a tenant-rights organization for general information. Understanding the construction standards that apply to a residence can be one factor tenants explore when evaluating the overall legal compliance of their housing.

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.

Effective Timeline

Current
Sep 22, 2014
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Related Rules

§ 5.709
§ 5.709 Administrative process for defining and revising inspection criteria.
§ 6
Investigations; records; reports
§ 13
Application of chapter to existing dwellings

Source Information

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