Cal. Civ. Code § 52
Public halls and stairs
Operative Text
§ 52. Public halls and stairs. The walls and ceiling of every entrance hall, stair hall or other public hall, every hall or passage not within an apartment or suite of rooms, every dumbwaiter, elevator, and, every other shaft, including stairs, connecting more than two successive stories, shall be sealed off from every other portion of the dwelling with fire-retarded materials, or, in lieu thereof, except in the case of elevator shafts, shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system. Except as provided in subdivision five of section fifty-five, nothing contained in this article shall be deemed to exempt an interior required means of egress from the enclosure requirements or the equipment provided for in this section. A fire-detecting system shall not be acceptable for any of the requirements of this section.
New York Multiple Residence Law § 52 requires that the walls and ceilings of public hallways, stairwells, dumbwaiter shafts, elevator shafts, and other vertical shafts connecting more than two successive stories be sealed off from the rest of the building using fire-retardant materials. As an alternative to fire-retardant materials — except for elevator shafts — buildings may instead install an automatic sprinkler system. The rule makes clear that required means of egress must still meet these enclosure standards, and that a fire-detection system alone does not satisfy any part of this requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 52, compliant building operators generally ensure that all public corridors, stairwells, and vertical shafts spanning more than two stories are enclosed with fire-retarded materials or, where permitted, equipped with an automatic sprinkler system. Elevator shafts specifically must use fire-retarded materials and are not eligible for the sprinkler substitution. Operators typically document the materials and systems in place and verify that required egress paths meet the enclosure standards set out in this section, since fire-detection systems do not fulfill the provision's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 52 establishes that tenants in multiple residences have a right to building common areas — including hallways, stairwells, and vertical shafts — that are enclosed with fire-retardant materials or protected by an automatic sprinkler system where applicable. If a tenant observes conditions that appear inconsistent with these requirements, such as unsealed shaft openings or the absence of required protective systems, they may consider reporting the condition to the local housing or building code enforcement agency. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand how a violation of § 52 might be raised in housing court proceedings or other enforcement contexts.
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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