Cal. Civ. Code § 255
Egress from apartments
Operative Text
§ 255. Egress from apartments. 1. A dwelling three or more stories in height shall have at least two means of egress from every apartment or suite. Such means shall be remote from each other. Except where it opens into a stair as permitted in subdivision three, one means shall be to a public hall connecting with an enclosed stair or fire-stair not more than fifty feet distant from such means. The other required means of egress shall open either directly upon a fire-escape or a public vestibule or other public hall connecting with a stair or fire-stair. 2. Except as hereinafter provided for dwellings two stories or less in height, such vestibule, hall or stair shall be separated from the public hall or stair, on which the first means of egress opens, by a fireproof wall, unpierced except by a fireproof door and assembly with the door self-closing. In a dwelling two stories or less in height, the separating wall may be fire-retarded. 3. In a dwelling three stories or less in height and occupied by four families or less on each story, and in any section of a permanently occupied dwelling which is two stories or less in height and occupied by four families or less on each story, a means of egress from an apartment may open directly into a stair without the intervention of a public hall. Such means shall have a fireproof door and assembly with the door self-closing and without a transom.
N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 255 establishes minimum egress requirements for residential buildings based on height and occupancy. In buildings of three or more stories, every apartment or suite must have at least two separate means of escape, positioned far apart from each other, with specific rules about where each exit may lead—such as to an enclosed stair, fire-escape, or connecting public hall within fifty feet. Walls and doors separating these exit paths must meet fireproof or fire-retarded standards depending on the building's height, and in smaller, lower-rise buildings, a direct exit into a stairwell is permitted under defined conditions including self-closing fireproof doors.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multi-story residential buildings should ensure that every apartment or suite complies with the dual-egress framework established under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 255, including the fifty-foot distance limit to an enclosed stair for the primary exit path. Compliant buildings generally feature separation walls and assemblies that meet the fireproof or fire-retarded standards specified for the building's height category, with self-closing fireproof doors installed where required. Owners of smaller buildings of three stories or fewer with four or fewer families per story should verify whether the direct-stair-egress option applies and, if so, confirm that all door and assembly specifications are met.
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 § 255, tenants in buildings of three or more stories have a right to two distinct, code-compliant means of egress from their apartment or suite. If exit paths appear blocked, improperly constructed, or lack required fire-rated doors and assemblies, this may constitute a building code violation that can be reported to the local housing or building department. Tenants who believe their building does not meet the egress standards of § 255 may also raise the issue with a local tenant-rights organization or explore whether the violation can be raised as a defense in relevant housing proceedings.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.