Cal. Civ. Code § 258
Public halls
Operative Text
§ 258. Public halls. 1. Every public hall shall be everywhere at least three feet in clear width. 2. Except as herein provided, every public hall shall be completely enclosed with fireproof floor, ceiling and walls, and separated from every stair by fireproof partitions or walls, and all doors and their assemblies opening therefrom shall be fireproof, with the doors self-closing and without transoms. In a dwelling three stories or less in height occupied by not more than four families on each story, or in a permanently occupied dwelling or any section thereof two stories or less in height, any such hall which furnishes access to only one stair need not be separated from such stair by any partition or door and the walls of a public hall may be fire-retarded and the floors may be provided with three inches or more of incombustible materials between the beams. 3. Except in dwellings three stories or less in height and occupied by two families or less on every story, every public hall shall have at least one window opening directly upon a street or upon a lawful yard or court. There shall be such a window at the end of such hall and at right angles to its length, with an additional window in each forty feet of hall or fraction thereof beyond the first sixty feet from such end window; or the hall shall have one window opening directly upon a street, yard or court, in every forty feet of the length of such hall or fraction thereof measured from one end of the hall. Any part of a public hall that is shut off from any other part of such hall by a door or doors shall be deemed a separate hall. 4. The foregoing provisions of this section with regard to lighting and ventilation shall not apply to a vestibule or other public hall which serves as a means of access from one or more apartments opening thereon to a fire-stair meeting the requirements of section two hundred two if such vestibule or public hall is lighted and ventilated as required by sections one hundred nine and two hundred seven.
N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 258 establishes minimum physical standards for public hallways in multiple residences. These standards cover three main areas: width (at least three feet of clear passage), fire safety construction (fireproof or fire-retarded floors, ceilings, walls, and self-closing doors, with requirements varying by building height and occupancy), and natural light and ventilation (windows opening to a street, yard, or court at specified intervals, with exceptions for smaller low-rise dwellings). Certain vestibules or access halls leading to compliant fire-stairs are exempt from the lighting and ventilation requirements if they meet the separate standards referenced in sections 109 and 207 of the same law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 258 generally maintain public halls that meet the minimum three-foot clear-width requirement at all points and ensure that fire-safety construction — including self-closing, fireproof doors and appropriate wall and floor materials — matches the specifications that apply to their building's height and occupancy level. Compliant operators also verify that hallways include windows of the type and spacing required by § 258(3), unless the building qualifies for one of the enumerated exceptions. Routine inspections and documentation of hallway conditions, door hardware, and window placement help demonstrate ongoing compliance with this provision.
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 § 258, tenants in covered multiple residences have an interest in public halls that meet minimum width, fire-safety construction, and natural light and ventilation standards. If a public hall appears to fall short — for example, a door that does not self-close, walls that lack required fire-resistant construction, or a hallway with no qualifying window — tenants can document the condition and consider reporting it to the local housing or building code enforcement agency. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand whether § 258 applies to their specific building type and what complaint or defense 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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