Cal. Civ. Code § 204
Bulkheads
Operative Text
§ 204. Bulkheads. Every stair and fire-stair required by this chapter to extend to the level of the roof shall extend to and through a fireproof bulkhead or other fireproof enclosure in such roof. Such bulkhead or enclosure shall give unobstructed access at all times to such roof by means of a fireproof door and door assembly with the door self-closing. Stairs to a bulkhead or enclosure shall have a handrail. Where the roof of a dwelling is pitched or sloped more than fifteen degrees, no bulkhead or stairs leading thereto shall be required.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 204, any stairway or fire-stair that is required to reach the roof level must continue up through a fireproof bulkhead or similar fireproof enclosure built into that roof. The enclosure must provide clear, unobstructed roof access at all times through a self-closing fireproof door and door assembly, and any stairs leading to the bulkhead must include a handrail. This requirement does not apply where the roof has a pitch or slope exceeding fifteen degrees.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 204 generally ensure that required stairways extend fully through a code-compliant fireproof bulkhead or enclosure at the roof level, complete with a self-closing fireproof door assembly. Compliant operators also confirm that handrails are installed on stairs leading to the bulkhead and that the roof access point remains unobstructed at all times. Buildings with a roof pitch greater than fifteen degrees should be evaluated to determine whether the bulkhead exemption applies to their specific structure.
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 § 204 establishes that residents of covered dwellings are entitled to properly constructed fireproof roof-access enclosures with self-closing doors and handrailed stairs where required. If a tenant observes that a bulkhead door is missing, obstructed, non-self-closing, or that handrails are absent, these conditions may constitute housing code violations. Tenants can report such concerns to the local housing or building department, raise the issue with a tenant-rights organization, or explore whether the condition can be raised as a defense or claim in a relevant housing proceeding.
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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