Cal. Civ. Code § 171
Water-closet and bath accommodations
Operative Text
§ 171. Water-closet and bath accommodations. 1. Every dwelling arranged for permanent occupancy shall contain a water-closet in every apartment. 2. The floor of every compartment, bathroom or general toilet room shall be made waterproof and such waterproofing shall extend six inches or more above the floor so that the floor can be washed or flushed out without leaking. No plumbing or plumbing fixture shall be enclosed wholly or in part with woodwork. 3. Water-closets may be placed together in a general toilet room provided such water-closets are supplementary to the water-closet accommodations required for the exclusive use of tenants of the dwelling, or are solely for the use of business portions of the dwelling. 4. Every apartment arranged for permanent occupancy shall contain a bath or shower accessible from every bedroom without passing through any other bedroom. In dwellings arranged for transient occupancy there shall be at least one shower or bath for every eight resident occupants. 5. Except as specifically provided otherwise in this chapter, every water-closet compartment and bath or shower room shall have a window opening upon a street or upon a lawful court or yard. 6. In lieu of a required window or skylight, it shall be lawful to install a system of mechanical or gravity ventilation for water-closet compartments or bathrooms in any portion of a dwelling. Such system of ventilation shall be constructed, arranged and maintained continuously to provide at least four changes per hour of the air volume of each such water-closet compartment or bathroom.
New York Multiple Residence Law § 171 establishes minimum sanitary facility requirements for dwellings. Every apartment intended for permanent occupancy must include its own toilet and a bath or shower that can be reached from each bedroom without walking through another bedroom. Floors in bathroom and toilet areas must be waterproofed at least six inches up the wall, plumbing cannot be concealed by woodwork, and each such room must either have a window opening to a street, court, or yard, or be served by a mechanical or gravity ventilation system providing at least four air changes per hour.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple residences subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 171 generally ensure that each permanent apartment is equipped with its own toilet and that bath or shower facilities are accessible from every bedroom without requiring passage through another bedroom. Compliant buildings feature bathroom and toilet floors that are waterproofed with the waterproofing carried at least six inches up the wall, and no plumbing or fixtures are boxed in with woodwork. Where a window to a street, court, or yard is not present in a water-closet compartment or bathroom, a continuously operating ventilation system delivering at least four air changes per hour is installed and maintained in its place.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 171, tenants in permanent-occupancy apartments have a right to an in-unit toilet and to bath or shower access from each bedroom that does not require passing through another bedroom. If bathroom floors lack proper waterproofing, plumbing is enclosed in woodwork, or ventilation is inadequate, these conditions may constitute violations of this provision. Tenants who believe their dwelling falls short of these standards can document the conditions, raise the issue with their local housing or building code enforcement agency, or reach out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about available remedies.
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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