Cal. Civ. Code § 205
Separation and ventilation of stairs
Operative Text
§ 205. Separation and ventilation of stairs. 1. All stairs and fire-stairs shall be completely separated from one another and from every elevator or other shaft by fireproof walls. They shall be constructed of fireproof material throughout and shall contain no wood or other inflammable material of any kind, except that handrails of hardwood may be provided. 2. Access to stairs and fire-stairs from any public vestibule or other public hall shall be through fireproof doors and assemblies, with the doors self-closing and at least three feet wide, or through pairs of such doors at least four feet wide, containing in either case a fixed sash glazed with wire glass at least one-quarter inch thick and at least three hundred sixty square inches in area. 3. At the highest level of every stair and fire-stair there shall be provided a window or a skylight. At such termination, there shall also be an opening of at least one hundred forty-four square inches which shall communicate directly to the outer air, which opening may be a part of such window or skylight. Except as herein provided, such skylight shall ccomply with the provisions of subdivision two of section one hundred eight.
New York Multiple Residence Law § 205 establishes fire-safety construction standards for stairs and fire-stairs in multiple dwellings. Stairwells must be enclosed by fireproof walls, built entirely of non-combustible materials (with hardwood handrails as the sole exception), and accessed only through self-closing fireproof doors fitted with wire-glass panels meeting specific size requirements. At the top of every stairwell, the law requires either a window or skylight along with a direct outdoor air opening of at least 144 square inches to allow heat and smoke to escape.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 205 generally ensure that stairwell enclosures, door assemblies, and top-level ventilation openings are installed and maintained in strict conformance with the provision's material and dimensional specifications. Compliant operators routinely verify that self-closing mechanisms on stairwell doors remain functional, that wire-glass panels are intact and meet the minimum area requirement, and that skylight or window ventilation at the highest stair level is unobstructed and communicates directly to the outside. Maintenance records and periodic inspections help demonstrate ongoing compliance during housing-code reviews or fire-safety inspections.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in multiple dwellings covered by N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 205 have an interest in stairwells that meet the fireproof construction and ventilation standards the law describes, as these features directly affect emergency egress safety. If a stairwell door appears to lack a self-closing mechanism, if wire-glass panels are missing or broken, or if the top-level ventilation opening seems blocked or absent, tenants may report these conditions to the local housing or building department or to the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, depending on jurisdiction. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand which agency has oversight authority and what documentation to gather when raising a concern under § 205.
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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