Cal. Civ. Code § 53
Storage compartments
Operative Text
§ 53. Storage compartments. There shall be one or more completely enclosed compartments for the storage of mattresses, furniture, paints, floor wax, linens, brooms, mops and other such inflammable or combustible paraphernalia incidental to the occupancy and maintenance of the dwelling, and such paraphernalia shall be stored in no other portion of such dwelling. Such compartments shall be completely protected by an automatic sprinkler system or a fire-detecting system. Closets which do not exceed one hundred square feet in floor area may be used for the temporary storage of such paraphernalia, except mattresses, furniture, paints and insecticides containing inflammable materials and are excluded from the requirements of this section. Where such storage compartments are located at least thirty feet distant from such dwelling, no sprinklers or fire-detecting system shall be required.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 53, multi-residence dwellings must have at least one fully enclosed compartment dedicated to storing flammable or combustible household items such as mattresses, furniture, paints, and cleaning supplies — and those items may not be stored anywhere else in the building. Any such compartment located within thirty feet of the dwelling must be protected by either an automatic sprinkler system or a fire-detection system. Small closets under one hundred square feet may be used for temporary storage of some of these items, but not mattresses, furniture, paints, or flammable insecticides, and those closets are exempt from the sprinkler and fire-detection requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multi-residence buildings subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 53 generally maintain at least one fully enclosed storage compartment for flammable and combustible household paraphernalia and ensure that such items are not stored in hallways, basements, or other common areas outside of designated compartments. Compliant operators equip any such compartment situated within thirty feet of the building with a functioning automatic sprinkler or fire-detecting system, and keep documentation of that system's installation and maintenance. When small closets under one hundred square feet are used for temporary storage of permitted items, operators typically confirm that excluded categories — mattresses, furniture, paints, and flammable insecticides — are kept out of those closets.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in buildings covered by N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 53 have an interest in knowing that their building is required to provide properly protected, enclosed storage for flammable household items, and that those items should not be left in hallways, stairwells, or other parts of the dwelling. If a tenant observes that flammable materials are being stored outside of a designated compartment, or that a required sprinkler or fire-detection system appears absent or non-functional, that concern can generally be reported to the local housing or building code enforcement agency. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help residents understand how a violation of § 53 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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