Cal. Civ. Code § 203
Egress from apartments
Operative Text
§ 203. Egress from apartments. 1. There shall be at least one means of egress from each apartment or suite on each and every story of such apartment or suite, and a second means of egress if the first means is not within forty feet of every living room in such apartment or suite on such story. 2. No means of egress from any apartment or suite shall open into any stair or fire-stair required under the provisions of this section except through a vestibule or public hall.
New York Multiple Residence Law § 203 establishes minimum egress requirements for apartments and suites in multi-story buildings. Every apartment or suite on each floor must have at least one way out, and a second exit route is required whenever the single exit is more than forty feet from any living room on that floor. Additionally, any exit from an apartment or suite that connects to a required stairway or fire stair must do so through a vestibule or public hallway — not through a direct opening into the stair enclosure.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 203, compliant building operators ensure that every apartment or suite on each floor is served by at least one exit, and that a second exit is provided wherever any living room falls more than forty feet from the nearest means of egress. Operators also confirm that no apartment or suite door opens directly into a required stair or fire-stair shaft — all such connections must pass through a vestibule or public hall. Routine inspections of egress paths, door placements, and corridor configurations help operators maintain ongoing compliance with these structural requirements.
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 § 203 gives tenants a basis to expect that their apartment or suite has adequate exit routes — at least one, and a second if any living room is more than forty feet from the first — and that those exits connect to stairways only through a vestibule or public hall. If a tenant believes their unit lacks the required egress or that an exit opens improperly into a stair enclosure, they may consider documenting the condition and raising it with their local housing or building code enforcement agency. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how § 203 requirements relate to housing code complaints or other 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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