Cal. Civ. Code § 254
Egress from dwellings
Operative Text
§ 254. Egress from dwellings. 1. Nursing and convalescent homes, homes for the aged and boarding and nursery schools, two stories in height erected after July first, nineteen hundred fifty-seven, child caring institutions, two stories in height, erected after July first, nineteen hundred sixty-two and all dwellings three or more stories in height shall have at least two means of egress and, except as otherwise provided in the case of a pitched or sloped roof, shall extend to the roof from an entrance story, street, court or yard. The entrances to such means of egress at every story shall be at least fifteen feet distant from each other unless they are on opposite sides of a public hall. One means of egress shall be a stair constructed as provided in section two hundred fifty-seven. The other means of egress shall be either another such stair or a fire-stair or a fire-escape constructed as provided in section one hundred thirty-three. 2. If the number of living rooms on any story, or in any section of any story, above the entrance story exceeds twenty, there shall be an additional stair or a fire-stair extending from the entrance story to the roof for each twenty rooms or fraction thereof on such story or section thereof in excess of twenty, except that no additional stair shall be required for such excess on any story or section thereof if the number of living rooms thereon does not exceed thirty and if in addition one stair serving such story or section and every entrance hall or other public hall connected therewith is everywhere four feet six inches or more in clear width. 3. There shall be accessible from every apartment two means of egress from the dwelling, one of which shall be an enclosed stair complying with the provisions of section two hundred fifty-seven within fifty feet from a means of egress from such apartment. 4. Nursing and convalescent homes, homes for the aged, and boarding and nursery schools, one story in height, erected after July first, nineteen hundred fifty-seven, and child caring institutions, one story in height, erected after July first, nineteen hundred sixty-two, shall have at least two means of egress from the dwelling accessible to every apartment providing free and unobstructed egress by a door opening to the outer air.
N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 254 establishes minimum egress requirements for multi-story dwellings and certain care facilities in New York. Buildings of three or more stories must provide at least two distinct means of egress — generally a code-compliant stair and either a second stair, a fire-stair, or a fire-escape — with entrances spaced at least fifteen feet apart unless positioned on opposite sides of a public hall. When a floor contains more than twenty living rooms, additional stairways are required based on room count, with a limited exception for floors not exceeding thirty rooms if the serving stair meets a minimum width threshold. Every apartment must also have access to two means of egress from the building, one of which must be an enclosed stair within fifty feet of the apartment's exit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating buildings subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 254 generally maintain at least two functional, code-compliant egress paths from every story, ensuring stair entrances are properly spaced and extend to the roof as required. Compliant operators also track the number of living rooms per floor, adding supplemental stairways when room counts exceed the thresholds set out in the provision. Routine inspections of egress paths — confirming that enclosed stairs are unobstructed, within fifty feet of apartment exits, and built to the standards referenced in § 254 — are a standard part of building maintenance practice.
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 § 254, tenants in covered buildings have a right to accessible, unobstructed egress paths, including an enclosed stair within fifty feet of their apartment's exit. If egress routes appear blocked, inadequate in number, or otherwise non-compliant with § 254, tenants can document the conditions and report them to the New York City Department of Buildings or the relevant local building or housing authority, depending on the municipality. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand whether a specific condition may constitute a violation and what general enforcement or complaint options may be available.
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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