Cal. Civ. Code § 215
Interior water-closets and bathrooms
Operative Text
§ 215. Interior water-closets and bathrooms. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, water-closets, bath and shower rooms may be ventilated by windows or mechanically ventilated as prescribed in section one hundred seventy-one. 2. In transiently occupied dwellings there shall be on each story at least two water-closet compartments for the first twenty living rooms or fraction thereof and at least one additional water-closet compartment for each additional fifteen living rooms or fraction thereof. a. The water-closet compartments on each story shall be accessible from every such living room on the story. Such water-closet compartments may be placed in one or more general toilet rooms. b. Every water-closet compartment of a general toilet containing water-closet compartments permitted under this subdivision shall have a window opening to the outer air of the dimensions, kind and location required in a living room of the same area by section one hundred three, or be provided with a system of mechanical ventilation as prescribed in subdivision six of section one hundred seventy-one.
New York Multiple Residence Law § 215 sets out the rules for how bathrooms and water-closet compartments in multiple residences must be ventilated and how many must be provided. Natural ventilation through windows or mechanical ventilation systems meeting the standards of § 171 are both acceptable methods. In transiently occupied dwellings specifically, the law establishes a ratio of required water-closet compartments per story based on the number of living rooms, and mandates that those compartments be accessible from every living room on that floor.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of transiently occupied dwellings subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 215 generally ensure that the number of water-closet compartments on each story meets the prescribed ratio — at least two for the first twenty living rooms, with additional compartments as the room count grows. Compliant operators also confirm that every water-closet compartment in a general toilet room is either equipped with a qualifying window opening to the outer air or connected to a mechanical ventilation system meeting § 171 standards. Maintaining accessible pathways from each living room on a story to the water-closet compartments on that same story is another hallmark of a property kept in conformance with § 215.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of transiently occupied dwellings have an interest in knowing that N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 215 entitles them to a minimum number of water-closet compartments on their floor and requires that those facilities be properly ventilated and accessible. If compartments appear inadequate in number, inaccessible, or lacking required ventilation, tenants may consider documenting the conditions and raising the issue with the local housing or building code enforcement agency. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with New York multiple residence law can help explain what options are generally available when a potential § 215 violation is identified.
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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